'Hopefully, I get a chance to help defend the title' - Jofra Archer aiming to aid England's 2023 World Cup campaign

England's premier fast bowler Jofra Archer handed his country a massive boost after featuring in England Lion's warm-up fixture against the senior team ahead of the Test series against Pakistan. It was Archer's first competitive game since featuring in a five-match T20I series against India in early 2021.

The rapid English bowler has undergone a turbulent 18 months due to several injury setbacks, with a stress fracture in the lower back ruling him out for the majority of 2022. He bowled nine overs across two spells, easing himself back into action. He even dished out a vicious bouncer that hit English opening batter Zak Crawley flush on the helmet in the first over of his comeback, while clocking 90mph on a few occasions.

Archer is an invaluable asset to the team, and the Englishman wants to contribute to the side's 50-over World Cup title defense next year after missing out on the T20 World Cup in Australia due to injury.

"I am so, so glad to be back and this is a big year, we just won the T20, and we have the 50-over coming up so, hopefully, I get a chance to help defend the title. That (50-over World Cup) is the goal. Being back here in Abu Dhabi, in and around the guys, it is kind of heart-warming, it makes you feel like you are at home again, seeing all the familiar faces, seeing all the boys again," Archer was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

I still need to do some more work to get the body back up and fit and firing: Archer

The Englishman was announced as a wildcard pick by MI Cape Town in the recently introduced SA20, joining fellow national teammates Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, and Olly Stone at the franchise. However, the right arm pacer has revealed that he is not fully fit yet and needs more time to get back to his best. 

"I still don't think I am 100 per cent as yet; I still need to do some more work to get the body back up and fit and firing. But in the short-term, just to be fit is the most important thing."

"This morning, it kind of felt like a bus hit me but that is a good feeling. I was glad to get a run-out, especially with the boys. It is almost like being back playing with them. There are some restrictions.... the coach and the physio said I could use my discretion with how much I wanted to bowl. I think I did enough for a first run out," Archer added.