England quick Archer has fresh round of elbow surgery

WITH the opening match of the Ashes little more than seven weeks away, England quick Jofra Archer has reportedly gone under the knife for a procedure on his troublesome right elbow.

According to reports in the UK, Archer briefly left the Indian Premier League this month to visit a specialist in Belgium.

The England paceman has been conspicuous by his absence for Mumbai Indians, featuring in his side's season-opener on April 2 but missing their next four matches before returning to action on Saturday.

Concerns were heightened by the revelation Archer was experiencing discomfort in a joint that required a couple of operations and contributed to him spending much of the past two years on the sidelines.

The Telegraph reported Archer flew to Belgium to see his specialist during his near three-week absence for Mumbai and had minor surgery before returning to India.

The England pace spearhead Jofra Archer reportedly had a minor operation in Belgium

Archer returned to the fray at the weekend and bowled his full four-over allocation, reaching speeds of 145kph against Punjab Kings, suggesting the issue is not another dramatic step back for him.

He was rested for Tuesday's loss to the Gujarat Titans but could come back into the reckoning when Mumbai take first innings, and Harry Tector, who had batted nicely in the first Test. Ireland's middle order had been excellent in the first innings. But can they do it on a fifth day surface, having toiled 151 overs in the field in the first innings? Either way, they were 54 for 2 by stumps.

All up, Sri Lanka maintained a run rate of 4.68 across the 74 overs they faced on day four. Madushka got to his 150 off the third ball of the day, then cut his next ball for four - one of his favourite scoring strokes. He and Mendis warmed up for a few overs, but by midway through the morning, Mendis had brought his ninth Test hundred up off 131 deliveries (he'd started the day on 83), and Madushka was marching towards a double

Knowing a declaration was probably coming, even while Sri Lanka were still in arrears, Mendis warmed up for a six-hitting spree with a strike over deep midwicket, off a Ben White half-tracker. The pair largely relied on frequent runs into the outfield to keep the run-rate brisk, however . Madushka reached his double-hundred off the penultimate over of the morning session, indulging in only measured celebrations. Soon after lunch, he was lbw to Andy McBrine, who reviewed a not out decision successfully.

In Mathews' company, Mendis started to free his shoulders, the sixes coming fast now that Sri Lanka had moved into the lead. All but one of his big hits came over deep midwicket, the only outlier sailing into the sightscreen, off the bowling of White. Mostly these were pull shots, but some were slog sweeps. All told, Mendis scored 133 of his runs in the arc between backward square leg and cow corner.

Mathews struck huge legside blows too, but early in his innings, let Mendis make the big moves. He settled into a rhythm, picked off the singles, and waited for the truly bad balls to put away. Mendis, who had twice previously fallen trying to get to his double-hundred with sixes, got to the milestone with a single behind square leg this time, off the 263rd delivery he faced. He continued to attack after that, and when he fell, Mathews picked up the scoring rate.

Sri Lanka's only worrying moment on day four was when Chandimal dived into his crease after being turned back for an ill-advised single, and essentially failed to get up, so seriously did he appear to have hurt his shoulder. He hobbled off the field, and was not seen thereafter. Mathews raced to his century, and Sri Lanka declared.

Ireland's bowlers just couldn't find a way to build pressure. Andy McBrine bowled a herculean 57 overs, and had the figures of 1 for 191 to show for it. Legspinner White bowled only 37 overs, but went at almost six, and conceded 203 for no wicket. Curtis Campher conceded 101 as well, and debutant Matthew Humphreys was used only for two overs on day four. (Cricinfo) on Rajasthan Royals on Sunday England's medical team have been working closely with their counterparts at the franchise, with Archer still only a few months into his comeback following stress fractures to his elbow and then his back.

He put in some encouraging performances on his England return in the whiteball tours of South Africa and Bangladesh, leading to suggestions he could have a starring role in the upcoming Ashes series

Sussex indicated ahead of the county season that Archer may not play any first-class cricket for them before the Ashes, and the difference in workload between T20 and Test cricket is stark.

Archer, who has not featured in a first-class match since May 2021, has been keen to play down expectations and said during England's Bangladesh tour: "If I can play one (Ashes) game this summer, I'll be happy.

"If I play more than one, that's just a bonus."

Ashes 2023: Australia trying ‘Bazball’ will help England - Stuart Broad

STUART Broad says "it would be great" if Australia tried to mirror England's 'Bazball' tactics during this summer's Ashes series.

Under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, England have adopted an ultra-attacking approach, winning 10 out of 12 Tests.

They will look to regain the Ashes in a five-Test series starting on 16 June.

"I think it would be great for us if Australia try to take us on at our own game," Broad, 36, told the Daily Mail.

"If we can get them playing in a slightly different style they could make mistakes and that would be brilliant for us."

Australia batter Steve Smith scored 774 runs at an average of 110.57 in the last Ashes series in England, a 2-2 draw in 2019.

Australia have held the Ashes since 2018 but have not won a series in England since 2001, although they swept England aside in the most recent series Down Under.

"Nothing was harsher than the last Ashes series," said Broad.

"But in my mind I don't class that as a real Ashes. The definition of Ashes cricket is elite sport with lots of passion and players at the top of their game.

"Nothing about that series was high-level performance because of the Covid restrictions.

"The training facilities, the travel, not being able to socialise. I've written it off as a void series."

Before McCullum and Stokes took over, England had won just one of their previous 17 Tests - including a 4-0 series loss in Australia in 2021/22.

But under the new regime they chased 299 in just 50 overs to beat New Zealand in June 2022 at Trent Bridge and followed up by pursuing 378an England record - to defeat India at Edgbaston.

In December, they blitzed 506-4 on day one of the first Test against Pakistan on the way to a 3-0 series victory, the first time a visiting team had secured a clean sweep in Pakistan. (BBC Sport).