Jofra Archer up for England Test call-up after ending four-year wait for first-class wicket - as Sussex fast bowler strikes against Durham

4 hours ago 2

  • Archer looked sharp against Durham as he made his first-class cricket return
  • The England bowler has been dogged by elbow and back injuries in recent years
  • Archer has been tipped to earn a recall to the England Test squad next month 

By NEIL SQUIRES

Published: 21:25 BST, 23 June 2025 | Updated: 21:25 BST, 23 June 2025

Jofra Archer put himself on the path for a Test call-up after taking his first wicket for four years in first-class cricket.

The fast bowler looked sharp against Durham in what was effectively a trial for an England Test recall next month.

He finished day two of Sussex's County Championship game at the Riverside with figures of 1-28 from 14 overs and was their most dangerous bowler on a docile pitch.

Asked if he feels ready to step up to England, he said: 'I guess so. I just want to get through the game. I'm glad I've finished a day of four-day cricket. The last time I played I made it to tea. I'm glad to go all the way today.

'I guess I looked fine today. You'd have to tell me but I felt fine.

'I guess I'm faced with a different challenge now I know my body can hold up to it - the mental part of the game. So I think over the next couple of days I'm going to have a battle with it but it's all good. I'll keep trucking along.

Jofra Archer put himself on the path to a Test call-up with his first red ball wicket in four years

The Sussex bowler took the wicket of Durham's Emilio Gay on the second day of action 

Archer bowled 14 overs across three different spells and will look to back it up on Tuesday

'When the scoreboard got to 50 overs I was like: "Jesus, it's time to come off now" but we got to the end of day and it wasn't that bad.'

Archer struck with the second ball of his eighth over, angling a delivery in from around the wicket to trap Emilio Gay LBW.

As umpire Tom Lungley raised his finger, Archer's elation was clear for all to see as he celebrated with wicketkeeper John Simpson and the Sussex fielders.

It had been a long time between dinners. His last first-class wicket was that of Jordan Cox for Sussex against Kent at Hove on May 16, 2021.

He was tidy without being particularly threatening in his opening spell but his second stint in the afternoon - an extended six-over run which brought a return of 1-8 - saw him step it up.

He returned after tea for a slightly slower four-over burst before being put out to grass for the rest of the day.

England will have been happy with his workload. While it was good to see him bowling in three sessions, Archer is England's Ming vase and they do not want him broken again.

He will look to back it up on Tuesday as Durham resume at 249-5, 112 runs adrift in their first innings.

'I did 14 today. Who knows how many I'm going to do tomorrow? There's no limit. There can't be. If you look at a Test match you can't have restrictions if you're potentially going to go in and play.'

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