Jofra Archer’s ECB deal extended to 2026; Jacob Bethell receives contract upgrade | Cricket News – Times of India

Jofra Archer. (Pic Credit – X)

Jacob Bethell, who impressed with an unbeaten half-century on his debut during England’s eight-wicket victory against New Zealand in Christchurch, has secured a two-year central contract. This contract will be valid until September 2026.
Bethell made his white-ball debut in September and recently signed an IPL 2025 contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He was also granted a development contract last month.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced contract extensions for several seamers. Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Matthew Potts have all extended their contracts until September 2026. Carse notably took ten wickets in the Christchurch match.
Archer’s contract extension is particularly noteworthy given his absence from Test cricket since February 2021. He has cautiously returned to white-ball cricket for England this year following a prolonged period of elbow and back injuries.
Archer’s initial two-year contract was due to expire in October 2025. This extension ensures his continued involvement with England cricket. He also secured an IPL 2025 deal with the Rajasthan Royals. This suggests he’s being considered for England’s upcoming Test series against India next year and the Ashes in Australia.
England Test captain Ben Stokes has indicated Archer is contemplating a return to Test cricket. The 29-year-old fast bowler is reportedly interested in participating in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, scheduled to begin on May 22.
“Jof is a man of few words, even over WhatsApp. I had one a couple of months ago saying ‘Zimbabwe?’. That shows he is very interested in playing Test cricket for England. The excitement is understandable around Jofra. The best thing is he is back on the field playing.”
Stokes acknowledges the enthusiasm surrounding Archer’s potential return. He emphasizes the significance of Archer’s return to the field after overcoming injuries that could have ended his career.
“I am sure he thought he might not have the chance to put on an England shirt again – the injuries and surgeries he has gone through could have ended other people’s career – so there is no rushing back. He is being handled very well by the ECB and that will certainly continue. There is no doubt he is going so well at the moment it is a case of having to build the body up to handle extra pressure of Test match cricket,” he said to reporters.
Stokes highlighted the careful management of Archer’s return by the ECB. The focus is on building his physical capacity to handle the demands of Test cricket.
Stokes believes Archer’s Test comeback hinges on his ability to manage the physical strain of the longer format. This involves adjusting his bowling workload to the specific requirements of Test matches.
“When the decision gets made between him and the people who make those decisions around players, I am sure there will be conversations that he will have to get some different loading.”
Stokes explained that one-day matches allow for shorter, more distributed bowling spells. However, Test cricket requires sustained bowling effort over extended periods and across multiple days. This requires specific conditioning and load management.