MI CAPE TOWN’S JOFRA ARCHER STRUCK DOWN BY LONG-TERM INJURY

MI Cape Town fast bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the entire English summer after recent scans revealed he has sustained a recurrence of a stress fracture to his right elbow. 

Archer returned home early from the Indian Premier League earlier this month after the 28-year-old’s long-term elbow injury flared up again that saw him make just five appearances for Mumbai Indians in this season’s IPL.

“It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer. He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously.

“We wish him the best of luck with his recovery. I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later,” said ECB Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key.

There was plenty of hope that Archer would be fit and available for a return to the England Test side for this summer’s Ashes series after a successful Betway SA20 season for MI Cape Town earlier this year.

Playing for the first time in almost 20 months in a competitive tournament, Archer claimed 3/27 in the tournament opening game against Paarl Royals at Newlands.

Archer went on to claim 10 wickets in six matches for MI Cape Town before taking that form into his international return when he claimed a career-best 6/40 against South Africa in the third ODI in Kimberley in mid-January.

He also finished England’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh with another five international appearances under his belt, taking five wickets in his two ODIs and four in his three T20Is, before heading off the IPL.

Unfortunately, Archer could not complete the IPL season and was replaced by his England teammate Chris Jordan for the remainder of the competition.

MI Cape Town will hope that Archer’s recovery goes well over the coming months in order for the fast bowler to be fit and ready ahead of Betway SA20 season 2 next January.