Former captain Michael Vaughan has said England should not rush fast bowler Jofra Archer back into the Test side for the second match against India at Edgbaston on July 2.
Jofra Archer, 30, played his first first-class game in four years this week, turning out for Sussex against Durham. He bowled 18 overs and claimed one wicket, that of Emilio Gay, returning figures of 1-32 in the first innings.
While selector Luke Wright had suggested that Jofra Archer could be considered for the second Test if he came through the county match unscathed, Vaughan said more game time was needed.
“The good thing is that Jofra is back in the equation – but I’d like to see him play another four-day game,” Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special. “He’s not played the longer format for four years so why, on the back of one game for Sussex against Durham, would you rush him back?”
Vaughan added that the intensity of Test cricket is far higher than the county level, and advocated for retaining the same bowling line-up that played in the first Test, provided they remain fit.
Jofra Archer has not played a Test since 2021 due to a succession of injuries, including an elbow problem that required multiple surgeries and a stress fracture in his back in 2022. He was slated to feature in the white-ball series against West Indies earlier this year but injured his thumb during the Indian Premier League.
Sussex are set to play Warwickshire in a County Championship fixture starting Sunday, which overlaps with the second Test.
Vaughan also praised the current pace attack. “Josh Tongue, the hoover, let him do that again at Edgbaston,” he said, referring to the bowler’s success at removing lower-order batsmen. “Chris Woakes needs more of a run out, and then Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse have been fantastic. They’re 1-0 up, played some great cricket, so go with the same again.”
