Ashes 2025-26: England set for Jofra Archer return to Test team

As Australia’s pace attack locked horns with South Africa, England were manoeuvring behind the scenes to unleash a shock weapon for the Ashes.

As Australia’s pace attack locked horns with South Africa, England were manoeuvring behind the scenes to unleash a shock weapon for the Ashes.

Pace demon Jofra Archer has not played a Test since February, 2021 but is being prepared to make a return for England in their upcoming home series against India which is all about trying to hit Australia between the eyes this summer.

The mesmerising war Archer waged against Steve Smith and Australia’s batsmen in the 2019 Ashes was tremendous sporting theatre and the prospect of him putting his injury troubles behind him and making it to Perth for the first Test in November would change the entire tone of the Ashes.

Australia’s fast bowling trio asserted their dominance on South Africa in the World Test Championship Final and were aided by a spectacular catch from under-pressure star Marnus Labuschagne before lunch on day two.

In a timely reminder that he adds plenty more in the Test arena than just his batting, Labuschagne showcased his brilliant athleticism to snare South African captain Temba Bavuma (36) with a superb diving effort to his right at cover off the bowling of Pat Cummins.

It was the second wicket in Cummins’ 6-28, by far the best bowling figures by a captain in a Test match at Lord’s.

Australia captain Pat Cummins holds up the ball to celebrate his six-wicket haul. Picture: AP Photo

As imposing as Australia’s fast bowlers are, England’s hopes of stealing the Ashes will gain serious legs if they can find a way to get Archer and fellow 150km/h speed machine Mark Wood fit and on a plane down under for the summer.

England would not have minded what they saw on day one of the WTC Final with South African destroyer Kagiso Rabada able to put Australia’s top order under the blowtorch at Lord’s.

England will be thinking they can cause problems for the likes of Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green – and, if he survives, Labuschagne – for Tests on fast and bouncy Australian pitches.

It’s understood England are working towards a plan where they can rotate Archer and Wood through the Ashes series so at least one of them is playing in each of the five Tests.

Jofra Archer and Matthew Wade go face to face during the 2019 series. Picture: Getty Images

That blueprint is reliant on Archer pulling through in his examination against India in the second Test of the series later this month and Wood, who is currently on the sidelines, getting his body right in the months to come.

With Harry Brook, Joe Root and Ben Stokes in their line-up, England certainly has the batting to threaten Australia on their own patch – but they will need express pace to be a genuine chance of causing their first away Ashes upset in 15 years.

Australia is not there yet and their focus is all about toppling South Africa at Lord’s after an engaging and undulating first day and a half.

Jofra Archer in action for Rajasthan Royals earlier this year. Picture: Getty Images

Hazlewood bowled superbly to start day two without reward, and would have been as shocked as the batsman he thought he’d dismissed when Bavuma got an unexpected reprieve from DRS for an inside edge that was news to everyone.

Not least of all Bavuma who only decided to go upstairs to review at the last available second.

South Africa had resumed at 4-43 but Bavuma and David Bedingham showed the positivity the Proteas needed to start putting some pressure back on Australia’s quicks.

Proteas legend Shaun Pollock revealed a pre-play chat he had with South African coaches was all about the team resolving that they weren’t going to leave this WTC Final without feeling like they’d at least had a crack and thrown some punches.

Originally published as Ashes 2025-26: England set for Jofra Archer return to Test team