Archer out of IPL, returns to England ahead of Ashes

Jofra Archer's availability for the Ashes is again in doubt with the England pace bowler to miss the rest of the Indian Premier League and return home.

JOFRA ARCHER.
JOFRA ARCHER. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Jofra Archer's Ashes preparations have suffered another setback with the English speedster to miss the remainder of the Indian Premier League.

Archer was on Tuesday released by the Mumbai Indians and set to be replaced by countryman Chris Jordan in their squad for the rest of the tournament.

Archer's withdrawal from the Twenty20 tournament comes weeks after reports surfaced the quick had undergone surgery on his troublesome right elbow.

He returned from a three-week layoff to play in the last four games for Mumbai, before the call was made to send him back to England.

"Archer has been recovering from right elbow surgery," the ECB said in a statement.

"However, pushing through the discomfort whilst recently playing, hoping it will settle, has proven challenging.

"Therefore, it has been agreed for him to return to the UK for a period of rest and rehabilitation to give him the best opportunity for a full recovery."

The 28-year-old's exit from the IPL comes a little over five weeks out from the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on June 16.

At his best, Archer has the ability to rough-up Australia and looms as an X-factor in this year's Ashes.

He took 22 wickets at an average of 20.27 during the 2019 series, but it was his battle with Steve Smith at Lord's that had the longest-lasting impact.

Archer was one of the few Englishmen to trouble the Australian star during his Bradman-esque series, and struck him on the helmet in the second Test.

Smith was ultimately ruled out of the following match through concussion and opposition teams have regularly tried to bounce out the Australian batsman ever since.

Archer, though, has barely returned to the field since that glorious 2019 season, in which he also helped England capture the one-day World Cup on home soil.

Injuries have restricted him to six Tests since that point with his most recent being against India in Ahmedabad in February 2021.

Archer has not played a long-form red-ball match since June 2021.

He spent 17 months on the sidelines shortly after that and only returned from elbow and back injuries this year.

England have a Test against Ireland - starting on June 1 - before the Ashes begin.

Archer is also expected to be a key part of England's one-day World Cup in India later this year.