News of Jofra Archer’s latest injury continues his rollercoaster England career, which has been full of remarkable achievements and matching disappointments.
Here, PA news agency looks at his highs and lows.
High – The Barbados-born seamer was selected for England’s 2019 World Cup a matter of months after becoming eligible following a modification of the ECB’s rules. He played a crucial role in their run to the final, ultimately taking the responsibility of closing out victory over New Zealand by bowling the decisive super over.
High – Fresh from his World Cup triumph, he was parachuted into England’s Test team for the second match of the 2019 Ashes. His impact was instant and eye-catching. He lit up the drawn contest with an unforgettable spell of hostile high-speed bowling, eventually felling the in-form Steve Smith with a 93mph bouncer that forced the Australian out of the next match with concussion.
Low – In his first overseas Test, Archer was called on to send down a gruelling 42 overs against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui in what would subsequently go down as an error of judgement from captain Joe Root. Archer was also criticised for riding a segway on the field before play on day one and suffered racial abuse from a home fan.
Low – Missed the last three Tests of the 2019-20 tour of South Africa through injury. Invited to prove himself with a fiery spell in the nets ahead of the final Test in Johannesburg, but only succeeded in exacerbating his problems and was later diagnosed with a stress fracture of the right elbow.
Low – Dropped from the second Test of the summer against the West Indies after breaching bio-security protocols with an unauthorised trip home during the first series back following the coronavirus outbreak. Director of cricket Ashley Giles warned his actions could have compromised the tour and cost the ECB “tens of millions of pounds”.
High – Offered a timely reminder of his class by being named as MVP of the Indian Premier League in November 2020, starring for Rajasthan Royals and confirming his status as world-class T20 bowler.
Low – After more injury problems, his first-class comeback for Sussex in May 2021 ended in confusing fashion as he took the field on day three only to declare himself unfit to bowl when asked by captain Ben Brown. Two bouts of surgery on his elbow and a stress fracture of the back followed, forcing his longest lay-off yet including two T20 World Cups and an Ashes tour Down Under.
High – After working with England Lions at a winter training camp, Archer made his long-awaited international comeback in the white-ball tour of South Africa in 2023. His second match back brought career-best ODI figures of six for 40 against the Proteas, and confirmation that he still had the pace and menace to succeed at the highest level.
Low – Handed a lucrative IPL contract by Mumbai Indians but managed just five games in the 2023 edition before flying home injured. Ruled out for the entire international summer of 2023 with news of another stress fracture in his right elbow.
Pakistan thrash Zimbabwe behind Ayub ton to level ODI series
Saim Ayub made a 53-ball century and Abrar Ahmed took four wickets on debut as Pakistan trounced Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to level the teams' ODI series at 1-1 on Tuesday.
Having lost a rain-hit opener by DLS method on Sunday, Pakistan raced to victory in the second match in Bulawayo, thanks in part to a brilliant display of spin bowling.
New boy Abrar was the pick of the bunch among their attack, finishing with figures of 4-33, while Salman Agha took 3-26 as the hosts were skittled for 145 runs within 33 overs.
Dion Myers top-scored for Zimbabwe with just 33 before being trapped lbw by Salman, with five home batters not even reaching double figures as their innings unravelled.
Any hopes that Pakistan's Sunday struggles might reappear were swiftly eradicated when the tourists took up the bat, with Ayub (113) teaming up with fellow opener Abdullah Shafique (32) for an unbeaten stand of 145.
Ayub smashed Sikandar Raza's delivery for four to get Pakistan over the line in just over 18 overs, making Thursday's final ODI a series decider.
The teams will then face off in three T20Is, with the opening match of that series, which is also being staged entirely in Bulawayo, set for Sunday.
Data Debrief: Ayub the best of the rest
Ayub's century was the fastest ODI hundred ever made by a Pakistan player excluding the legendary Shahid Afridi.
The latter's record stands at 102 off 37 balls against Sri Lanka in 1996, while he also hit a 45-ball ton against India in 2005.
Greaves hits unbeaten ton as West Indies dominate Bangladesh
Justin Greaves hit an unbeaten century – his first red-ball ton – as West Indies ended day two of their first Test against Bangladesh with a commanding 410-run lead.
Greaves resumed alongside Joshua Da Silva with West Indies 250-5 after day one in Antigua, eventually slamming 115 runs off 206 balls faced as the hosts established a dominant position.
His steady knock ensured the Windies recovered nicely after slipping to 261-7 early on, while Kemar Roach hit a career-best 47 through four defiant hours at the crease.
Hasan Mahmud took three day-two wickets for Bangladesh, including that of Roach, as his short delivery angled in to clip the top of middle stump.
Windies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite declared to put Bangladesh at the crease late on, and there was no respite for the tourists against the hosts' four-man pace attack.
Zakir Hasan fell to Jayden Seales for 15, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy edged Alzarri Joseph for five shortly after being dropped, leaving Bangladesh 40-2 at stumps.
Data Debrief: Career-best for Greaves
Greaves' unbeaten 115 marked his first century in Test cricket, surpassing his previous best knock – a score of 33 versus Australia in January – by some distance.
His strike rate of 55.83 on Saturday, while steady, also bettered his effort of 55.00 during that match in Brisbane. Thanks to his efforts, Bangladesh have a real mountain to climb on day three.
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
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