Managing Director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key believes Jofra Archer still has a future in Test cricket, despite concerns his recent injury woes could force him to focus solely on white-ball cricket.
Archer has not played for England since March 2021, having been forced to undergo two operations in a bid to sort out a chronic elbow problem. He was set to return to action for Sussex in the T20 Blast this summer, but was ruled out for the entire summer after suffering a stress fracture of the back.
The 27-year-old recently revealed he is set to be back bowling in September and teased playing in the T20 World Cup, which begins in October. However, there have been concerns over whether he will ever play a Test match again, with former England captain Kevin Pietersen telling Betway in May: "It's terrible news for poor Jofra Archer that he'll miss the whole summer.
"He's shown moments of brilliance for England and other teams and it's just a horrible blow for him. It's difficult to imagine him recovering from this to play long-form cricket again, that's the horrible reality.
"Hopefully he can still carve out a top-level white-ball career." However, Key is hopeful that Archer will be able to play Test cricket again, stating that England are "assuming we will see the best of him in all formats."
"Jofra's a little way off," Key said. "Hopefully he'll be back. Every time I watch England play, as well as we’re doing at times, I think we're still a better side with Jofra Archer coming into it.
"I'm preparing for everything for Jofra Archer. I am hopeful he will be involved in everything.
"Unless there's someone knows a lot more about backs and injuries I am not going to change my view on that. We don't have to look that far ahead.
"At some point someone will tell us what Jofra can do. At no stage has anyone said that about Jofra so I am assuming we will see the best of him in all formats."
