Michael Vaughan has accused selectors of rushing Jofra Archer back into the England Test squad.
Archer was fast-tracked back into the squad to face India in the second Test at Edgbaston on July 2.
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Archer is back in the England Test fold for the second Test against IndiaCredit: Getty
The 30-year-old returns to the Test side for the first time since February 2021 after a succession of injuries threatened to wreak havoc on his career.
Archer posted an impressive breakout season in 2019, starring in England’s ODI World Cup triumph before taking 22 wickets during four Tests of the Ashes series.
However, six years on, the fast bowler has earned just 13 caps owing to serious elbow and back injuries.
Archer came through his first red-ball match in over four years unscathed in Sussex’s meeting with Durham earlier this week.
While the news is positive for both Archer and England, Vaughan believes Archer would have been best placed playing at least one more red-ball match with Sussex before lining up in the third Test at Lords.
Asked whether he had heard the news about Archer’s inclusion, Vaughan told talkSPORT: “Yeah, I heard that at Henley that they were going to put Jofra into the second test match.
“I just don’t understand the rush, you know, he’s not played the longer format for four years. He’s had one outing for Sussex up in Durham.
“He bowled a few overs and he bowled them quite nicely,” the former England captain added.
“On the back of a tremendous performance at Leeds (in the first Test), I look at someone like Josh Tongue. He bowled fantastic.
“He hoovered up the tail, something that England have not been brilliant at over the years. Surely he plays again at Edgbaston?”
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Former England captain Vaughan beleives Archer would have benefited from one more red-ball matchCredit: Getty – Contributor
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Vaughan heaped praise on Tongue’s performance against IndiaCredit: AFP
Vaughan continued: “They’ve had, and by the time the game starts, it’ll be a week in between the tests. That’s plenty of time to rest.
“I personally would have let Jofra play one more four-day game, get a few more overs under the belt, and go with the same team that played so well at Leeds.
“Then bring him for the test match at Lord’s where he bowled one of the great spells.
“One of the great spells in this era that we talk about is Jofra Archer bowling to Steve Smith from the pavilion.
“I would have waited for Lords for Jofra. Whether he plays or not, we’ll have to wait and see, but I’d like to have seen him play one more game for Sussex.”
Archer finished with figures of 1-32 from 18 overs in Durham’s first innings with his wicket coming from opener Emilio Gay.
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Archer looked back to his best for Sussex against Durham this weekCredit: Getty
But even Sussex head coach Sussex Paul Farbrace urged England to treat Archer with the utmost care upon his return to Test cricket.
“He bowled with good pace, good accuracy and his body’s in good shape which is fantastic,” Farbrace told the BBC.
“We would all love to see Jofra playing for England because he makes England a much better team, and he would give them a much better chance of winning the big series.
“But let’s look after him, let’s be careful with him. The conversation we’d had [with England] was that he would play in this game, and then we’d reassess.
“He bowled nicely and he looks like he’s in good rhythm.”
England secured a five-wicket victory in this week’s first Test against India after chasing down 371 set by the tourists.
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It was a successful opening Test for captain Ben StokesCredit: Getty
With a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, England head to Edgbaston next week with their tails up following Ben Duckett’s heroic 149.