England prioritise workload management as Archer prepares for ODI comeback
England will continue to ease Jofra Archer back into international cricket in the upcoming ODI series against Australia.
Jofra Archer is set to make his return to 50-over cricket for the first time since March 2023 in England's upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia.
After enduring multiple injuries over the years, England have been particularly cautious with Archer’s reintegration. He made his international comeback in May 2024, playing two T20Is during the bilateral series against Pakistan.
Archer then became a key figure for England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where he was the joint-highest wicket-taker, claiming 10 wickets across all eight matches as they reached the semi-finals.
WATCH: Archer scalps two wickets in the Powerplay against Oman at the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024
White-ball captain Jos Buttler, who will miss the upcoming ODI series due to injury, expressed his desire to see Archer back in action across formats. However, he stressed that England would remain cautious in managing Archer's comeback to ensure his long-term fitness.
"Jofra will have to be managed throughout the series," Jos Buttler told Sky Sports on Sunday, 15 September. "He's played a really good stint now of T20 cricket, but obviously you can only bowl four overs in there. There's a jump in intensity getting loads up to taking full part in an ODI - and of course, as an England fan, to push those loads up hopefully to get back into the Test arena as well."
Following the T20 World Cup, Archer skipped the second half of the group stages of the Blast for Sussex and was rested for two matches in The Hundred while representing Southern Brave. In the recently concluded T20I series against Australia, he bowled just 3.3 overs across two games.
Rewatch the epic Super Over bowled by Jofra Archer at the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final
England's interim coach Marcus Trescothick too emphasised that Archer's participation in the series is carefully planned and managed by the team.
"He knows the plan," Trescothick said. "It's discussed long in advance of picking the team on each day. We know what we're doing with him, and where we're going. He's comfortable: he knows what he's doing.
"That's a bigger structure, in terms of what we're trying to do with Jofra. You come into the series knowing what we've got and what we can do with him. That's an agreed plan between the coaches, directors, physios and all the different people. We'll still be managing him [in the ODIs] - exactly the same thing."
The T20I series between England and Australia ended in a 1-1 draw after the third match in Manchester was washed out without a ball being bowled.
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Attention now turns to the ODI series, beginning on 19 September, where Harry Brook will captain England for the first time in an international match, stepping in for the injured Jos Buttler.