London :Jofra Archer is making his much-awaited Test comeback for England in the 3rd Test against India at Lord’s, starting Thursday, July 10, 2025. Archer last played a Test match in February 2021, also against India, before a series of elbow and back injuries kept him out of red-ball cricket for over four years. During this period, he was limited to white-ball formats, as Test cricket’s demands were too taxing on his recovering body.
Archer’s Test debut was at Lord’s in 2019 against Australia, where he quickly established a reputation for his raw pace and ability to generate both seam and swing. In his 13 Tests between 2019 and 2021, he took 42 wickets at an average of 31.04. His return is seen as a bold move by England, especially with the series tied 1-1 and after a heavy defeat at Edgbaston.
The Lord’s pitch is known for favoring fast bowlers, offering extra pace, bounce, and lateral movement, making it challenging for batsmen and ideal for a pacer like Archer. England’s decision to bring him back signals their intent to attack India with aggressive pace bowling.
England’s Playing XI for the 3rd Test at Lord’s:
Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes (captain)
Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)
Chris Woakes
Brydon Carse
Jofra Archer
Shoaib Bashir
Archer replaces Joshua Tongue, the leading wicket-taker in the series so far, as the only change from the previous Test. England captain Ben Stokes praised Archer’s resilience and highlighted how important this comeback is for both the player and the team.
For clarity, Archer’s absence from red-ball (Test) cricket was due to the increased physical demands and longer format, which his injuries couldn’t withstand. He continued to play white-ball cricket (T20s and ODIs), which is less taxing and played with a white ball under lights. Now, fully fit, Archer returns to the Test arena, aiming to make an immediate impact on a pitch tailor-made for his skills.
Jofra Archer Injury Timeline :
2020: Elbow injury flares up, misses Tests and T20Is vs South Africa, then IPL 2020.
2021: Elbow injury recurs on India tour (March); freak hand injury from cleaning fish tank; ruled out after elbow surgery in December, misses all cricket for over a year.
2022: Still recovering, misses entire year including England’s home summer.
2023: Ruled out of IPL and England’s home summer due to ongoing elbow/back issues.
2024: Attempts comeback but faces setbacks, limited appearances.
May 2025: Injures right thumb in IPL, ruled out of England’s ODI series vs West Indies.
July 2025: Returns to England’s Test squad after 4.5 years, but still closely monitored for fitness.
Summary: Since 2020, Archer has faced repeated elbow injuries, a freak hand injury, and most recently a thumb injury, causing him to miss most international cricket until his July 2025 Test return.
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