England fast bowler Jofra Archer will miss the opening One-Day International (ODI) against New Zealand on Sunday, October 26, as the team adopts a highly cautious approach to managing his fitness ahead of next month’s Ashes series.
The decision to rest the talismanic quick is precautionary, signalling that England’s primary focus is safeguarding his strength for the five-Test battle against Australia, rather than risking over-burdening him in the white-ball fixtures.
Archer, who made a heartwarming return to Test cricket this summer following a four-year absence due to chronic back and elbow issues, will arrive in New Zealand later this week alongside fellow quicks Mark Wood and Josh Tongue to begin targeted conditioning work.
A strategic rest for Australia in mind
The decision is understood to be entirely planned, ensuring the express pacer can build the necessary bowling load gradually without the immediate high-intensity demand of a one-day fixture.
England management is keen to avoid any setback that could derail Archer’s Ashes preparation.
He is scheduled to join the main squad in Perth in the second week of November, meaning every session leading up to the first Test on November 21 is viewed as vital.
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The absence from the opening ODI also means Archer will skip a return to the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, the venue where his first overseas Test in 2019 resulted in heavy bowling workload and subsequent injury struggles.
(Getty)
Mark Wood and Josh Tongue offer seam support while Ben Stokes focuses on batting
While Archer is rested, England’s management has ensured that the quicks who will travel to Australia are already beginning their localised conditioning in New Zealand.
Wood and Tongue, who are not part of the ODI squad, are joining Archer in the country to begin their specific preparations for the long, hot Australian Test matches.
This strategy allows Ben Stokes and the batting group to use the ODI series to fine-tune their own form while the strike bowlers build their match fitness separately.
Chris Woakes, recently retired from international cricket, had stressed the importance of keeping Archer and Wood fit, noting that having at least one of them available for every Test is crucial to ending England’s decade-long wait to regain the urn.
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