Jofra Archer, a player of West Indian origin, started his career with a bang when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) allowed him to play from the English side and selected him for the 2019 ODI World Cup of and later on for the Ashes.
Based on the high-class performance of Archer in the IPL 2019 against the top-class destructive batters worldwide, he was roped in by England. It was the first time during the IPL that fans got a chance to witness the might and skill of someone with immense talent.
But due to consistent injuries, Archer now even fails to complete his quota of four overs in a T20 match. His dream of representing the Three Lions in red ball cricket has come under the dark clouds. Many experts and former cricketers have expressed their views on the future of Jofra in the longest format.
Ian Bishop, cricket commentator and fellow West Indian blamed the previous England management for mishandling Jofra.
While speaking on Espncricinfo’s Stump Mic Podcast, Bishop said :
“There was a period when Jofra was over bowled. I sat there watching it, and I’m thinking: what madness is this that you are going to give this guy over after over? You almost – I’m sorry to use this statement; I don’t know how else to say it – you are killing the goose that lays the golden egg for you.”
“Any fast bowler is, with all these formats that we have now, going to pick it [injuries] up somewhere along the line. So workload management – as much as we hate it – and strengthening the core strength in the body is going to be the key. But do not over bowl them. I personally feel that I would not allow Jofra to think about red-ball cricket, at least for a while in the next couple of seasons. It’s too much.”
Kevin Pietersen, the hero of Ashes 2005 and ‘Player of the Tournament’ for England in the T20 WC 2010, in his blog for Betaway, wrote :
“I’m gutted for Jofra. Absolutely gutted. I think this will probably end his journey with English cricket.
“I know that there are reports around a franchise contract, and that would be the smartest thing for him to do now. Take six months to recover, select a few tournaments to play, and bowl at the speed of light for a few months of the year. He would earn good money and still have a career in the game,” he added.
“I think the longer form of the game has passed him by. I think English cricket has probably passed him by. It’s no fault of his own, he’s just injury prone. As much as he would love to play for England, because I know that’s his dream, it’s probably finished.”
“He should now just go and cash in as much as he can in franchise cricket. But first of all, get himself fit,” Pietersen concluded.
