Injured Jofra Archer is out of Ashes, Bairstow replaces Foakes for the Ireland test

England pacer Jofra Archer was on Tuesday ruled out of the Ashes series starting next month but a fit-again Jonny Bairstow has returned to the Test squad for the one-off match against Ireland on June 1.

Archer spent 17 months on the sidelines following elbow and back injuries

Archer spent 17 months on the sidelines following elbow and back injuries before returning to international cricket in January. He played five matches for Mumbai Indians before the injury cut short his IPL stint last week.

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It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Arche- Rob

“It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer,” Rob Key, managing director for England men’s cricket, said. “He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously.

“I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.”

As for Bairstow, who was out with a freak golf injury last September. Ben Foakes has been dropped to accommodate the wicket-keeper for the Ashes warm-up.

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Bairstow is one of the best players in the world

“It was a seriously tough decision to leave Ben Foakes out… but Bairstow is one of the best players in the world whose performances last summer epitomized what we are about,” Key said, referring to England’s ultra-aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach.

England squad:

Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

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