BETWAY SA20 SETS UP FIT-AGAIN ARCHER FOR RETURN TO IPL

England fast bowler Jofra Archer is set to feature in the upcoming Indian Premier League for the Mumbai Indians.

Archer, 27, returned to competitive cricket in South Africa in January during the Betway SA20 after a lengthy injury layoff that had seen him on the sidelines since March 2021.

England’s 2019 World Cup hero was signed up as a wildcard by MI Cape Town. The fast bowler enjoyed a successful return to action as he claimed 10 wickets in just six matches at an average of 17.90.

The progress made in the Betway SA20 set Archer up for a smooth transition back into international cricket too.

Archer has bagged an impressive 13 wickets at 16.92 in four ODIs and one T20I since making his international comeback. It also included a career-best 6/40 against the Proteas in the third ODI at the Diamond Oval.

The England fast bowler, who played no part in last season’s IPL, will be a big boost to Mumbai Indians’ chances in this season’s competition after Jasprit Bumrah and Jhye Richardson had already been ruled out through injury.

“I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen at the IPL. Hopefully I can play back-to-back, or fly and play. I don’t think it’ll be as heavily restricted as when I first started. I hope not,” Archer said.

“It’s only four overs and it’s definitely not as taxing as a 50-over game, but the medical team knows best.

“There’s a lot of cricket coming up and I’m just doing everything I can to stay on the park for all of it. I don’t think I can play all of it, it probably wouldn’t be sensible to, but whatever the medical team tells me I can do, I’m all for it.”