Jofra Archer is ruled out, while Bairstow returns to the England Test Squad for the Ashes 2023

England’s one of the most destructive batters, Jonny Bairstow, sets to make his comeback in test cricket against Ireland. Bairstow was out of action due to a leg injury but is now set to make his return for the English Test side. While playing golf in August last year, the 33-year-old injured his leg and stated that he will not be a part of the T20 World Championship nor be part of any cricketing format for an indefinite period. But as he fully recovered, he’ll make his appearance back in the longest form of cricket against the Irish team. To make his spot back in the 15-member Ashes test squad, Right-hand keeper batter Ben Foakes will be benched. Bairstow has scored 5482 runs in 89 Tests with the batting average and strike rate of 37 and 57.48, respectively. Bairstow has crossed the three-digit mark 12 times in his glorifying test career.

Managing Director of the Cricket Board of England, Rob Key, stated "It was a seriously tough decision to leave Ben Foakes out of the squad. He has been excellent for England in the last year, but Jonny Bairstow is one of the best players in the world whose performances last summer epitomised what we are about,". 

Meanwhile, English spear bowler Jofra Archer was ruled out from one of the greatest cricket battles, Ashes, due to his elbow injury. Midway into the current Indian T20 League 2023, the 28-year-old bowler came home, and recent examinations indicated he had suffered a stress fracture in his right elbow. The pacer will now spend time with the Sussex and his national team’s medical staff responsible for managing his injuries. 

"It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer. He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously. We wish him the best of luck with his recovery. I'm sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later,” Rob Key said. 

Along with Bairstow, all-rounder Chris Woakes has also been named in the Ashes 2023 Squad. If selected in the Playing XI, it will be Woakes first test after a gap of over two and a half years. In the absence of Jofra Archer, the express pacer Mark Wood has been included in the team.

England’s Test Squad for the Ashes 2023 - Ben Stokes (C), Ollie Pope (VC), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach.