The return of Jofra Archer in the Barbados Club match surprises England
England were taken aback by the return of fast bowler Jofra Archer from injury in a Barbados club match last week, with team chief Rob Key saying on Monday he was unaware of his involvement. Long-term injury absentee Archer joined up with England, currently on a white-ball tour of the West Indies, in Barbados on Friday as part of the Sussex quick's ongoing rehabilitation from a longstanding right elbow problem. It is understood he flew back to the UK on Sunday, but not before turning out a few hours earlier for his old school side Foundation on day one of their three-day fixture against Lords in division one of the Barbados Cricket Association league, where he was the pick of the attack with 4-18.
But it appears he did so without the knowledge of England, with the director of England men’s cricket, Rob Key, speaking after announcing a Test squad for the tour of India on Monday, saying, "I'm not aware of that; I'll find out."
The Cricketer website reported that one of Archer's wickets was via left-arm spin.
The last professional appearance of the 28-year-old's paceman was in May, and Archer was ruled out of the Ashes by a recurrence of a stress fracture in his right elbow that has caused him repeated problems since his breakout year of 2019.