An elbow problem has ruled out Jofra Archer from the T20I series against South Africa. Saqib Mahmood will replace Archer in the T20Is.
Saqib Mahmood from Lancashire made his international debut during England’s T20I series in New Zealand in November last year when Archer was rested. He ended up by scalping three wickets in three appearances.
During the Test leg of England’s tour Archer took five wickets in the opening fixture but then was ruled out of the remainder of the series followed by a soreness in his right elbow. He was expected to recover by the end of the Test series but that didn’t happen. Eventually he had to go back to England for further treatment.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Archer himself said that he might not be able to go to Sri Lanka for his injury. “Now we go to Sri Lanka, and it might be a repeat of the pitches in New Zealand. If the elbow isn’t good enough, I can’t see them sending me to Sri Lanka. We’ve got a long summer of cricket coming up. We’ve got a Twenty20 World Cup and the physios will have a plan for my wellbeing.” He also added, “It’s (the injury) getting better slowly, but it might be another two weeks.”
In the same interview Archer expressed his desire of playing Test cricket. “It’s not true that modern cricketers only want to be white-ball cricketers. Because I had a good World Cup, that doesn’t mean I only like World Cup cricket.” He added, “I’ve played seven Test matches and got three five-wicket hauls. Even in the ones when I didn’t take five, I took two or three. I’m pretty all right at Test cricket. It’s a bit early to try to cement one form for me.”