England's Jofra Archer Set to Return in ODI Against Australia at Trent Bridge

Fast bowler Jofra Archer will play his first one-day international since March 2023 when England face Australia at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

The 29-year-old has been carefully managed by England after elbow and back injuries in recent years.

Archer has been eased back in, playing exclusively T20 cricket since returning to the international fold before June’s T20 World Cup.

But stand-in England captain Harry Brook confirmed the Sussex pacer will play in the first ODI of the five-match series with no restrictions on his workload within the game.

“He’s obviously a world-beater, and it’ll be nice to have him alongside me and going out there and taking them on,” Brook told BBC Sport.

“I haven’t faced him much in the nets, I try and stay away from that.

“He’s our strongest seamer and he’s got a lot of experience behind him in white-ball as well. I’m looking forward to working with him and seeing him operate again.”

Injury has limited Archer to just 21 ODI appearances with only seven of those coming since he played a starring role as England won the 2019 World Cup.

With an Ashes series in Australia now 14 months away, this is a significant step up for him.

A six-over spell for Sussex’s second XI earlier this summer was the most he has bowled in a professional match this year, while he also played some club cricket in Barbados prior to the World Cup in the Caribbean. (BBC Sport)