Having opted for stability, England on Monday named an unchanged XI for the second Test against India starting Wednesday at Edgbaston. This means Jofra Archer will have to bide his time for a long-awaited return to the Test arena.
Ben Stokes’ side come into the match buoyed by their dramatic five-wicket victory in the series opener at Headingley, where they successfully chased down 371 on the final day to seize a 1-0 lead in the five-match contest.
Archer, who has not featured in Test cricket since February 2021, had been recalled to the squad after bowling his first red-ball overs in four years during Sussex’s County Championship clash against Durham last week. However, the 30-year-old pacer was compelled to skip Monday’s training session due to a family emergency, delaying his comeback. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed Archer would rejoin the squad in Birmingham on Tuesday.
The Barbados-born fast bowler shot to prominence in 2019, instantly becoming a prized asset for England with his raw pace and ability to unsettle batters. He famously delivered the decisive super over that secured England’s maiden 50-over World Cup title at Lord’s against New Zealand.
Later that summer, he tormented Australia in the Ashes, snaring 22 wickets in just four Tests. Yet his career since then has been repeatedly interrupted by injury setbacks. Archer first suffered a troublesome elbow issue in 2020 that necessitated multiple surgeries, followed by a recurring stress fracture in his back sustained in 2022, which further curtailed his red-ball ambitions.
Meanwhile, England will look to capitalise on their momentum and extend their lead to 2-0 at a venue where India’s record is woeful, eight visits to Edgbaston have yielded no victories. Adding intrigue is the question of whether India will unleash Jasprit Bumrah.
The star pacer is cautiously being reintegrated into the rigours of Test cricket following a back injury that ruled him out of the final match of a 3-1 series defeat in Australia this January. India had initially planned to use the 31-year-old in only three of the five Tests against England, carefully managing his workload.
Pressure is also mounting on India’s coach Gautam Gambhir. Since taking over the reins last year, Gambhir has overseen seven losses in 11 Tests, drawing criticism for both his team selections and tactical approach. His challenges are compounded by India’s transitional phase, with legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having recently stepped aside. As the teams head into the crucial second Test, all eyes will be on whether Gambhir’s men can rebound, and whether Archer’s much-anticipated return is just around the corner.
(With AFP inputs)
