He last featured in an ODI on September 7.
Subtract some express pace from average speeds in the first ODI against New Zealand! England speedster Jofra Archer will not be featuring in the fixture scheduled to be played at Mount Maunganui on October 26.
The news comes after the English side are expected to preserve their bowlers ahead of the first Test of The Ashes 2025, which commences in Perth on November 21. The visitors are taking a full-strength bowling unit Down Under, and they would be focusing on managing the workload, especially for their bowlers.
The 30-year-old was already rested from the ongoing T20I series. He is expected to reach New Zealand on Thursday with teammates Josh Tongue and Mark Wood.
It was not long ago when Jofra Archer not just troubled, but humiliated the Australians on English soil. From Steve Smith to Marnus Labuschagne, who came in as a concussion replacement, Archer bamboozled the batters.
When the batter who is next in line thinks twice before coming out, you know you’re bowling well. And Archer has the potential to not just bowl well, but send shivers down the spine of opposition. Thus, there is no doubt whether he can rattle the Aussies.
But there’s a difference. This time, it is the Australians’ den they’re playing in. The conditions in Down Under will not be similar to England, and that is where Archer and Co. will have to be accurate.
To add to the fun, Jofra Archer has not played a single Test match on Australian soil. The first challenge for Archer would be to adapt to the conditions quickly. The hosts would not be very welcoming, and can make use of pace if he goes wayward.
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The Three Lions have named a total of seven bowlers for the coveted five-match Test series against Australia. However, only Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer are playing a role in the ongoing white-ball series against New Zealand.
Speedster Gus Atkinson has been with the squad for more than a week, but is working on his fitness and improvements for the tour Down Under. Mark Wood and Josh Tongue are expected to join Atkinson soon.
Out of the seven pacers named in the Ashes squad, only Matthew Potts would not be spending any time in New Zealand. His arrival would be delayed due to his participation in all three Durham Finals in the County Championship. However, England have scheduled a warm-up fixture ahead of the coveted Test series.
“We’ve worked so hard to get to this point. It is the last little step. So we get this bit right and hopefully we have every option available to us going into that first Test in Perth”, Rob Key, England’s managing director said about their preparations.
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