England captain Jos Buttler said he is thrilled by the return of 'proper superstar' Jofra Archer for the Pakistan series and the T20 World Cup.
Archer has not played top-level cricket for over a year but appeared fit and fast as he featured for the Sussex second XI against Kent this week.
The 29-year-old, who played a pivotal role in England’s World Cup victory in 2019, took 1-11 in six overs at Beckenham on Friday after being drafted into the match on day four.
Despite his injury issues, Archer has been recalled for England’s T20 World Cup defence and is set to feature in the four-match series against Pakistan which begins on Wednesday.
"It’s a huge encouragement for him to be back and see him ready to play.
"Everyone knows what he is capable of and the attitude he possesses. As a captain he is someone you can always turn to in a game because he always has a trick up his sleeve," he added.
"It’s great to be able to call on him but it’s important to manage expectations. He has been out of it for a while now so we will need to look after him and realise that it might just take him a little while to be the Jofra of 2019.
"He is a proper superstar but we do have to be smart with him. It’s a jump in intensity from what he’s doing now to international cricket and you can’t really replicate it," he maintained.
Archer could be a key player for Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott as they look to defend the T20 World Cup.
England lifted their second T20 World Cup trophy two years ago in Australia where they defeated Pakistan by five wickets. They will commence their 2024 defence against Scotland on June 4.
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