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Jofra Archer Makes Test Comeback After Four Years in England’s XI for Lord’s Clash vs India
Archer Returns to England Test Team After Lengthy Injury Battle
England pacer Jofra Archer is set to make his much-awaited return to Test cricket after nearly four years, having been named in the playing XI for the third Test against India at Lord’s, beginning Thursday, July 10, 2025. The last time Archer featured in a Test was back in February 2021, also against India, before a series of injuries derailed his red-ball career.
Archer’s return comes as the only change to England’s side from the second Test, replacing Josh Tongue, who was the leading wicket-taker in the series so far with 11 wickets. The England management has made the move with an eye on workload management for its pacers, while also bolstering their pace arsenal for the high-stakes encounter.
Journey Back: Archer’s Recovery and County Championship Return
County Spell Sparks Archer’s Test Recall
After spending nearly four years in and out of rehabilitation, Archer returned to red-ball cricket in the County Championship for Sussex against Durham, proving his fitness to bowl long spells. Though his performance wasn’t headline-grabbing, his physical readiness impressed selectors enough to include him in the national setup again.
“It’s been a long time coming for him. The way he’s handled the injury setbacks over that period has been very commendable,” England captain Ben Stokes said ahead of the third Test.
Stokes emphasized the resilience Archer has shown throughout the recovery phase, particularly after suffering a back stress fracture and multiple elbow injuries.
England Rotate Fast Bowlers Amid Gruelling Schedule
Gus Atkinson Also Added to Squad for Depth
England’s decision to rest Josh Tongue and bring in Archer aligns with their strategy of rotating pacers across the series. With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 featuring five back-to-back Tests, the selectors are prioritizing fresh legs and maintaining peak performance.
“We’ve had two tough games with a lot of time on the field,” said Stokes. “It’s exciting that we’ve been able to call on someone like Archer. There’s no reason why he can’t hit the levels we’ve seen from him in the past.”
The England skipper dismissed the idea of restricting Archer’s spell lengths out of caution, stating that all decisions will be taken “in the moment” based on match situations. “If he looks threatening, we might give him an extra over or two—just like anyone else,” Stokes added.
England XI for the 3rd Test at Lord’s
The official playing XI for England in the 3rd Test against India is:
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Zak Crawley
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Ben Duckett
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Ollie Pope
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Joe Root
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Harry Brook
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Ben Stokes (Captain)
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Jamie Smith (Wicketkeeper)
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Jofra Archer
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Shoaib Bashir
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Brydon Carse
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Chris Woakes
This combination brings together youth and experience, with Chris Woakes and Archer expected to share the new ball, and Shoaib Bashir providing the spin option.
Remaining Fixtures in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025
The series is currently levelled at 1-1. With three matches left, the competition remains wide open. The final three matches will be played at:
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3rd Test: Lord’s – July 10–14
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4th Test: Old Trafford, Manchester – July 23–27
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5th Test: The Oval, London – July 31–August 4
Archer’s comeback will be closely watched, especially at Lord’s, the venue where he delivered that famous spell in the 2019 Ashes. England will hope for a similar impact as they aim to reclaim the lead in the series.
A Pivotal Moment in Archer’s Red-Ball Career
Jofra Archer’s return isn’t just about filling a slot—it’s about a player defying the odds and resurrecting his red-ball career after years of uncertainty. If his body holds up and his rhythm returns, Archer could become England’s match-winner once again.
Fans, teammates, and the opposition alike will be keeping a keen eye on how the speedster performs under pressure at Lord’s, as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy moves into a decisive phase.
