Jofra Archer, the England pacer, made a sensational comeback in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and now he has set his sights firmly on the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia. The speedster, who returned to the Test arena after nearly four years of battling multiple injuries, expressed his strong desire to be part of both — the remainder of the India series and the high-profile Ashes later this year. Jofra Archer has vowed to do everything in his power to ensure he’s on the plane to Australia in November.
Jofra Archer’s return to the longest format was nothing short of remarkable. Having missed four years of red-ball cricket due to persistent stress fractures in his back and elbow, his comeback had been further delayed by a thumb injury that kept him out of the early part of this India series.
But when he finally took the field in the third Test at Lord’s, it looked as if he had never been away. Operating consistently at speeds above 145 kmph, he delivered a fiery spell that broke India’s back, picking up five crucial wickets. Among his most impactful moments were the early dismissals of Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar on the final day, setting up England’s narrow 22-run win.
Speaking after the Test, Jofra Archer revealed that he is ready and willing to play the last two Tests of the series, provided he gets the green light from team management. His words reflected both his hunger and the confidence he has regained in his fitness and rhythm. While discussing his goals, Jofra Archer emphasised that his dream of playing the Ashes has never wavered. He said that the victory at Lord’s was a significant step towards that and now he is focused on ticking off the next box — selection for the Ashes tour.
Addressing questions about whether he ever doubted a return to Test cricket, Jofra Archer firmly denied it. However, he admitted that the format always felt like the one that would take the longest to return to, given the physical toll it demands. He also praised the positive, aggressive brand of cricket England has adopted under coach Brendon McCullum, saying it perfectly complements his natural style of play. Jofra Archer admitted that he had been eagerly waiting to be part of this new era of English Test cricket, and doing so on his own terms made the moment all the more special.
With a nine-day break before the fourth Test in Manchester on July 23, England will weigh their options carefully. The Old Trafford pitch is known to offer plenty of assistance to fast bowlers and Jofra Archer’s express pace could once again be a decisive factor. Whether the team management opts to give him another game or chooses to rotate him to preserve his fitness for the long term remains to be seen.
Regardless, one thing is clear — Jofra Archer is back, firing on all cylinders, and his eyes are firmly locked on the Ashes. His return has not only boosted England’s chances in the current series against India but also reignited hopes for a dominant pace attack down under later this year.
