Jofra Archer returns to England squad for 3rd Test

MANCHESTER: Jofra Archer was recalled to England’s squad for their series decider against the West Indies at Old Trafford.

Archer was dropped from the second test after breaching the bio-secure environment for coronavirus regulations, but hinted he might drop out due to racist abuse on social media.

Stokes rose to the top of the Test all-rounder rankings on the back of scoring 176 and 78 not out in England’s 113-run series-levelling win at Old Trafford completed on Monday.

He also took three wickets but pulled up midway through his final over, with England captain Joe Root revealing Thursday that Stokes had suffered a quad injury.

Archer was available for selection after a disciplinary hearing last week, cast doubt over his involvement, “I need to be 100 percent mentally right so that I can throw myself into my cricket this week,” he wrote in a news column.

Archer underwent five days of self-isolation in his Old Trafford hotel room after breaking the bio-secure regulations governing the series following an unauthorised trip home but later emerged to bowl in the nets.

England captain Joe Root told reporters he hoped Jofra will be ready for the match. “He’s had two good days of training and he’s got a smile on his face. He’s bowled the speed of light over the last couple of days in spicy nets so it wasn’t much fun for our batters.”

Regarding the abuse Archer had received on social media, Root said: “As a squad we’ll try to be around him and make sure he knows we’re all there for him. No one should go through anything like this.”

England have all six pacemen available for the series finale. Four of them could play if Stokes is unfit to bowl, with England having the option to pair veteran duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the first time this series.

England can also call upon Chris Woakes and Sam Curran, who both played in the second Test, and rested Mark Wood, following the West Indies’ four-wicket win in the first Test at Southampton.

A West Indies success in the match would be their first Test series win in England for 32 years.