Jofra Archer Returns to England Test Squad for 2nd Test Against India at Edgbaston
England have welcomed pace sensation Jofra Archer back into their Test squad for the upcoming second match of the five-Test series against India. The 30-year-old fast bowler has been added to the squad after a promising return to red-ball cricket, marking his potential first Test appearance since February 2021.
The second Test is scheduled to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston in Birmingham, and Archer could make his long-awaited return to the longest format of the game after a prolonged injury layoff. His last Test, coincidentally, was also against India—following which he endured a string of injuries, including a significant back stress fracture, that kept him out of the Test arena until now.
Archer’s Road to Recovery
Archer recently made his comeback to first-class cricket during the County Championship clash between Sussex and Durham, where he showed encouraging signs with the ball. He returned to international white-ball action in May 2024, and his red-ball inclusion signals England’s confidence in his fitness and match readiness.
England Squad Remains Largely Unchanged
Aside from Archer’s inclusion, the rest of the England squad remains the same as the one that secured a five-wicket win in the series opener at Headingley in Leeds. England currently lead the series 1-0 in what is now dubbed the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, a tribute to the two cricketing legends.
Full Test Series Schedule (Remaining Matches)
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2nd Test: Edgbaston, Birmingham – July 2-6
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3rd Test: Lord’s, London – July 10-14
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4th Test: Old Trafford, Manchester – July 23-27
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5th Test: The Oval, London – July 31 - August 4
England Squad for 2nd Test vs India:
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Ben Stokes (Captain)
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Jofra Archer
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Shoaib Bashir
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Jacob Bethell
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Harry Brook
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Brydon Carse
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Sam Cook
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Zak Crawley
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Ben Duckett
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Jamie Overton
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Ollie Pope
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Joe Root
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Jamie Smith
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Josh Tongue
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Chris Woakes