In a major development ahead of the second Test between England and India, fast bowler Jofra Archer has been added to England’s squad.The second Test is scheduled to start on July 2 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Archer’s inclusion marks a significant moment for England’s Test side, as the 30-year-old pacer is set to return to red-ball cricket after more than four years. His last Test appearance came in February 2021, also against India. Since then, he has faced multiple injury setbacks, including a serious back stress fracture that kept him out of action for extended periods.
Archer recently returned to first-class cricket, featuring for Sussex in a County Championship match against Durham. His performance there paved the way for his selection in the Test squad. He had already made a comeback to white-ball cricket in 2024 and featured in a few matches since then, but this will be his first red-ball international match since the long injury break.
With England already leading the five-match Test series 1-0 after a convincing win at Headingley, Archer’s return adds further firepower to an already confident bowling attack. His raw pace and experience could play a key role in the upcoming match at Edgbaston.
Apart from Archer’s inclusion, the rest of the England squad remains unchanged from the one that was named for the first Test. The squad continues to feature experienced names like Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Ollie Pope, alongside promising young talents like Shoaib Bashir and Jamie Smith.
Full England squad for the 2nd Test:
Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
The second Test will be followed by three more matches in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, to be played at Lord’s (July 10–14), Old Trafford (July 23–27), and The Oval (July 31–August 4).
Fans will be eager to see how Archer performs on his return, especially with England looking to build on their series lead. His presence could prove to be a turning point in the bowling dynamics as the series progresses.