WATCH: Jofra Archer breaks stump during Sussex pre-season match as injury return ramps up

The England quick shatters county colleague Oli Carter's off-stump on day two of the tune-up match against Karnataka State Cricket Association XI

Jofra Archer continues to make strides towards full fitness after taking two wickets, one in devastating fashion, during Sussex's pre-season trip in India.

Bowling for Karnataka State Cricket Association XI against his county teammates he dismissed Tom Alsop (60) and Oli Carter (31) to return figures of 7-1-22-2.

The removal of Carter was particularly eye-catching, with Archer splitting off-stump into two pieces with a razor-sharp delivery.

Sussex were bowled out for 365 and KSCA XI - who were bowled out for 201 in their first innings - reached the close on 162 for 4, with Sean Hunt picking up 2 for 22, as the fixture finished in a draw.

Jofra’s taken another wicket and broken the stump! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/9L7X2u4PEt

— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) March 15, 2024

It was a rare outing for Archer since he was again forced onto the sidelines with a recurrence of an elbow problem last year.

More than 10 months have passed since his last senior appearance, for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, but he made an unscheduled outing for Foundation against Lords in Division One of the Barbados Cricket Association in December.

Already withdrawn from this year's IPL, England are optimistic he will be available for their T20 World Cup defence in the Caribbean and United States in June.

Speaking earlier this week, white-ball captain Jos Buttler said: "Am I optimistic about Jofra's return? I think so.

^{Jos Buttler is confident Archer will be ready for the T20 World Cup (Getty Images)}

"I've spoken to him a couple of times. It's really exciting for him that hopefully he's going to get back to performing because as a captain he's someone you want to throw the ball to and I think as a player he brings so much to the game; not just for us obviously but for the cricket world when he's performing.

"We all know just what a special cricketer he is and it's been a tough few years for him not being able to get on the park and perform. But with someone like him who is such a superstar, you're always optimistic that with the physios and the doctors working [with him], his body will just allow him to get back where he was.

"I know how hard he's been working at it and of course how desperate he is to come back."

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