Jofra Archer primed for England Test reward after ending four years of 'heartache and pain'

England supremo Rob Key says Jofra Archer’s Test comeback after a four-year intermission will be his reward for fighting through the “heartache and pain.”

Archer was included in the squad for the second Test against India, starting at Edgbaston on Wednesday, after bowling just 18 overs in red-ball cricket since 2021.

And managing director Key insists he never gave up hope of seeing England’s 2019 World Cup final super-over hero unleashed on the Test stage again - despite his litany of elbow and back injuries.

Archer bowled 18 overs for Sussex in their county championship draw with Durham earlier this week, taking 1-32, and that was enough to convince the England think-tank it was time to recall their Barbados-born warhead.

Speaking at an event for Test sponsors Rothesay, Key said: “I’ve never been worried that he wouldn’t be back because he’s always shown that he wanted it.

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"I’m no expert on the medical side, but we’ve got some brilliant physios and doctors who use the best specialists in the world, whether it was his elbow, his back or whatever.

“So if you go on what they say, and if they think there’s a chance, Jofra’s always been adamant that he’s wanted to play Test cricket again.

“He could have been tempted to go down other routes (like franchise cricket) and he’s never once done it. I’ve always had faith in Jofra, he’a always wanted to do it.

“Bowlers do go through a bit of heartache and pain, but you hope at some point they find a period where they can just play.

“Is 18 overs enough? I think you watch and see how it’s coming out, you can see how he’s bowling and track everything he’s doing and how he feels.

“And I think he just found it mentally more challenging, just adapting to it than anything else, and he’ll get better and better throughout the Test series.

“For any fast bowler, not just Jofra, you want to be at the stage where they can impact the game.

“I don’t really think in terms of whether it might too much too soon - Jofra is one of the best bowlers in the world, Just think he’ll bowl a decent pace and ask a few questions along the way.

“Hopefully for the next few years we’ll be fortunate enough to see Jofra have a chance to stake that claim. He ain’t going to forget how to bowl, so when we make that call we’re not concerned.

“He’s 30 years old now, he knows exactly what he’s doing and what he’s about. He’s got a few more years to come.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan called the five-wicket win at Headingley, where England chased down 371 with 14 overs to spare on the final day to go 1-0 up in the series, “Bazball with brains.”

But Key admitted: “I’m still not mad on the Bazball thing so I wouldn’t call it anything. But the message is the same - if someone bowls poorly, you put them to the sword, and if they bowl well you find a way to get through it.”