England bowler Jofra Archer has said he wants to play in this summer’s Ashes series against Australia.
The 27-year-old is set to make his first international appearance in 22 months this week as part of England’s Over-50 squad to face South Africa.
Archer suffered elbow and back injuries which cast doubt on his future in the longer format.
But he says he is aiming for the series against Australia and wants to do the “hard work” to be available.
“I have to spend the next two, three or four months to refine my body, to make myself a little more resistant,” he said.
“Let me sort this out first and then I can look forward to holding the red ball in my hand again.”
Archer quickly became one of England’s most exciting pace hopes of 2019 when he memorably launched the ‘super over’ who helped England win the World Cup and made an eye-catching start to his Test career in the ashes later that summer – his first season in international cricket.
But since the start of 2021 his career has been hampered by injuries – first an elbow problem which required two surgeries, then a stress fracture in his back last May which ruled him out for the season.
Archer made his competitive return to cricket earlier this month in South Africa’s Twenty20 league, impressive with eight wickets in five matches, and says he is “about 80 per cent” of his best form.
After the three-match series against South Africa, which kicks off in Bloemfontein on Friday, he will likely play in the Indian Premier League in April and May, meaning his chances of playing red-ball cricket ahead of the Ashes’ first Test June 16 will be limited.
“I might have to bowl a bit more in India during the week and that’s good because I want to play in the Ashes,” said Archer, who was once named IPL Most Valuable Player.
“I’ll have to do all the hard work I have to do to tick those boxes.”
A fit and fit Archer would be a major boost for England in a year that includes defending 50 World Cup victories in the fall, as well as trying to win the Ashes for the first time since 2015 .
In his first return game for MI Cape Town he took three wickets and was bowled over at 90mph.
“It’s just good to play cricket and not have to worry if my body is going to give out,” he said.
“It looked fantastic, but inside I’m still a bit stiff and trying to get some rust off.
“I would probably say I’m about 80%. Just a few tweaks now.”
