England’s injury woes have deepened. Their pace spearhead Jofra Archer has been officially ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, beginning May 29 at Edgbaston. Archer, who was expected to lead the attack, suffered a right thumb injury—another setback in his ongoing battle with fitness.
The fast bowler last featured in the Indian Premier League 2025 for Rajasthan Royals on May 4 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Since then, he’s been sidelined, missing RR’s last two games. Archer was in good rhythm during the tournament, taking 11 wickets in 12 matches, even though his average of 39.18 suggested he wasn’t at his brutal best. Still, his presence was invaluable, especially with his knack for breakthroughs in the powerplay.
His unavailability raises concerns for England’s long-term plans. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) released a statement, confirming the development:
“England Men's and Sussex pace bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the Metro Bank ODI series against the West Indies due to a right thumb injury. He will be reassessed by the England medical team over the next fortnight to determine when he may return to action. Lancashire’s Luke Wood has been added to England’s ODI squad for the three-match series.”
Read Also:
What truly alarms England fans is not just the West Indies series—it's the looming five-Test battle against India, starting June 20. Archer’s fitness will be reviewed over the next two weeks, but his participation in the high-voltage red-ball contest is in serious doubt. And the timing couldn’t be worse.
With James Anderson bidding farewell to Test cricket, England are suddenly short of experience. Archer, whose last Test appearance came in 2021—ironically against India—was supposed to bring bite to the pace attack. In his 13 Tests, he has grabbed 42 wickets at an average of 31.04, including three five-wicket hauls.
As England grapple with transition, they will hope ’s assessment in June brings positive news. If not, their pace stocks could be stretched thin against an Indian team hungry for revenge on home turf.
