Jofra at Some Point Will Have a Massive Impact in Ashes: ECB's Rob Key

image-lha4roz5Jofra Archer is representing MI in IPL 2023 [AP Photo]

With the business end of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 nearing, the cricketing world has already started to gear up for the ICC World Test Championship and The Ashes 2023, which takes place next month. England, who will be eager to avenge their 0-4 humbling loss in the last Ashes series down under, have a few problems to solve.

Pacer Jofra Archer's fitness remains the biggest concern for Ben Stokes and Co., who tormented Australian batters in 2019, picking 22 wickets in the series, that was played in England. The 28-year-old last played a Test in 2021 and has since been troubled with elbow and back stress fractures.

Archer recently made his comeback into cricket in Bangladesh and is participating in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, where he has already missed a few games due to niggle.

However, former England opener Robert Key believes that Archer will surely have a massive impact in the Ashes for the Three Lions.

As quoted by Sky Sports, Key, who is England and Wales Cricket Board's managing director for the men's national team, stated that every bowler in the Test side has a role to fulfil, and  further hoped that Archer will be available for selection for the one-off Test against Ireland. 


Here's what Key said

"We're going to select for the Ireland Test, so hopefully he'll be available for selection for that; at this point, I'm assuming he will be, Then we've got a crop of bowlers, Ben (Stokes) has spoken about how he wants eight bowlers, at least, ready for the Ashes, which we've got and more, actually.

"They're all in different parts, Jofra (Archer)'s part of the fast crew with Mark Wood and Ollie Stone people like that, then you've got (Ollie) Robinson, Stuart Broad, Jimmy (James) Anderson, those guys. We expect Jofra to be a massive part of that, and I think Jofra at some point will have a massive impact in the Ashes."

The one-off Test between England and Ireland begins on June 1 and will be played at the iconic Lord's Stadium.

The first Ashes Test will take place at Edgbaston on June 16.