England vs India: Jofra Archer return confirmed after four-year absence

Jofra Archer will play his first Test in more than four years after being named in the England team to face India at Lord's on Thursday.

The 30-year-old's inclusion is the only change to the England team for the crucial third Test, with the series level at 1-1.

Despite Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse both looking weary in the heavy second-Test defeat at Edgbaston, they are both retained, with Josh Tongue making way for Archer.

On the same day Archer's place in the England XI was confirmed, fellow pace bowler Mark Wood trained at Lord's as he continues his comeback from a knee injury.

It was thought Wood would miss the entire five-match series against India, but the Durham man is targeting the final Test at The Oval. It raises the tantalising prospect of Archer and Wood in the same XI, which has only happened once before in Test cricket.

Archer has taken 42 wickets in 13 previous Tests but has been dogged by back and elbow injuries since his last, also against India, in 2021. England have played 53 Tests since Archer last appeared. It will be 1,595 days between caps.

In that time, it seemed highly doubtful Archer would ever be back in Test cricket and there were points when his entire career was in doubt.

Following his last major setback, in 2023, Archer has followed a meticulous plan laid out by England, who have kept faith in his supreme talent with central contracts throughout his time away from Test cricket.

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