The reaction from England captain Ben Stokes spoke volumes as electric fast bowler Jofra Archer made a sizzling cricketing return six months out from an Ashes showdown with Australia.
After undergoing two elbow operations and suffering a stress fracture in his back since he knocked out Aussie batter Steve Smith at Lord’s in 2019, the English quick had his captain “buzzing” with his showing in South Africa’s new T20 league.
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Having spent 541 days on the sidelines, Archer returned with 3-27 from his four overs for MI Cape Town.
Stokes took to Twitter to show his enthusiasm tweeting “BUZZING BUZZING BUZZING to see @JofraArcher back on the field”.
Archer had been bowling for the England Lions in preparation, but the T20 encounter was his first official match since bowling three overs in a T20 for his county, Sussex, in July 2021.
According to his MI captain, spin star Rashid Khan, Archer could not have been more impressive.
“Amazing, amazing. After having that long gap that comeback is absolutely delightful to watch,” Khan said.
“It’s so great, he’s back in full rhythm. It was super great to watch, especially being on the field with him and not against him.”
Archer is expected to play one more match for Cape Town before joining England’s ODI side for a three-match series against South Africa later this month.
The 27-year-old made his Test debut in the 2019 Ashes, taking down Smith at Lord’s and going on to snare 22 wickets for the series despite playing only four of the five Tests.
Australia and England will meet in the first Test at Edgbaston on June 16.
