Jofra Archer set for ODI comeback as England plan cautious reintegration

England is set to carefully manage Jofra Archer’s return to 50-over cricket in their upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia. Archer, who last played an ODI in March 2023, will be back in action after a long recovery from multiple injuries.

England has been cautious about Archer’s reintegration into the team. He made his international comeback in May 2024 during a T20I series against Pakistan, and later became a key player in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Archer finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, claiming 10 wickets across eight matches, helping England reach the semi-finals.

However, white-ball captain Jos Buttler, who will miss the ODI series due to injury, stressed the importance of managing Archer's workload carefully. 

"Jofra will have to be managed throughout the series. He's played a really good stint now of T20 cricket, but obviously you can only bowl four overs in there. There's a jump in intensity getting loads up to taking full part in an ODI - and of course, as an England fan, to push those loads up hopefully to get back into the Test arena as well," Buttler said.

Archer’s participation in the upcoming series is part of a broader plan set by England’s coaching staff and medical team. Interim coach Marcus Trescothick confirmed that the team has a detailed strategy for Archer’s workload.

"He knows the plan. It's discussed long in advance of picking the team on each day. We know what we're doing with him, and where we're going. He's comfortable: he knows what he's doing.

"That's a bigger structure, in terms of what we're trying to do with Jofra. You come into the series knowing what we've got and what we can do with him. That's an agreed plan between the coaches, directors, physios and all the different people. We'll still be managing him [in the ODIs] - exactly the same thing."

Archer has played limited domestic cricket since the T20 World Cup, skipping part of the T20 Blast for Sussex and being rested for two matches in The Hundred while playing for Southern Brave. In the recent T20I series against Australia, he bowled just 3.3 overs across two games, further showing England's cautious approach.

The T20I series between England and Australia ended in a 1-1 draw after the third match in Manchester was washed out. Now, all eyes turn to the ODI series, which begins on 19 September. Harry Brook will step in as captain for the first time in an international match, replacing the injured Buttler.