England pacer Jofra Archer ruled out of the ODI series against West Indies, replacement named

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England’s fiery pacer Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against the West Indies, starting May 29. Archer, who has faced repeated setbacks with his elbow in recent years, was expected to make a return to international action. However, the pacer sustained a right thumb injury, resulting in his ruling out from the series.

In an announcement by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said that England men’s and Sussex pace bowler Archer has been ruled out of the ODI series against the West Indies due to a right thumb injury. The England medical team will monitor his condition over the next two weeks to decide when he might be fit to return to action.

“England Men’s and Sussex pace bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the Metro Bank ODI series against the West Indies due to a right thumb injury. He will be reassessed by the England medical team over the next fortnight to determine when he may return to action,” stated ECB.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old pacer Luke Wood has been named as Archer’s replacement for the upcoming ODI series. Wood, who brings considerable domestic experience, is known for his sharp inswinging deliveries that often trouble batters. He has also previously been part of England’s Under-19 setup, showcasing his potential at the international youth level.

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Despite being ruled out of the ODI series, Archer is likely to feature in the upcoming Test series against India. Archer, known for his pace and accuracy, is particularly effective in English conditions, where he can extract bounce and movement. His ability to trouble batters with consistency makes him a potentially dangerous threat to the young Indian side. If fully fit, Archer’s return could significantly boost England’s bowling attack and pose a major challenge for India’s batting lineup throughout the series.

Archer was also part of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad in IPL 2025, but he reported a niggle to the franchise, preventing his return to the league. Even his performance was below expectations as he could manage just 11 wickets in 12 games with an expensive economy rate of 10.

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