The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has on Tuesday (May 18) given a further update on the fitness of the star all-rounder Ben Stokes and pacer Jofra Archer after the two missed out on selection for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand.
On Tuesday, England also named a 15-men squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand starting at Lord’s on June 2, 2021, with Stokes and Archer ruled out of the home series.
The ECB stated that Stokes is progressing well from his fractured left index finger and is set to return to action next month for Durham in the Vitality Blast competition while Archer is to meet with a medical consultant later this week to determine the seriousness of his right elbow soreness.
Archer recently underwent surgery for a freak hand injury while undergoing treatment for a long-term elbow injury, Stokes fractured his left index finger while fielding during an Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) match for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and got ruled out of the now-suspended IPL 14. Archer didn't even come to India for the IPL 2021.
England head coach Chris Silverwood said in an official statement: “Jofra Archer is to see a consultant this week to understand the severity of his right elbow injury. He struggled in Sussex’s Championship fixture last week and he wasn’t able to bowl on the final two days of the match.”
The coach and selector further added, “We need to get this resolved once and for all to give him the best chance of being fully fit as we build up to an intense winter, which will include a T20 World Cup and the Ashes. We need him firing in all formats of the game.”
On Stokes’ fitness, Silverwood said the all-rounder is “making excellent progress following his fractured left index finger sustained last month in the Indian Premier League.”
He signed off by saying, “If Stokes continues to improve without any impact on his rehabilitation, we could see him return next month for Durham in the Vitality Blast competition. We will assess him again towards the end of this month.”
Here’s England Test Squad for New Zealand Series –
Joe Root (Yorkshire) Captain, James Anderson (Lancashire), James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Craig Overton (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
(With ECB/ANI Inputs)
