England Test captain Ben Stokes has said that Jofra Archer wants to return to the Test team again. However, he understands the need not to risk the pacer at this stage as well. However, Archer had a sensational debut Test series, taking 22 scalps in four matches during the 2019 Ashes as well. However, he hasn’t played in the format since 2021 and returned to international cricket this year after a lengthy break due to injuries.

Ahead of the second Test against the West Indies, Stokes said as quoted by The Telegraph, “I know that Jofra is desperate to get back in a Test shirt for England. He’s very passionate about playing for England and he’s still got a lot of passion to play Test cricket. But he’s been through a very, very tough few years. Watching him to play in the World Cup was obviously great. But I’m very close with Jofra, and it was just great to see him back out on the field. It’s about not getting too giddy with it. If we don’t have him for a year, let’s say, but it prolongs his career for another two or three years, that’s what we are looking to do. We’re not looking to rush Jof back.”

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With James Anderson and Stuart Broad retiring from the Test, Ben Stokes claimed that Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes will spearhead the new ball in Nottingham against the West Indies as well. He also applauded Atkinson for generating appreciable seam movement off the surface as well.

“Gus and Woakesy will take the new ball. I first saw Gus live in the World Cup in India. He just had all the attributes of a very, very good bowler. A lot of it is to do with the Dukes ball, how it has behaved. There has not actually been that much movement in the air with the new ball. It’s generally been off the surface, hitting the seam and Gus is a very good exponent of that,” Ben Stokes further added.