England fast bowler Jofra Archer won’t play in the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies due to a thumb injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday, May 21. This is another frustrating setback for the 30-year-old, who has dealt with several injuries over the last few years. He also missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe announced earlier this month.
The ECB said, “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 two weeks to see when he can return.”
To fill Archer’s spot, the ECB has added 29-year-old Lancashire left-arm seamer Luke Wood to the squad. Wood has shown promise with his speed and skill in limited opportunities, and he’ll aim to take advantage of this chance on home ground. He recently played in the Pakistan Super League, where he took 11 wickets in eight innings.
The first match against the West Indies is set for May 29 at Edgbaston. Here’s the updated squad for the ODI series: Harry Brook (c), Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, and Luke Wood.
The ODI schedule against the West Indies is as follows:
- First ODI: May 29, Edgbaston
- Second ODI: June 1, Cardiff
- Third ODI: June 3, The Oval.