Archer to play first Test in more than four years

Jofra Archer has not played a Test since February 2021

Jofra Archer will play his first Test in more than four years after being named in the England team to face India at Lord's on Thursday.

The 30-year-old's inclusion is the only change to the England team for the crucial third Test, with the series level at 1-1.

Despite Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse both looking weary in the heavy second-Test defeat at Edgbaston, they are both retained, with Josh Tongue making way for Archer.

"It's really exciting," said England captain Ben Stokes. "It's great for English fans, but also for Jof. It's been a long time coming for him. The way in which he has handled the injury setbacks over that period has been very commendable.

"It's a pretty great day and I think Jof is going to be pretty proud of himself that he's managed to get himself back here."

On the same day Archer's place in the England XI was confirmed, fellow pace bowler Mark Wood trained at Lord's as he continues his comeback from a knee injury.

It was thought Wood would miss the entire five-match series against India, but the Durham man is targeting the final Test at The Oval. It raises the tantalising prospect of Archer and Wood in the same XI, which has only happened once before in Test cricket.

Archer has taken 42 wickets in 13 previous Tests but has been dogged by back and elbow injuries since his last, also against India, in 2021. England have played 53 Tests since Archer last appeared. It will be 1,595 days between caps.

In that time, it seemed highly doubtful Archer would ever be back in Test cricket and there were points when his entire career was in doubt.

Following his last major setback, in 2023, Archer has followed a meticulous plan laid out by England, who have kept faith in his supreme talent with central contracts throughout his time away from Test cricket.

England XI for third Test against India: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir.

The culmination of that plan is a comeback at Lord's, scene of Archer's two most memorable moments in an England shirt, both in his debut year of 2019.

Archer bowled the super over in England's heart-stopping World Cup final triumph over New Zealand and, weeks later, returned to the same ground to make his Test bow against Australia.

He made an instant impact with an electrifying spell, felling and concussing Aussie run-machine Steve Smith.

Stokes believes Archer can "definitely" make the impact he did six years ago.

"When he has played for England in the short format, it's obvious whenever he gets the ball in his hand, there's a change in the game," added Stokes.

"The opposition feel it as well, because they know what he can do in a spell. I don't think there's any reason we can't see Jofra Archer operating at the level we saw at Lord's on his debut."

Though there is a symmetry to Archer's return, it is not without risk. He has played only one first-class match in the build-up to the third Test, in Sussex's trip to Durham two weeks ago. He bowled 18 overs and claimed one wicket.

"If we did not think he was ready, or in a position to be selected, he would not be selected," said Stokes. "We think he's done enough to be able to get through a Test match.

"Whenever you take the field, you are always putting yourself at risk. It's a professional sport, it's a very physical sport. We all know potentially stuff could go wrong, but we would not select someone if we didn't think they could get through it."

While Archer's inclusion was expected, it is perhaps a surprise that England have not made further changes to their pace attack.

Woakes, 36, has taken only three wickets in the series, but has a superb record at Lord's. In seven previous Tests on this ground he has taken 32 wickets at an average under 13.

Carse appeared to be struggling with a recurrence of the foot problem that ruled him out of the beginning of the year, though has been passed fit to play.

It means no place for either Sam Cook or Jamie Overton. Gus Atkinson is also in the squad as he continues his comeback from a hamstring injury.

India have not named their XI but are expected to welcome back fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah after he was rested for the second Test.