England continue to be cautious as Jofra Archer returns to ODIs after 18 months

England’s interim coach Marcus Trescothick said they will continue to monitor Jofra Archer’s workload in the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia. Archer will be rested for a couple of games in the ODI series, which will be crucial to England and Australia’s preparations for the Champions Trophy next month. England and Australia will meet in th ODIs from September 19 to 29 across five venues.

Archer proved his worth for England in the recently-concluded T20I series, nailing yorkers at will in the season opener in Southampton. Archer bowled 3.3 overs and picked up two wickets before he was rested for the second T20I in Cardiff. Archer was due to play the final match of the series in Manchester, but the series finale was washed out due to rain on Sunday, September 15.

Archer was picked in England’s squad for the ODI series, marking his return to the 50-over format for the first time since England’s tour of Bangladesh in March 2023. Trescothick highlighted the jump in workload for Archer in the 50-over format of the game, adding that everybody in the team, including the fast bowler, is well aware of the plan.

Archer has been struggling with elbow and back injuries and has been in and out of the senior national team since the start of 2020.

“He (Archer) knows the plan. It’s discussed long in advance of picking the team on each day. We know what we’re doing with him, and where we’re going. He is comfortable: he knows what he is doing,” Trescothick said.

“That’s a bigger structure, in terms of what we’re trying to do with Jofra. You come into the series knowing what we’ve got and what we can do with him. That’s an agreed plan between the coaches, directors, physios and all the different people. We’ll still be managing him in the ODIs – exactly the same thing,” he added.

Captain Jos Buttler, who will miss the ODI series with an injury, also stressed the need to manage Jofra Archer’s workload, saying he will be allowed to gradually get used to 50-over cricket after having been eased into international cricket this year.

Archer played two T20Is in May against Pakistan before featuring in the T20 World Cup. Archer’s workload was managed in the recently-concluded Hundred before he was picked for both the T20I and the ODI series against Australia.

England will look to have a fully fit Archer for the Champions Trophy in February-March next year. The pacer, despite the nagging injury concerns over the last four yeas, has not given up hopes of returning to Test cricket during the Ashes next year.