All posts by n8rngtd.top

India’s premier domestic competition returns after year-long hiatus; knockouts to be played post-IPL between May 30 and June 26

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Feb-2022The 2022 Ranji Trophy will be held over two phases, between February 10 and June 26, in nine venues across India.The first phase of the tournament – the league stage – will feature 38 teams and 57 matches, between February 10 and March 15. The knockouts will be held after the conclusion of IPL 2022, and will have seven matches between May 30 and June 26.In a letter sent to members of the board, BCCI secretary Jay Shah explained that the revised schedule was made to “mitigate any cross-transmission risk while also ensuring bio-secure bubbles are not overburdened.”Related

• Wriddhiman Saha opts out of Bengal's Ranji squad for personal reasons

• Unadkat, Fazal on missing two Ranji seasons

• BCCI postpones Ranji Trophy due to rising Covid-19 cases

• BCCI disburses longstanding Covid compensation for domestic players

Overall, the tournament will have 64 matches played in 62 days, with teams divided into nine groups – Eight Elite and one Plate. The Elite group will consist of four teams, and the Plate Group will have six teams. During the league phase, each team will play three matches; Elite teams will face all the other sides in their group, while the Plate teams will play only against three sides from theirs.The BCCI also said that the top seven teams amongst the eight Elite Group toppers would qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while the lowest ranked team would play a pre-quarterfinal match against the Plate Group topper.A BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo that the ranking order of the eight Elite Group toppers is likely to be decided based on points, followed by outright wins, followed by the quotient. It is likely that the quotient could be the determining factor in figuring out which team plays the pre-quarterfinal, since with only three games to be played, several teams could be tied on points and wins. The quotient is determined by dividing the team’s batting average by their bowling average. A higher number is better.*The pre-quarterfinal will be played during the league phase, which will end before the start of the IPL on March 27.The Elite Group matches will be held across Rajkot, Cuttack, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Trivandrum, Delhi, Haryana and Guwahati, while all the Plate matches will take place in Kolkata.The Ranji Trophy was originally scheduled to start on January 13, but had to be postponed indefinitely because of rising Covid-19 cases in India. When making the decision to hold the Ranji Trophy, Shah said that recovery rates from the third wave of the pandemic were encouraging, but the BCCI would continue to have bio-secure bubbles for the tournament to mitigate any risks.”Ever since the decision on postponement was made, the board was working on several models to ensure that the tournament takes place as soon as the environment is safe and conducive,” Shah had written in a letter to state associations. “We will continue to have bio-secure bubbles to mitigate any potential risk. The board is committed to providing a healthy and secure environment and seeks your support in ensuring a safe tournament for all our key stakeholders.”Last season, the pandemic played spoilsport as the BCCI only held the two men’s white-ball tournaments – the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. As a result, the BCCI paid 50% of the earlier match fees as compensation to all first-class cricketers who had endured financial losses.*This copy was amended to include the ranking criteria for the Elite Group teams at 4.00pm GMT.

Unbeaten 70 from Australian opener proves decisive as Welsh Fire fall short of famous comeback

ECB Media09-Aug-2025David Warner made his first half-century in the Hundred to see London Spirit take the spoils against Welsh Fire in Cardiff, despite a thrilling, unbeaten 86 from Jonny Bairstow in response.Like a boxer on the ropes, Bairstow sat back and absorbed the blows as his Fire team fell to 55 for 6 at the halfway point of their reply, before launching a high-octane counterattack that took them close to a famous victory.Bairstow’s 50-ball innings contained six sixes, and saw 74 runs plundered from balls 66 to 95, leaving 17 required off the last five of the innings. As the Sophia Gardens crowd belted out “Wales, Wales, Wales!” it appeared that Bairstow – ably supported by Chris Green – would pull off the comeback but Luke Wood got Spirit over the line.Warner’s innings was a different affair, but was equally effective in driving the visitors – the Australian legend using his experience and nous to work out a defendable total on a track that had something for the bowlers.David Warner made his first fifty of the Hundred•Getty Images

With the ball, before the Bairstow show, Liam Dawson and Richard Gleeson were both parsimonious and though they may briefly have feared that their hard work would be undone it was runs on the board that emerged victorious in the end, Kane Williamson and Justin Langer getting off and running and consigning Fire to a second defeat in two.Warner, the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “That got very close at the end, and credit to the way Jonny and Greeny batted. They were absolutely superb. The partnership they built was fantastic, and what it did do was what we’re trying to do here – entertain the crowd and hopefully everyone was excited by that game.”I think what the guys were saying there was that across the last 25-30 balls it wasn’t that stoppy. It skidded, but it was still slow in the wicket. We tried to execute as well as we could but Jonny was on fire there, he was hitting the ball cleanly and obviously we got over the line but it was a good effort by them.”When you’re out there batting, the five balls and then 10 balls from one end – you think you have to change ends as a batter. I’m getting used to it, but what I am loving is the crowds. It’s fantastic. It’s all about the kids, and us trying to put entertainment on the TV – credit to everyone who came out today, thank you.”This is a really important win for us. We lost our first game at home but we’ve got an away game in Manchester coming up, and hopefully we can tick that off.”

Little, Hume and Adair shared seven of the nine wickets to keep Ireland hopeful but it wasn’t to be

Mohammad Isam09-May-2023Match abandoned South Africa were confirmed their direct qualification for the men’s ODI World Cup later this year after the first ODI between Ireland and Bangladesh was called off due to rain in Chelmsford. Ireland, who now have 73 points, will play the World Cup Qualifier as they won’t go past South Africa’s 98 even if they win the next two games.Ireland were 65 for three in the 17th over, chasing Bangladesh’s 246 for 9, when play was stopped at 4:34pm local time. The match was called off at 7pm local time when the ground was deemed too wet to be fixed up for even a 20-over game, that could have started around 8:10pm.Ireland’s bowlers did a decent job of restricting Bangladesh to a below-par total on a good pitch. Josh Little took 3-61 while there were two wickets each for Graham Hume and Mark Adair.Mushfiqur Rahim marked his 36th birthday with a half-century in front of a 3,000-plus crowd that mostly had Bangladesh fans. He had some help from Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made 44, but the visitors couldn’t put up a big total.Yet, it wasn’t easy for the home side. Ireland couldn’t quite get going despite Paul Stirling’s best intentions. He struck two fours and a six but Shoriful Islam’s tight angles got him to cut one to Mehidy Hasan Miraz at backward point. In a fine opening spell from the other end, Hasan Mahmud got one to nip back through Andrew Balbirnie’s defence to clean bowl him.Taijul Islam dropped Harry Tector off his own bowling in the 14th over, before taking Stephen Doheny’s straightforward chance in his next. Doheny struggled during his 17 off 39 balls, as Ireland couldn’t attack Bangladesh’s opening burst. The over after Doheny’s exit, though, the players had to get off the field as it had become very dark and the covers were brought on.Hasan Mahmud celebrates with team-mates the dismissal of Andy Balbirnie•Cricket Ireland

Bangladesh’s innings was built around Mushfiqur’s half-century and Shanto’s support act after the visitors lost two wickets in the first four overs. Little removed Litton with a searing yorker, lbw for a golden duck. Adair then had Tamim Iqbal caught behind for 14, when he had the left-hander drive at a wide delivery.Bangladesh had a chance to recover through the middle overs but Shakib Al Hasan, Towhid Hridoy and Shanto threw away good starts. Hume cleaned up Shakib when the left-hander missed a wild heave. Fifty runs later, Shanto, who looked in good touch, hit Curtis Campher down Adair’s throat at deep midwicket. He struck seven fours in his 66-ball stay, adding a half-century stand for the fourth wicket with Hridoy, who fell soon after for 27 to give Hume his second wicket.Ireland could have hurt Bangladesh further but Tector dropped an easy chance from Mushfiqur off Campher when the batter was on 19. Bangladesh rebuilt again, Mushfiqur and No. 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz adding 65 runs for the sixth wicket, giving Bangladesh some hope of a good finish. But after hitting some pretty shots and providing good support for Mushfiqur, Mehidy holed out in the deep on the leg side for 27 against the run of play in the 38th over.Mushfiqur then went on to reach his 44th ODI fifty but fell after adding a further 33 runs for the seventh wicket with Taijul Islam, holing out to the sweeper cover.

The home side have given themselves the option of playing two spinners at the SCG

Andrew McGlashan30-Dec-2022Ashton Agar and Matt Renshaw have been called up for the final Test against South Africa in Sydney as Australia prepare for the possibility of playing two spinners.Australia will have at least two changes at the SCG as they look to complete a 3-0 series win and all-but secure a place in the World Test Championship final with Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc both ruled out with broken fingers suffered at the MCG.Green’s absence creates a headache in balancing the side and both the players called into the squad provide different routes.Agar, who played the most recent of his four Tests in 2017, could bat at No. 7 and partner Nathan Lyon in a twin-spin attack should the SCG pitch, which has taken turn at various times this season, look dry for the Test.Related

• 'It's gone way better than expected' – Marco Jansen reflects on his first year as an international cricketer

• David Warner: 'Was there doubts? Yeah, of course'

• Carey is understated and unselfish, and his team-mates love him for it

• Australia crush South Africa by innings and 182 runs to secure series

• Mitchell Starc could be in doubt for India tour after injuring finger

He would likely have made the Test side in Sri Lanka earlier this year if he had not suffered a side strain during the limited-overs leg. His call-up now also puts him in prime position for a spot on the India tour in February where a left-arm fingerspinner is viewed as a key component.If Agar plays he will have to defy a underwhelming first-class record were he averages 41.84 with the ball, and a strike-rate of 82.2, although a batting average of 28.38 (and the famous 98 he made in Test debut in 2013) is viewed as a way of providing some run-scoring ability in the lower middle order, which would likely see Alex Carey move to No. 6.”Ashton offers a second spin option should the Sydney pitch be conducive to turn, as it has done in the past,” selector Tony Dodemaide said. “He also brings a solid batting component.”Matthew Renshaw had an impressive outing against West Indies•Getty Images

In the last two years Agar has only played three first-class matches which have brought seven wickets, largely due to being a regular in Australia’s white-ball set-ups. He has been preferred ahead of legspinner Mitchell Swepson, who played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and the uncapped offspinner Todd Murphy.Renshaw an option for middle order
If Australia opt for a more traditional balance then Renshaw, who has 11 caps and last played in 2018, could slot into the middle order. His versatility was noted by Dodemaide and would likely see him jump ahead of Marcus Harris who has been the spare batter in the squad throughout the Test summer.Renshaw has returned to opening the batting for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield this season having had a run in the middle order prior to that and made an unbeaten 200 against New South Wales, followed by scores of 81 and 101 not out for the Prime Minister’s XI against West Indies in Canberra.The selectors will also have to decide who replaces Starc in the pace attack. Speaking during the MCG Test, head coach Andrew McDonald indicated that Lance Morris, the fastest bowler in Australia, could be in line for a debut.That raises the question of whether Josh Hazlewood will find a spot to return having declared himself fit after a side strain he picked up against West Indies in Perth and saw him withdraw from contention for the Boxing Day Test. Scott Boland put in another good shift at the MCG with three wickets and now has 28 at 12.21 in his six Tests.”In terms of fast bowlers, it’s a blessing to have Josh returning while Lance offers a genuine point of difference with his raw pace and skill,” Dodemaide said.Australia squad for Sydney Test vs South Africa Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Matthew Renshaw, Steven Smith, David Warner

The wristspinner complained of shoulder pain on the eve of the Ranchi Test

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2019Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem has been added to India’s squad on the eve of the third Test against South Africa in Ranchi, with Kuldeep Yadav having complained of shoulder pain on Friday.Nadeem has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket for several years, and has the distinction of having taken more than 50 wickets in a Ranji season in consecutive seasons, in 2015-16 and 2016-17. He has been a regular part of India A squads, and had good returns in each of his last three series in the longer format, all with India A. He took seven wickets in two matches against England Lions in February, at an average of 24.57. When India A travelled to West Indies in July-August, he played in two of the three first-class fixtures, taking 15 wickets at an average of 16. He did well against South Africa A at home too last month, with eight wickets in two matches at 16.75.He has also done well in other formats, and notably holds the world record for the best-ever List A figures, which he achieved last year.Nadeem had just returned home to Kolkata, where he resides, after having played for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019-20, when he received news of his call up. Jharkhand were part of Group A in the tournament, but didn’t qualify for the knockouts.Nadeem received his maiden India call-up for the T20I squad during West Indies’ tour of the subcontinent last year but did not feature in any game. Incidentally, the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi is Nadeem’s home ground.His call-up provides India with an option in case they need to use the new concussion substitute rule for a spinner. While R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been India’s first-choice spinners in the first two Tests, the addition of Nadeem gives the team an option in case one of them needs a back-up midway through the Test, which India might not have had otherwise considering Kuldeep’s injury.

Mayank Markande, who made an impressive IPL debut last year for Mumbai Indians, had played only three matches for the franchise in 2019

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2019Mumbai Indians, the IPL 2019 champions, have added West Indies batsman Sherfane Rutherford to their squad, after trading legspinner Mayank Markande to Delhi Capitals.Rutherford is known for his big-hitting abilities. Playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors in his debut season of the Caribbean Premier League last year, Rutherford made a mark against Trinbago Knight Riders, smashing a 13-ball 45 with six sixes and a four, in a match-winning partnership with Shimron Hetmyer. His overall run tally in CPL 2018 was 171 runs at a strike rate of 142.5 and he earned a call-up to West Indies’ T20I side on the India tour, going on to make his international debut against Bangladesh in Dhaka in December.Capitals bought Rutherford for INR 2 crore from a base price of INR 40 lakh in the December 2018 auction, and one of the most impactful performances from the 20-year-old came against Royal Challengers Bangalore, when he scored a 13-ball 28 and took the wicket of AB de Villiers with his medium pace.Markande played only three matches for Mumbai in IPL 2019, after a solid debut season last year where he finished as the team’s third-highest wicket-taker, with 15 dismissals in 14 matches. He now joins Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane and Rahul Tewatia to form a legspinning quartet for Capitals to choose from.From Mumbai’s point of view, young legspinner Rahul Chahar had a breakthrough season in 2019, picking up 13 wickets in 13 games with an economy rate of 6.55, and Markande ended up picking just one wicket and going for plenty – 59 runs in six overs, perhaps making the second leggie surplus to their requirements.But they will now have to offload at least one overseas player, with Rutherford’s acquisition taking the number up to nine.

South Africa are light on batting experience, with Miller the senior man in the squad, but have several bowling options

Firdose Moonda26-Feb-2020Keshav Maharaj, South Africa’s premier Test spinner, has been included in the ODI squad to face Australia in a three-match series which starts on Saturday. Maharaj, who has four ODI caps to his name, is currently the joint-leading wicket-taker in the domestic one-day competition and will be pushing Tabraiz Shamsi for a spot from in the white-ball XI. Maharaj last played ODI cricket in 2018, when he was part of South Africa’s squad to Sri Lanka.

South Africa’s ODI squad

Quinton de Kock (capt, wk), Temba Bavuma, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Jon-Jon Smuts, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Verreyenne

Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen and Dwaine Pretorius have been rested for the series with Lutho Sipamla, Janneman Malan and Kyle Verreynne included. Neither 19-year-old Thando Ntini, who shares top spot on the bowling charts with Maharaj, nor Zubayr Hamza, who leads the batting list with 525 runs at 75.00, have been considered. Temba Bavuma, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury is sitting out the deciding T20I against Australia, and Heinrich Klaasen, who has recovered from a hip injury to play at Newlands on Wednesday, have both been included.That means South Africa go into the series light on batting experience, with David Miller the senior man in the line-up but with several bowling options. Kagiso Rabada, who has rested for the entire white-ball leg of the England series, leads the attack with Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Beuran Hendricks and Sipamla making up the rest of the pace pack. Andile Phehlukwayo is the lone seam-bowling allrounder and there are three spin options in Maharaj, Shamsi and Jon-Jon Smuts.Aiden Markram, who has missed most of the home summer after fracturing a finger in the first Test against England, is not yet fit enough for selection, but has been named in Titans’ squad for their one-day fixture against Dolphins on Thursday after undergoing an operation. Junior Dala, who last played an ODI in August 2018, also returns from injury to take his place in the Titans squad.The squad is very much an experimental outfit, focused on providing opportunities for consistent domestic performers and one eye on the 2023 World Cup. “With the completion of the 2019 Cricket World Cup and the next one being three years away from now, we always saw the series against England and Australia as an opportunity to play some fresh talent,” Mark Boucher, South Africa’s coach, said. ‘”If we feel that we need to rest players, we will, as we have done in the recent past. Faf has been fantastic for us in white-ball cricket and remains very much in our ODI plans and we will manage his workload for the near future diligently.”South Africa play three more ODIs before their international season ends, in India and then have an extended break for most of April and May. They come out of that with a limited-overs series in Sri Lanka, and two Tests and five T20s in West Indies, in preparation for the T20 World Cup. There is also talk of three T20Is being played in Pakistan when the schedule allows.

Harry Gurney will slot in for Shinwari after five matches, while Faheem will be replaced by Mohammad Nabi after eight games

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2019Defending champions Melbourne Renegades have signed Pakistan left-arm seamer Usman Shinwari and allrounder Faheem Ashraf for a chunk of the upcoming Big Bash League season.Shinwari will be available for the first five games, with England quick Harry Gurney replacing him for the remainder of the season, while new recruit Faheem will be replaced by Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi after eight games.The upcoming season will be Shinwari’s second stint in the BBL. He played seven games for Renegades last season, finishing with eight wickets at an economy rate of 6.14. Faheem was the second-highest wicket-taker in the 2019 Pakistan Super League with 21 strikes in 12 innings for Islamabad United after finishing on top of the list in 2018. He has 93 wickets and 558 runs in the 83 T20s he has played since his debut in the format in 2015.Nabi, meanwhile, will be returning for a third season with the team, having scored 316 runs and picked up 16 wickets in 21 games in the last two seasons. Gurney, who impressed with his variations during their successful 2018-19 season, picked up ten wickets in nine matches then.”I’m pleased with how we’re shaping up,” new head coach Michael Klinger said. “Mohammad Nabi and Harry Gurney showed their class last season so we’re glad to have them on board for the second half of the home and away season and hopefully finals.”After winning a title, the competition for spots in the XI is going to be fierce and we feel we’ve got plenty of options to cover the challenges that we’ll be confronted with throughout the season.”Renegades will begin their title defence against Sydney Thunder on December 19 at the Simonds Stadium in Geelong.

A big number of Australians are playing in overseas competitions in the lead up to the World Cup and Ashes tours. Here is how they are faring

Alex Malcolm09-Apr-2019Who’s in form and who’s notDavid Warner and Steven Smith are rounding into form ahead of likely World Cup call-ups. Warner’s return to the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad has been exceptional. He is the leading scorer in the IPL this season including a masterful century against Royal Challengers Bangalore and added 70 not out against Kings XI Punjab.He looks in outstanding physical condition and primed for a big World Cup. Smith hasn’t looked as fluent for Rajasthan Royals but he found some touch with 73 not out from 59 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders even though it came in a slow-scoring, losing effort.ALSO READ: Bairstow-Warner bromance like Ronaldo-Rooney – Eoin MorganJason Behrendorff has bowled very well in his first two IPL games for Mumbai Indians to keep himself in the World Cup mix. Marcus Stoinis has made a couple of starts for Royal Challengers but hasn’t really been able to recapture the form he showed at the end of the BBL season and he has been very expensive when he’s bowled.Andrew Tye hasn’t found his mojo for Kings XI either, playing only three of the six games so far. He hasn’t been able to restrict the opposition with his normal array of tricks and he hasn’t taken his usual handful of death-overs wickets.#AsheswatchGlenn Maxwell has skipped the IPL and started a stint with Lancashire in English county cricket in order to put a case forward to play in the Ashes. He started with a match against Loughborough MCCU and was still in World Cup mode, making 82 off 45 balls in the second innings to set up a declaration. He also bowled 16 overs of offspin and picked up a wicket.Matt Renshaw is now a long shot for full honours and had a double failure on debut for Kent against his former county Somerset. He surprisingly didn’t open in either innings. Marnus Labuschagne is hoping to have a big start to the county season for Glamorgan after a lean finish to the Sheffield Shield season with Queensland. He didn’t spend much time in the middle against Cardiff MCCU but made 24 not out in the second innings.It was a lean start for Matt Renshaw with Kent•Getty Images

Did you see?Chris Lynn is not in consideration for Australia’s World Cup campaign and his start to the IPL for Knight Riders hasn’t hit the heights of previous seasons. But he was involved in a bizarre incident against Royals where he appeared to be bowled but the bail lifted from the groove and dropped back in place. He went on to make 50 off 32 balls and help his team to an easy win.ALSO READ: ‘At least it can be a dead ball’ – Ajinkya Rahane’s plea after Chris Lynn’s reprieveInjury listSmith’s elbow hasn’t inhibited his ability to play for Royals, but he has been restricted in the field as he still manages his recovery from surgery.Performance of weekYou could make a case for Smith or Warner with their most recent performances but both came in losses. Lynn’s blistering, albeit fortunate, half-century against Royals was invaluable for Knight Riders as it vaulted them to the top of the IPL table and gave them a huge net run-rate boost by mowing down the target of 140 with eight wickets in hand and 37 balls to spare.

England fast bowler may face surgery as ECB plan next steps of recovery

Andrew Miller16-May-2021Jofra Archer has been ruled out of England’s two-Test series against New Zealand, starting at Lord’s on June 2, and may face surgery on his troublesome right elbow after failing to come through this week’s return to first-class action.Archer, who was withdrawn from this year’s IPL prior to its postponement earlier this month, had undergone a series of cortisone injections to enable him to get through the T20I leg of England’s white-ball tour of India in March.Related

• Ashley Giles: England will be conservative with Jofra Archer's comeback

• Jofra Archer: 'If I don't get this right, I won't play any cricket. Period'

• Jofra Archer cleared to resume training after hand surgery

• Jofra Archer ruled out of entire IPL 2021

• Jofra Archer a mere bystander as Zak Crawley and Jack Leaning leave Sussex frustrated

He also underwent an operation on the middle finger of his right hand while receiving further treatment on his elbow, to remove a splinter of glass following a bizarre incident involving a fish-tank. He showed no ill effects following that treatment and has been playing without protection on the affected digit.After a low-key return to action for Sussex’s second XI against Surrey two weeks ago, Archer appeared to be returning to his best when he picked up two wickets, including his England Test team-mate Zak Crawley, in a hostile new-ball burst on his return to the County Championship against Kent at Hove this week.However, he bowled just five overs in Kent’s second innings, and none on the final two days of the match, a situation that appeared to have caused confusion for his Sussex captain Ben Brown on a rain-shortened third day, when he gestured for Archer to open the bowling but had to turn instead to his team-mate George Garton.”It was a communication thing with Jofra on Saturday evening,” Brown said at the conclusion of the match. “There is no issue. I asked him beforehand if he was going to have a bowl and he said yes in a warm-up capacity. But he was feeling too sore to bowl.”The issue here is a sad one for Jofra. He’s a champion cricketer, so talented and so gifted, but at the moment he cannot do what he wants to do, he cannot do his skill.”I really feel for him. He’s in a difficult situation, with that skill of bowling really fast being taken away from him if you like. This week has been very challenging for him. He was hopeful about how it would go, but he’s felt pretty sore in this game.”An ECB statement subsequently confirmed that Archer “was suffering from pain in his right elbow when bowling and was unable to bowl in the final two days of the match.”The England and Sussex medical teams will now seek guidance,” the statement continued, “and Archer will see a medical consultant later this week to determine the next course of action on the management of his elbow.”Archer first suffered problems with his right elbow during the tour of South Africa in January 2020, when a stress fracture was detected that ruled him out of the final three Tests of the series, as well as the subsequent one-day campaign.The option of surgery may be the preferred course of action for Archer and for England – not to mention his IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals – given his importance to the team’s plans across formats in the back-end of the year.As the MVP in the last IPL in November 2020, and following a series of hostile displays in the 3-2 series loss in India, Archer’s value to England’s T20I attack is paramount, especially given that the team will go into the T20 World Cup in October and November as one of the favourites, and seeking to become the first team to hold the 50-over and 20-over titles concurrently.Then there is the Ashes campaign in Australia hot on that tournament’s heels – a tour that England’s Test captain, Joe Root, admitted this week was the “pinnacle” of their plans for 2021, notwithstanding a five-match home series against India before that.In the meantime, England have already indicated that they will be giving opportunities to fringe members of their Test squad during the New Zealand series – not least among them, Archer’s fellow Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson, who has been a fixture in the biosecure environment without yet being given a Test debut.Mark Wood and Olly Stone, who like Archer can bowl at speeds in excess of 90mph, are expected to be included in the squad, although the contingent of players who have recently returned from the IPL – including Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Moeen Ali – are expected to be rested, due to the time they have already spent in bio-secure environments.Ben Stokes is already ruled out of the series after sustaining a broken finger during his stint with Rajasthan Royals at the IPL.