Jofra Archer to join England Lions training camp in UAE as rehab continues

England pacer Jofra Archer will be in the UAE in November as part of the England Lions training camp as he continues his rehabilitation from a back stress fracture. The 27-year-old has been out of cricketing action for a long time now and last played for England in March 2021. He was set to come back at the start of this year after recovering from his elbow surgery, however, a back stress fracture ruled him out.

The pacer still managed to retain his central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) but a confirmation on his return date is still awaited. In all likeliness, Archer should be fit by the start of next year and England will be quite keen on tracking his progress with the 50-over World Cup slated next year in India. 

Jofra Archer is getting back up to speed ⚡️

(via @JofraArcher / TikTok) pic.twitter.com/g72JidE8v1

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 6, 2022

He was spotted having a small run-up and practising quite lightly in nets in a video posted on Twitter. Archer will also have the likes of Saqib Mahmood and Brydon Carse on his side during the rehabilitation in the UAE. Mahmood was ruled out during his stint with Lancashire in the county season after suffering a lumbar stress fracture while Carse picked up a toe injury during the ODIs against South Africa. 

England Lions to play a three-day game against England Test squad

Notably, the Lions squad will be in UAE from November 6 to November 27 and they are scheduled to play a three-day game against the full-strength England squad as a part of their preparations for the Pakistan tour. The English side then move to Rawalpindi for the historic first Test, which starts on December 1. 

England Lions training squad: Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Josh Bohannon, Jack Carson, Sam Conners, Sam Cook, Matthew Fisher, Haseeb Hameed, Tom Haines, Jack Haynes, Lyndon James, Dan Lawrence, Liam Patterson-White, Matthew Potts, Jamie Smith

Fast bowler rehabs: Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, Brydon Carse (November 11-27)

Test Player preparation: James Anderson. Jamie Overton (both November 6-19), Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, Will Jacks