17 May 2021

The England and Wales Cricket Board on Sunday confirmed that pacer Jofra Archer has been ruled out of a 2-Test series against New Zealand due to pain in his elbow. Archer was getting treatment for a long-term elbow injury before heading to India to play a 4-Test series.

Archer, who was ruled out of the now-suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, had surgery in March to remove a glass fragment from a tendon on his right hand, an injury he sustained in January when an attempt to clean his fish tank went wrong.

Archer returned to action for County Championship side Sussex against Kent this week at Hove but only bowled five overs in Kent's second innings due to pain in his right elbow. He did not bowl during the final two days of the county championship match.

"The England and Sussex medical teams will seek guidance, and Archer will see a medical consultant later this week to determine the next course of action on the management of his elbow," the ECB said in a statement.

Archer featured in two of England's four Tests and all five Twenty20 matches during their recent series in India.

The first Test against New Zealand will be held at Lord's from June 2-6 before the second game in Birmingham from June 10. The Black Caps will then head to play India in the final of the World Test Championship in Southampton from June 18.