Thumb injury rules Jofra Archer out of England's ODI series against West Indies

By SABC Sport
21st May 2025

Jofra Archer has been ruled out England's ODI series against West Indies, that starts later this month, due to a thumb injury sustained with IPL side Rajasthan Royals.

The fast bowler will miss all three matches against the West Indies, starting at Edgbaston on 29 May, with England saying in a statement "he will be reassessed over the next fortnight to determine when he may return to action".

Lancashire's left-arm seamer Luke Wood, who had already been named instead of Archer for the T20I series that follows in June, has been added to the ODI squad.

The injury could also rule Archer out of a possible return to red-ball cricket where he was pencilled in to play for the England Lions against India A next month.

The 30-year-old has been hampered with back and elbow injuries since he last played Test cricket for England in February 2021.

The ODI and T20 series against West Indies is significant as Harry Brook's first since being named as England's permanent new white-ball captain.

England squads for West Indies

ODI: Harry Brook (c), Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.

T20: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood.