Jofra Archer ruled out for summer as Jonny Bairstow returns to England squad for Test against Ireland

By India Today Sports DeskEngland pacer Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the Ashes series against Australia but a fully recovered Jonny Bairstow was recalled to the Test squad for the one-off match against Ireland next month. Archer, who has been ruled out “for the rest of the summer,” missed 17 months of international cricket due to elbow and back injuries before returning in January.

Archer played five matches for the Mumbai Indians before his Indian Premier League (IPL) stint was cut short by a nagging injury last week. “It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer,” England men’s cricket managing director Rob Key said in a statement.

“He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously. I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.”

BAIRSTOW RETURNS

Bairstow returned to the team after missing the T20 World Cup in Australia due to a freak golf injury in September. Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes was dropped to make room for Bairstow for the Test match against Ireland at Lord’s beginning June 1.

Warwickshire pacer Chris Woakes returns to the Test squad for the first time since March 2022, while Durham fast bowler Mark Wood returns after missing the New Zealand tour. Both skipper Ben Stokes (left knee) and pacer James Anderson (groin) appeared to have minor injuries and were named to the squad. The Ashes series against Australia begins on June 16 at Edgbaston.

England squad for one-off Test against IrelandBen Stokes (captain), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood