Ace fast bowler Jofra Archer has secured a central contract extension with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) until September 2026.
Archer’s previous contract was due to expire next October, just ahead of England cricket team’s Ashes tour Down Under. The one-year extension will be a huge boost to Archer’s potential return to Test cricket after a prolonged battle with injuries.
Since bursting onto the scene in the 2019 Ashes series, Archer, the hero of England’s 2019 ICC World Cup victory, has donned the England whites in just 13 Test matches.
Persistent back and elbow injuries have kept him out of the England Test squad since 2021 but the 29-year-old has been slowly reintegrated into the Three Lions’ white ball setup since last year.
In fact, Jofra Archer played 20 matches for England across the white-ball formats in 2024. These include all eight of England's matches at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he was his team's joint-highest wicket-taker with 10 scalps to his name.
The performances also earned Archer a spot in the Rajasthan Royals squad for the IPL 2025. He will be returning to the Royals after four years, having represented the Royals from 2018 to 2020.
England skipper Ben Stokes was thrilled with the development and said, “The excitement is understandable around Jofra. The injuries and surgeries he’s undergone could have ended other careers, so the fact he’s back is incredible.”
Archer’s new deal means he remains eligible for next year’s Ashes as well as England’s Test series at home against the Indian cricket team next Summer.
