Jofra Archer: England 'cautiously optimistic' bowler could return in early 2023

Archer hasn't featured for England since March 2021 or in any form of the game since July 2021 due to a series of elbow, finger and back injuries

England hope to see Jofra Archer back in action in early 2023, according to The Telegraph.

Archer, 27, hasn't featured for England since March 2021 while his most recent competitive outing came for Sussex against Kent in July 2021.

The pace bowler has struggled with a series of injuries since the beginning of 2020, including a persistent elbow problem, undergoing an operation to remove glass from his finger after a freak injury while cleaning a fish tank, and a stress fracture in his back.

^{Archer was expected to feature in the T20 Blast for Sussex this season before suffering a stress fracture in his back [Mike Hewitt/Getty Images]}

The latter injury flared up as recently as May 2022. Just a few months earlier, Archer had been seen bowling with England during their Test tour of the Caribbean and was slated to be part of Sussex's leadership group for their T20 Blast campaign.

However, England are reportedly "cautiously optimistic" he could be available for series against South Africa early next year.

Archer has returned to bowling with Sussex and it is understood he will join up with England's Test squad for a camp in the UAE in November.