LONDON: All-rounder Ben Stokes is progressing well from his fractured left index finger and is set to return to action next month for Durham in the Blast competition, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer, who was ruled out of the Test series against New Zealand, will meet with a medical consultant later this week to determine the seriousness of his right elbow soreness.
"Jofra Archer is to see a consultant this week to understand the severity of his right elbow injury. He struggled in Sussex's Championship fixture last week and he wasn't able to bowl on the final two days of the match," England men's head coach Chris Silverwood said in an official statement.
"We need to get this resolved once and for all to give him the best chance of being fully fit as we build up to an intense winter, which will include a T20 World Cup and the Ashes. We need him firing in all formats of the game," he further said.
Stokes was ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 before the tournament was postponed. Silverwood said the all-rounder is making "excellent progress".
"Ben Stokes is making excellent progress following his fractured left index finger sustained last month in the Indian Premier League," said Silverwood.
"If he continues to improve without any impact on his rehabilitation, we could see him return next month for Durham in the Vitality Blast competition. We will assess him again towards the end of this month," he added.