ENG vs IND | England name pacer Jofra Archer in 15-member squad for second Test

‌Jofra Archer is in contention to play his first Test match in more than four years as he was named by England in the 15-member squad for the second Test match against India to be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham from July 2. With Archer’s inclusion, the home side bolstered their pace battery with an eye on the reduced turnover time between the second and third Tests.

Archer was ruled out of the first game with a thumb injury and returned to the County circuit this week as he turned up for Sussex in a first-class game. Though he picked up only a solitary wicket, the England management decided to include him as he sent down 18 overs without any discomfort in the drawn encounter against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

"It felt all right today," Archer said after his spell in the first innings. "I've been playing for a year, and bowling for two years, including the build-up, so everything is fine.

"Now it's a different challenge because I know my body can hold up to it. The mental part of the game [will be tough]. Over the next couple of days, I'm going to have to battle a bit with it, but it's all good. It's a new challenge, and I'll keep trucking along,” he added.

The pacer made his debut against Australia in the 2019 Ashes summer and went on to play 13 Tests picking up 42 wickets. But injuries to his elbow and a stress fracture to his back meant he could not play for England after his last appearance against India in Ahmedabad in February 2021.

With England winning the first Test at Headingley by five wickets, they could not have found a better time to welcome Archer back into the team. He joins pacers Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse, who all played in the opening game. With Jamie Overton and Sam Cook also being retained in the side, England will have six frontline pacers, apart from skipper Ben Stokes, at their disposal for the second Test.

England Men's Test squad: Ben Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes