Archer returns to action ahead of Ashes

Jofra Archer's journey to the Ashes took a huge step forward after he was named to play for Sussex in Saturday's domestic T20 clash against Surrey.

Archer's Ashes availability was clouded when it was revealed he was suffering a left side injury through England's successful World Cup campaign.

In the wake of naming England's first Test squad to face Ireland and the extended training camp, England selector Ed Smith said he was unsure when or if Archer would play in the Ashes, citing the uncertainty around the fast bowler's fitness as his main concern.

But having spent a week in Barbados recovering, the 24-year-old has been cleared to play in Saturday's clash in Hove.

Archer bowled pain free in the nets to fast bowler Chris Jordan, his England and Sussex team and passed the fitness tests on Thursday morning administered by the respective Sussex and England medicos. 

While Archer has been a force of nature in limited-overs cricket over the past 18 months all around the world, he hasn't played a first-class match since September last year for county side Sussex.

Smith said managing Archer's workloads and making sure the leap up in overs, from a maximum of 10 overs in one-day cricket to the long, grueling spells in the red ball game, is not too steep.

But getting Archer a competitive red-ball game could be an issue.

What complicates the situation is the schedule of the English domestic season, which as of last Friday switches from four-day cricket to the national T20 competition.

As it stands, Sussex's next first-class match isn't until August 18 in Brighton against Middlesex, ironically the county that calls Lord's home and where the final day of second Ashes Test will be taking place at the same time.

But given Archer's immense skill and, as a strike bowler, he may only be asked to bowl in short spurts, perhaps a diet of white-ball cricket will suffice for a Test call-up.

With the first Test at Edgbaston less than a week away, Archer is not expected to come into selection talks until the second Test at the earliest.

But with express paceman Mark Wood out injured from four-six weeks and Jimmy Anderson missing the Ireland Test as he returns to full fitness from a calf injury, England may well call on Archer as soon as he's available.

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval