ECB issues statement on Jofra Archer's recovery after being ruled out of IPL 2023
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has issued a statement on ace fast bowler Jofra Archer after he was ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The board announced the right-arm speedster will return home immediately and focus on his recovery process in consultation with the ECB medical department and Sussex County Cricket Club.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) announced fellow England pacer Chris Jordan as Archer's injury replacement on Tuesday, May 9.
Jordan, England's highest T20I wicket-taker, has earlier represented the Royal Challengers Bangalore, SunRisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, and Chennai Super Kings after making his debut in 2016.
Regarding Jofra Archer's injury, the ECB said:
"The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) can confirm that fast bowler Jofra Archer will return from the Indian Premier League with immediate effect. Archer has been recovering from right elbow surgery. However, pushing through the discomfort whilst recently playing, hoping it will settle, has proven challenging."
The statement further read:
"The ECB would like to thank the Mumbai Indians for their support and cooperation during this time. Archer will return to the UK this week and will work on his rehab with the ECB medical department and Sussex County Cricket Club, respectively."
Archer has been dealing with an injured elbow in the past two and a half years, forcing him to miss some of England's most important games, including consecutive T20 World Cups.
Despite missing the entire IPL 2022 after fetching ₹8 crore from the Mumbai-based side, the franchise retained him ahead of the 2023 edition.
Jofra Archer played only three matches in IPL 2023
Injury problems meant that the Barbados-born pacer played only five matches and struggled to match the performances of the earlier seasons. In five games, he only managed to pick up two wickets, conceding runs at 9.50.
The match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) saw Archer register eye-watering figures of 4-0-56-0 as Liam Livingstone struck three sixes off his final over.
The ECB is likely to ensure that he recovers enough to participate in the Ashes series, starting on June 16 at Edgbaston. The right-arm paceman rattled the Australians with his sheer pace during the 2019 Ashes series, taking 22 scalps in four matches.
He was also an integral member of their ODI World Cup-winning side, claiming 20 victims in 11 matches at 23.05.