Last Updated on 2 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Jofra Archer fitness: Pacer says he is 80% fit ahead of SA series | Jofra Archer fitness update ahead of South Africa series
Jofra Archer considers being 80 per cent fit as he gears up for a return to international cricket in England’s upcoming ODI series against South Africa after a two-year-long injury layoff. The 27-year-old is eyeing emerging victorious in both the Ashes as well as enabling England to retain their ODI World Cup title that will be held later on this year in India.
“There’s no reason to look back. I’ve done my time and I’m here now. That’s the most important thing. I’d probably say I’m about 80%. Just some fine-tuning now,” Archer was quoted in a report by ESPNcricinfo.
He added, “I know whenever I’m fully fit, I don’t think there’s much that can stop me, it’s just a matter of when that was going to be. Playing cricket again for the first time a few weeks ago, [I’m] still riding off that wave of emotions right now.”
Jofra Archer fitness: Matthew Mott excited for pacer’s return
England’s limited-overs head coach Matthew Mott also expressed excitement upon Archer’s impending return – referring to the Mumbai Indians bowler as ‘one of the most exciting things to have happened in cricket for the last decade’.
Mott further said that express pace bowlers like Archer and Mark Wood provide additional confidence to the entire group. He explained that the team management will work around the situation with Archer so that they can assess the way his body is coping.
The tactician mentioned that Archer should be bowling enough to make it to England’s Test plans in the summer but his workload will have to be managed simultaneously as well.
“What he is very big on is not wasting too many balls in practice. He really loves his match balls and that’s a great attest of his resilience. We will keep talking to him about his bowling loads and how he’s going,” Mott said.
Archer’s last international appearance was in a T20I against India in March 2021 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He featured for MI Cape Town in the SA20 and picked eight wickets in five matches. He is expected to play two out of the three ODIs that England will play against South Africa – with the first of them taking place at Mangaung Oval on Friday.
