England's Archer aiming for Test return against West Indies
Jofra Archer targeting a return to the five-day format during next year's tour of the West Indies.
LONDON (AFP) - England fast bowler Jofra Archer still believes he has a Test future as he targeted a return to the five-day format during next year s tour of the West Indies.
The 26-year-old a was ruled out of the current Test series against India and the Ashes tour of Australia, as well as the T20 World Cup that falls between those campaigns -- after suffering a stress fracture in his right elbow.
Given the injury to his bowling arm, some have questioned whether Archer will be fit enough to play in cricket s longest format again, with former England captain Alastair Cook fearing Archer may lose pace as elbow problems are a "game changer".
But the Sussex quick in, a column for Britain s Daily Mail newspaper, said his "best years as a Test cricketer are ahead of me".
"When I got the news that I d be out for the rest of 2021 because I had suffered another stress fracture in my elbow, it was pretty tough to take," Archer recalled. "But I ve always been of the view that everything happens for a reason, and the injury doesn t change the way I look at my career.
"I ve said many times before that Test cricket is the most important format to me and nothing has changed in that respect. It s frustrating to be sitting out an important series against India, as well as not being able to make the trip to Australia this winter -- not to mention the Twenty20 World Cup in the UAE.
The 2019 50-over World Cup winner added: "If I do end up with another stress fracture, I may have a different view on things as regards to my future. But for the moment, I m still only 26 and I think my best years as a Test cricketer are ahead of me.
"The reason I had an operation in May was because I wanted to sort out the problem once and for all. I don t want this thing hanging over me. I want to be out there again, taking wickets and helping win games for England."
Now Barbados-born Archer, the son of an English father, hopes for a Caribbean comeback with England.
"I m trying to be cautious about when I make my comeback, but I guess there s a chance I ll be ready in time for England s three-Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean in March," he said.
"But I can t make any promises, and I ll be seeing a specialist soon about the elbow."
