Jofra Archer Bolsters England Squad for Second Test Against India

England have strengthened their squad with the inclusion of fast bowler Jofra Archer for the second Test of the ongoing five-match series against India, set to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The 30-year-old pacer is poised to make his Test comeback after a four-year hiatus, having last played a Test match against India in February 2021. This will be an opportunity for Archer to add to his 13 Test caps.

Archer’s return to red-ball cricket follows a series of injury setbacks, including a back stress fracture that sidelined him intermittently until 2024. He made his competitive return to the format in the recent County Championship match for Sussex against Durham and rejoined England’s white-ball setup in May 2024. His inclusion is a significant boost for England as they aim to build on their five-wicket victory in the series opener in Leeds.

The England squad for the second Test remains otherwise unchanged, led by captain Ben Stokes and featuring key players such as Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ollie Pope. The full squad includes: Ben Stokes (C), Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, and Chris Woakes.

The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, newly named for this series, will see the remaining three Tests played at Lord’s (July 10-14), Old Trafford in Manchester (July 23-27), and The Oval (July 31-August 4). With Archer’s return, England will look to leverage his pace and experience to maintain their momentum in this highly anticipated series.

                                               

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