Image Credit- Getty
Jofra Archer’s rehabilitation from a long-term elbow
injury was going well for the ECB until last week, when it turned out the fast
bowler had played for his old school team in Barbados without the England
management knowing.
Despite having played in just seven white-ball matches
for England since March 2021—during which he suffered from a stress fracture in
his back and a damaged right elbow—Archer was recently awarded a two-year
contract with the ECB.
The deal was an expression of faith in a player who,
at age 28, still has room for a lengthy career as and when he can regain his
full fitness. The player is still regarded as one of the top stars in the world
and excelled for England in their 2019 World Cup success.
In addition, it was an effort to monitor the
recovery’s pace independently of the T20 franchise circuit’s conflicting
demands. Rob Key, the managing director of the team, told the media following
England’s Test-squad announcement for the upcoming tour of India (which Archer
was not considered for) that Archer had been pulled out of next week’s IPL
auction so that the management could “be in control” of his
rehabilitation.
When it was revealed to Key that Archer had played for
his former school, Foundation, against Lords in Division One of the Barbados
Cricket Association League over the weekend, he was taken by surprise.
On the first day of the three-day contest, Archer took
4 for 18, helping to bowl Lords out for 114, mostly with pace bowling but with
one wicket falling to his left-arm spin. If his team lost, they would be
demoted permanently. The match is slated to end next weekend. He also made 11
as Foundation reached 78 for 8 at the end of play.
“I’m not aware of that,” Key said, when
Archer’s exploits were relayed to him. “I’ll find out.”