Former England captain David Gower has raised concerns over the inclusion of pacer Jofra Archer in the squad for the second Test against India, urging the team management to exercise greater caution in his comeback. Gower believes Archer should have played multiple domestic games before being considered for a return to the Test setup.
Archer, who last played a Test match in February 2021, has been plagued by recurring elbow issues over the past few years. His selection for the Edgbaston Test, starting July 2, marks his return to the format after more than four years. England lead the five-match series 1-0 after a thrilling five-wicket victory at Leeds.
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Speaking to Sky Sports News, Gower emphasized the risks involved in fast-tracking a bowler with Archer’s injury history. “You have got to face the facts—he has been injured, he has been operated on, the elbow has been troublesome,” said Gower. “He has played one game for Sussex. In my book, you need to see him play three or four games, see how he’s getting on, and make sure the fitness levels are where they should be. You also want to be sure there’s no reaction to bowling 20-odd overs in a day.”
Archer recently turned out for Sussex in a County Championship match against Durham at Chester-le-Street, where he bowled 18 overs for figures of 1/32 and scored 31 runs with the bat. While he showed flashes of his capabilities, Gower believes it was not enough to guarantee readiness at the international level. “There’s also the adage that you don’t have to change a winning side. I would not be rushing Jofra in at this stage,” he added.
The rest of the England squad remains unchanged for the Edgbaston Test. Archer joins the likes of Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Zak Crawley in the 16-man roster.
In the opening Test, India posted a strong first-innings total of 471 on the back of centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Shubman Gill (147), and Rishabh Pant (134). England responded with 465, driven by Ollie Pope’s 106 and contributions from Harry Brook (99) and Ben Duckett (62). Jasprit Bumrah starred with a five-wicket haul.
India built a commanding 370-run lead in their second innings with KL Rahul (137) and Pant (118) leading the way, but a late collapse restricted their total to 364. Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue impressed with three wickets each.
Chasing 371, England delivered a composed performance, beginning with a 188-run opening stand between Crawley (65) and Duckett (149). Though India struck back to reduce the hosts to 253/4, Joe Root (53*) and debutant Jamie Smith (44*) saw England home. Duckett was named Player of the Match for his match-defining innings.
England Men’s Test Squad for 2nd Test:
Ben Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes
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