India vs England Lord's Test: England Names Jofra Archer In Playing XI For 3rd Test

Jofra Archer is set to make his Test cricket comeback after more than four years, as he has been selected for England's team to face India at Lord's starting Thursday. Archer's inclusion marks the only change in the England lineup following their defeat in the second Test at Edgbaston, which allowed India to level the series at 1-1.

The 30-year-old fast bowler replaces Nottinghamshire's Josh Tongue in the squad. Archer will join seamers Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse in an effort to strengthen England's bowling attack. India's batsmen have dominated so far, with seven centuries scored across the first two Tests, including a remarkable 585 runs by captain Shubman Gill in just four innings.

Jofra Archer 's Return from Injury

Jofra Archer has faced significant challenges with elbow and back injuries since his last Test appearance against India in Ahmedabad in February 2021. During this period, he missed 53 potential Test matches. His return is a testament to his perseverance and the meticulous rehabilitation efforts of England's support staff.

The Sussex bowler returns to Lord's, a venue of personal triumph where he was part of England's World Cup-winning team in 2019 and made his Test debut against Australia. Despite these fond memories, Archer has played only one first-class match for Sussex recently, bowling 18 overs and taking one wicket, which poses some risk regarding his readiness.

England Squad Adjustments After Bringing In Jofra Archer

Archer's selection means there is no place for Sam Cook or Jamie Overton, while Tongue exits despite being the series' leading wicket-taker with 11 dismissals. Gus Atkinson remains part of the squad but is recovering from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Mark Wood has shown progress by training at Lord's as he works towards returning from a knee injury.

India has yet to announce their lineup for Lord's but may reintroduce Jasprit Bumrah after resting him for the second Test. The anticipated changes aim to bolster both teams as they vie for dominance in this closely contested series.