Jofra Archer ruled out of the upcoming English season with a stress fracture

Experienced England speedster Jofra Archer has suffered another injury – a stress fracture on his lower back and he has been ruled out of the upcoming English season as well. However, this is not the first time that he has been facing injury. As a long-term elbow injury had sidelined him from the game since early last year following which he had to undergo surgeries also. After the first surgery, he was in the process of rehab when he sustained another injury on the elbow last year as well. And, now the back injury became another setback to his career, having not played for England or in a competitive game since 2021 as well.

Jofra Archer has been out of action for long

“After being diagnosed with a stress fracture to the lower back, England and Sussex seamer Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the rest of the season. No timeframe has been set for his return. A management plan will be determined following further specialist opinion over the coming days,” said the ECB in a statement on Thursday (May 19).

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On the other hand, the news also came that the England national team that is going through a slew of injuries to their quick bowlers got a big blow as Saqib Mahmood was ruled out for the summer too. Mahmood, who made his Test debut in March, missed Lancashire’s Championship with lower back pain and then scans also revealed the entire injury. However, he is in rehabilitation and no timeframe is set for his return as well. Meanwhile, his absence will further leave England’s seam-bowling unit in concern in the upcoming series against New Zealand.

Notably, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood are out of action whereas Ollie Robinson is currently struggling for fitness. Although James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been recalled in the Test set-up as well. However, Mahmood has played against West Indies, picking up six wickets at 22.83 as well. He also top-scored with 49 in the third Test, as he and Jack Leach helped England guide from 114 for 9 to 204 all out.

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Mahmood had said, “I spoke to a couple of the guys around me and felt as though it was in my best interests at the moment to focus on red-ball cricket. Hopefully that can highlight my ambition to play Test cricket and to give myself the best chance to do that by performing here for Lancashire.”