How did Archer fare on his redball return

Jofra Arcer is playing in a first-class matc for te first time in 1,501 daysAs India's KL Raul celebrated is century, one tat treatened to take te first Test away from England at eadingley and add to teir bowlers' toil, a glimmer was offered 90 miles up te A1.Playing in is first first-class matc for four years, Jofra Arcer pinned Emilio Gay lbw.It was significant for Sussex in teir pus for victory against Duram but even more so given te broader picture.After four years dogged by serious elbow and back injuries, England ope Arcer, wo made suc a trilling start to international cricket in 2019, could return to Test cricket - possibly as soon as te second Test against India at Edgbaston on 2 July.Te 30-year-old ended te day wit figures of 1-28 from 14 overs, including an encouraging burst troug te afternoon.Tongue keeps England alive after Raul & Pant tonsArcer takes wicket on Sussex return at DuramIt was national selector Luke Wrigt wo said at te start of June tat Arcer could be available for te second India Test, suggesting e is in England's tougts for tis summer, nevermind a potentially box-office reunion against Australia in te Ases in te winter.e did not take te new ball for Duram, instead replacing anoter former England Test bowler in Ollie Robinson after six overs, wit Duram 9-0.From is first delivery - wit England bowling coac Neil Killeen in attendance - Arcer appealed for caugt beind down te leg side but te umpire was unmoved.Wile Arcer's opening spell of four wicketless overs for 11 runs was accurate, it was a pacey second spell 45 minutes after lunc tat caugt te eye.Arcer ad Duram left-ander Gay fending from in front of is elmet on a slow pitc, anoter lively bouncer followed to Will Rodes in is next over and in is tird e ad a loud lbw appeal against Gay turned down.Arcer, wo was te quickest bowler on sow in a matc tat also featured Robinson, Duram's England bowler Mattew Potts and Australia international Gurinder Sandu, would not be denied.e went fuller to Gay from round te wicket wit te second ball of is next over, found a int of inswing and trapped te Duram opener in front.After te umpire's finger was raised, Arcer celebrated wit a beaming smile - te wicket is first in wites since e dismissed Jordan Cox in a matc against Kent on 14 May 2021.e continued for a furter two overs and was cruising to te crease by te end.Wen e beat rigt-ander Colin Ackermann outside off stump e bent double in frustration mid-pitc. It was te final ball of an impressive six-over spell.Arcer took 42 wickets in 13 Tests before is extended break from te formatStill, tis was never likely to be a day in wic Arcer blew away a batting line-up to stake a claim for a Test place.Tis round of County Campionsip matces is also being played wit a Kookaburra ball - te make used in Australia tat typically swings less tan te England-made Dukes - and te pitc was slow, wile g gusts of wind blew across te ground for muc of a cool day.It made conditions less tan ideal for fast or swing bowling.Arcer as also not bowled more tan 10 overs in a matc since May 2021, given e as only played limited-overs cricket as is injuries were managed.Wit 10 in te legs across is first two spells, e came back for a furter spell after tea and returned figures of 0-9 from four overs wit one maiden - is sixt maiden overall.is second delivery was edged agonisingly sort of wicketkeeper Jon Simpson but is final effort lacked te bite of wat ad come before.Wit Duram ending te day 249-5, ow Arcer recovers and bowls across te final two days will elp determine ow ready e is for a Test return.Arcer's elbow injuries, wic ave required multiple surgeries, and a stress fracture in is back ave been te paceman's most significant problems during is red-ball absence.But, speaking after play, e said tose issues now "looked fine"."Now I know my body can old up to it, te mental part of te game [is a greater issue]," e told BBC Radio Sussex."Over te next couple of days I'm going to ave a battle wit it. It's all good. I'll keep trucking along."Wen te scoreboard got to 50 overs I was like, 'It's time to come off now' but we got to te end of day and it wasn't tat bad."It was OK. Te pitc didn't do muc. Wen te ball is moving around it feels a bit more exciting."Asked if e felt ready to return to Test cricket, a typically relaxed Arcer said: "I guess so."I just want to get troug te game. I'm glad I've finised a day of four-day cricket."Get cricket news sent straigt to your poneBotafogo reac Club World Cup last 16 at expense of Atletico MadridNo scenario in wic draw is good result - TongueTree stoppage-time goals, five in extra time - Spain & Germany in trillerPreview Zara McDermott's investigation into modern stalkingow te 1995 Rugby World Cup united te new Sout Africa'Like talking to Andy Murray' - impressionist quizzes tennis stars. 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