England pace sensation Jofra Archer recently completed one year in international cricket. It has been quite a journey for Archer, in which he helped England clinch the 2019 World Cup and level the Ashes against Australia at home.

See Also: Archer suggests move for cricketers to feel at home despite playing in empty stadium 

All these achievements look even more incredible when you consider the chronic back injury Jofra had to overcome as a teenager.

The Barbados-born speedster recently opened up about the torrid period when he was sidelined from the game for two years and doctors feared he might not play cricket again.

"Those were dark times to be honest, I spent two years out of cricket," Archer said in a Rajasthan Royals Podcast.

He had picked up the injury after making it to the West Indies U-19 level before his move to England in 2015.

"You're young and you want to play, you have got to make the most of your youth because before you know it, you're 20, 21 or even 25 if you're unlucky, and you're still trialing and hoping to get a chance.

"And then a lot of people don't take chances on guys who are a little bit older," the pacer added.

Jofra also confessed he was a "bit down" when doctors told him that he might not play again.

"It felt like I was missing out on my golden years. The doctor told me if he didn't see improvement, he couldn't even see me playing club cricket, so I remember leaving the office that day and I was a little bit down," he said.

"But I decided to rest and if the pain subsided, I would give it another go. And if it doesn't work then I will go back to university and take another path in life. But luckily for me I got to do what I really wanted to do in the end."

Before COVID-19 rocked the sporting events, Jofra Archer was under rehab after sustaining the elbow stress fracture. He was expected to return to action for Sussex in May.

(With PTI inputs)