Full Name

Jofra Chioke Archer

Born

April 01, 1995, Bridgetown, Barbados

Age

28y 362d

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Bowling Style

Right arm Fast

Playing Role

Bowler

Jofra Archer has rapidly become one of the most exciting young fast bowlers in English cricket. Born in Barbados to an English father and Bajan mother, the possibility of his inclusion in England's 2019 World Cup squad became subject of much speculation in the run-up to the tournament. Changes to the ECB's qualification rules led to him becoming eligible after three years of residency - rather than the expected seven - and he was quickly given his chance at international level.

Archer had declared his intention to play for England soon after moving to the country, taking advantage of his British passport. He impressed with Sussex, as well as in T20 leagues around the world, and made his debut in an ODI against Ireland. It only took a couple of performances - he picked up 2 for 29 in a T20I against Pakistan, followed by 1 for 6 from four overs of precision pace in an abandoned ODI - to convince England of his value at the World Cup, never mind concerns that his promotion might ruffle feathers among the fast-bowling group.

They were right to put faith in him. Archer was the most prolific England bowler, taking 20 wickets over a gruelling six-week tournament, and was entrusted with bowling the most important over in England's limited-overs history in the final at Lord's. New Zealand needed 7 off 4 to claim the trophy after Jimmy Neesham heaved the second legitimate ball of Archer's Super Over for six, but he held his nerve. Martin Guptill was run out attempting a second run off his final delivery, a leg-stump yorker, and Archer charged towards the Tavern Stand in celebration.

England knew they had a special talent on their hands, and Archer made an immediate impact in Test cricket, too. On debut, he reached speeds of 96mph against Australia at Lord's, striking both Steven Smith and his concussion replacement Marnus Labuschagne on the helmet. He took 22 wickets in the series, having missed the first Test, including six-fors at Lord's and Headingley.

But England couldn't resist the temptation to throw the ball to Archer. On a lifeless pitch at Mount Maunagnui in late 2019, he bowled 42 overs in a single innings and his heavy workload seemed to have a long-lasting effect. He reported various niggles over the next 18 months and in 2021, had surgery on his elbow. After an aborted initial comeback, he then suffered a lower-back stress fracture just as he was about to return; in all, he spent nearly two years out of international cricket before a return in early 2023.

Archer's talent was obvious as he set about following his friend and fellow Bajan Chris Jordan into the England set-up. It was Jordan who first alerted Sussex to Archer's talents after facing him in a net session in Barbados and his assessment that "the sky is the limit" has been borne out by batting and bowling spells of great promise.

Archer, a silky fast bowler with a high action capable of speeds above 90mph, and dangerous lower-order hitter, played for West Indies Under-19s in 2013 but after suffering a serious back injury he slipped out of the Barbados system. Instead, he rallied while playing for Sussex's 2nd XI and for Horsham in the Sussex Premier League.

Archer claimed four scalps on his first-class bow against Pakistan before collecting a maiden five-wicket haul in a Royal London Cup defeat to Somerset. He had been playing without a contract because of a long-term back injury, but Sussex acted quickly to secure him for longer. He made a powerful impression when he broke into Sussex's Championship side in the latter half of 2016, making his debut in all three formats and taking 35 wickets in all, 23 of them at 30 runs apiece in Division Two to bring cheer to a mundane Sussex season. He also wasted no time showing his potential with the bat as he struck 72 batting at No. 8 on debut against Essex.

He floated into the crease with good effect in 2017, too, with 61 wickets at 25 and an average of more than 45 with the bat, a bright aspect of Sussex's flagging promotion campaign. That winter he went to the Big Bash League for the first time and subsequently showed his star potential in the IPL after being bought for £800,000 by Rajasthan Royals.
ESPNcricinfo staff

Jofra Archer Career Stats

Bowling

FormatMatInnsBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
Tests132426091304426/458/8531.042.9962.1030
ODIs21211139913426/406/4021.734.8027.1010
T20Is1515348444184/334/3324.667.6519.3100
FC4382885645101817/6711/13724.913.0548.91081
List A353418701558636/406/4024.734.9929.6020
T20s135132302438881694/184/1823.007.7117.8200

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAveBFSR100s50s4s6sCtSt
Tests13200155307.7530650.650022120
ODIs21116328*6.404866.66003060
T20Is15311918*9.5011172.72002140
FC436310120181*22.66179466.940614625210
List A352292244517.23206108.7300179100
T20s13567325603616.00385145.45004124380
Jofra Chioke Archer

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Recent Matches of Jofra Archer

MatchBatBowlDateGroundFormat
MI vs CSK3*0/2406-May-2023ChennaiT20
MI vs PBKS--0/5603-May-2023MohaliT20
MI vs RR--1/3530-Apr-2023WankhedeT20
MI vs PBKS1*1/4222-Apr-2023WankhedeT20
MI vs RCB--0/3302-Apr-2023BengaluruT20

Videos of Jofra Archer

Photos of Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer joined England training at Kensington Oval
Jofra Archer and Phil Scott at a warm-up drill
Jofra Archer was again involved during England's pre-match warm-ups
Jofra Archer is unlikely to be involved in England's World Cup defence, but Jason Roy is still fighting to confirm his place
Jofra Archer bowls in the middle as he continues rehab from an elbow injury
Jofra Archer was in attendance at England training