Ben Stokes Welcomes Jofra Archer's Return to Test Cricket Amid Controversy

Michael Vaughan Questions Jofra Archer's Inclusion

Michael Vaughan, the former captain of England, has expressed his belief that Jofra Archer should not be included in the playing XI for the upcoming second Test against India at Edgbaston, scheduled to start next week. In contrast, current England captain Ben Stokes is eager to reunite with Archer in the Test format after a four-year hiatus.

Ben Stokes on Jofra Archer's Comeback

With England leading the five-match series 1-0, the team has yet to finalize its squad for the second Test, which kicks off on July 2. Stokes shared his enthusiasm about Archer's return to red-ball cricket, stating, "It’s always great seeing Jofra out there, playing for England, playing for Sussex. It’s obviously been a very long time for him, and watching him get that red ball back in his hand is very exciting."

Jofra Archer's Impressive Test Statistics

Throughout his 13 Test matches for England, Jofra Archer has taken 42 wickets while conceding 1304 runs. Known for his speed and aggression, Archer has proven to be a match-winner in red-ball cricket, boasting a best match performance of six wickets for 85 runs and a best single-innings record of six wickets for 45 runs. His economy rate of 2.99 highlights his ability to bowl extended spells. Despite facing injury setbacks that limited his appearances, Archer remains one of England's most effective fast-bowling options when fully fit.

However, Vaughan maintains that Archer needs to gain more experience in red-ball cricket with Sussex before the Test match at Lord's, which is set to begin on July 10.