NZ vs ENG | England to rest pacer Jofra Archer for first ODI as precaution ahead of Ashes

‌Jofra Archer will not feature in England’s ODI series opener against New Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday. With the visitors preparing for a gruelling five-Test Ashes in Australia next month, the team management has taken a cautious approach with the ace pacer’s workload.

Archer returned to Test cricket in the five-match home series against India in July after a gap of more than four years. A bout of elbow and shoulder injuries meant the Rajasthan Royals pacer did not feature in the longest format of the game after playing against the same opponent in February 2021 in Ahmedabad.

The Sussex pacer featured in the third and fourth Test against India, at Lord’s and Old Trafford respectively, picking up nine wickets at an average of 28.66 and a strike rate of 59.00. He was rested for the final Test before featuring in all three ODIs and the second T20I against South Africa.

He was not considered for the subsequent three-match T20 duels against Ireland and New Zealand and is now expected to play in the second ODI against the Kiwis. England are currently in New Zealand for a white-ball tour, with the third and final T20I scheduled to be played in Auckland on Thursday. Post the three ODIs, they will head to Perth for the first Ashes Test against arch-rivals Australia on November 21.

"We've worked so hard to get to this point," managing director Rob Key had said earlier in September about England's fast-bowling group. "It is the last little step. So we get this bit right and hopefully we have every option available to us going into that first Test in Perth."