Ace fast bowler Jofra Archer is expected to make his return to international cricket after he was named in England’s 14-men squad for the upcoming ODI series on the tour of South Africa next year.
Archer, England's leading wicket-taker in their 2019 ODI World Cup victory, last played an international game in March 2021, on England's T20I tour of India.
Since then, he battled with a long-standing elbow issue, which has required two bouts of surgery, as well as a stress fracture of the lower back which ruled him out of the entire 2022 home summer.
He made an encouraging return to the England set-up in the UAE last month, training with the England Lions and taking part in the warm-up match against the Test squad.
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Archer was also named in the MI Cape Town squad for the inaugural SA20 - the new South Africa T20 league and will play two matches for them as well.
Apart from him, pacer Reece Topley has recovered from his ankle injury and was included in the England squad as well. Harry Brook received his maiden call-up to the ODI squad after prolific outings for the side in T20Is and Test matches.
Also making his return to ODIs is Ben Duckett who last played for England in the format in 2016.
Missing from the squad are names like Liam Livingstone, who is recovering from his knee injury, and Will Jacks, James Vince, and Sam Billings, both of whom played in England's most recent ODI series against Australia in November.
The three-match series will see the first and second ODIs being played on Jan 27 and 29 respectively in Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein, and the final ODI in Kimberly on February 1.
England squad for South Africa ODIs:
Jos Buttler (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes
(ECB/ ESPNCricinfo inputs)
