"Sometimes you feel like a burden not playing" - Jofra Archer

England pacer Jofra Archer has said that he had the hardest time during his long period of being sidelined from the game due to injury as he felt like a burden. The pacer shared how he read comments that stated he had been on a paid holiday. Notably, Archer returned to the team in May 2024 after a year-long
absence due to an elbow injury.

Jofra Archer to play a key part for England

His injury resurfaced during IPL 2023 and he was out of action as well. But the ECB still kept him in their central contract list announced in October last year as well. Speaking to reporters ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 game against
Australia on Saturday, June 8, Archer added that it was hard to ignore negative comments after a point.

“I’ve seen a few comments, people saying he’s on the longest paid holiday I’ve ever seen. You try to not let it get to you but you can ignore 100 of them but sometimes that 101st is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Sometimes you feel like a burden not playing,” he was quoted as saying by the BBC.

However, Jofra Archer registered figures of 4-0-28-2 in his first international game on his return to action. He also bowled decently in England’s first T20 World Cup 2024 match against Scotland as well, but went wicketless as rain eventually washed out the game.

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Meanwhile, Jofra Archer also shared how he told Robert Key about the possibility of losing the contract in October and the board has assured him of that.

“It was really, really emotional. I had a little bit of water in my eye and it wasn’t the rain. I made a joke with Keysy [England manager director of men’s cricket Rob Key] earlier where I said I’m really glad I’m back playing because I reckon I would have lost my contract in October. He laughed and said, ‘no you’re all right,'” Archer again said.

The match against Australia is a crucial one for the defending champions, England given their washout against Scotland. Australia, meanwhile, started the tournament with a convincing win over Oman as well.