For all his struggles with injury over the last two years, Archer has the chance to add to his legacy over the next seven months. There is a bigger gap between the Ashes and the World Cup this year than there was in the gruelling 2019 summer, but they are close enough together that success in the former can only bode well for the latter – as Archer well knows, based on his experiences four years ago.
“It’s a huge year,” Archer said just before his return to the Mumbai Indians playing XI last weekend. “I think everything is intertwined; everything bounces off everything else. If I can get through [the IPL] then I’ll be in a good position to play in the Ashes, and then everything else will follow with it.”
Having last played a first-class match nearly two years ago, Archer is realistic about his likely role in the Ashes. He said earlier this year that he would be happy to feature in a single match of the five-Test series, and said during last weekend’s conversation that “nothing has changed” in that regard.
But Archer sees himself as an all-format cricketer, one who can contribute to England’s success in Test cricket: “I still want to play as much red-ball [cricket] as possible,” he said. “I’ve never really had a thought of trying to give up on any of the formats as yet.
“Let me get through this year and see how the body’s feeling, but I don’t plan to give up any of the three. I may have to manage my workloads for at least a year, and that’s absolutely fine with me. But I want to make the most of all the cricket that is available to me.”
“I’m really, really happy with how everything has gone so far,” he said. “It’s still pretty tough, coming back and trying to manage expectations, and everything else that comes with it. But my brief experience has been really good.
“It really has been great [to be back around the England team]. Just like here at Mumbai, everyone has welcomed me back with open arms, and I’m glad I got those opportunities to try and win some games for the team.”
While England’s World Cup defence later this year is at the back of his mind, Archer’s immediate focus is the IPL, – as it is for most of the other dozen English players involved in this year’s tournament. “You have the opportunity to play against some of your mates more often than not,” he said. “It’s very exciting – something you look forward to.”
That situation has changed immeasurably from eight years ago, when Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan were the only England players involved in the 2015 IPL. Now, the ECB actively encourage their best players to gain experience in India. “Times have changed a lot since then,” Archer said. “The last four years or so, the English guys have really done well.
“Like Jos – jeez, It feels like I can’t remember a year that Jos hasn’t scored 700 runs! All the boys are doing really, really well. We’re putting our mark on the tournament, and hopefully we can inspire some English kids to want to play in the IPL in the future.”
Conditions may be significantly different come October-November, when the World Cup is played. “I’ve never played in India in the latter part of the year,” Archer said. “We don’t know if the wickets will be different, but we’ll have all the information that we need beforehand.
“I think our boys can play anywhere in the world, not just here. We are going to give it our best shot – I can tell you that for sure. Sometimes tournaments don’t go your way, but sometimes you just need a little bit of luck, that’s all.”
The same is true for Archer himself. If this year goes to plan, the frustrations of the last two may all come to seem like a distant memory.
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98