Jofra Archer, the dynamic fast bowler, was named in England’s 15-member squad on Thursday, June 26, for the second Test against India, set to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Archer, who boasts 42 wickets from 13 Test appearances, last played red-ball cricket for England in February 2021, also against India. Since then, his only red-ball outing was a recent County Championship match for Sussex against Durham from June 22 to 25, 2025.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain, now a prominent expert and commentator, expressed his pleasure at Archer’s return to the England Test side but issued a strong warning to skipper Ben Stokes about rushing him into the second Test against India.
“Firstly, you have to say it’s good news for Archer and England. Jof must have been through so much with those (elbow and back injuries), the rehab, and the mental torment of continually getting injured and making comebacks, so it’s great to see him back in the squad; he hasn’t played a Test match for four years,” Hussain told Sky Sports News. He further emphasized, “Fundamentally if you’re an England fan, you should be pleased to see Jofra Archer back in a red ball squad.”
According to Nasser Hussain, selecting Archer for the second Test might be premature given his recent return from a prolonged injury layoff.
“I think it’s too much of a risk this week, but it may have gone so well—I don’t know Jofra Archer’s body—it may have gone so well that they say, ‘We’ll play you this week.’ Then the problem is, who do you leave out?” he pondered. “I do think it is a gamble worth taking; I just don’t know if it’s worth taking this week. I would do it a week after at Lord’s,” Hussain added.
Hussain believes that since England has patiently waited for Archer’s return for such a long time, it would be wise to wait just another week to ensure he is fully fit and ready. “What is the hurry when we’ve waited so long? Why not wait another week just to make sure?” he questioned, advocating for a cautious approach.
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