Jofra Archer's England career is probably finished: Kevin Pietersen

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Jofra Archer on Tuesday was not picked in England squad for the one-off Test against Ireland and has also been ruled out of the much-awaited Ashes 2023 due to the recurrence of his elbow injury.

The express pacer made his comeback to international cricket after almost two years in January this year. However, he could feature in four ODIs, three T20Is and five IPL games only.

Representing Mumbai Indians (MI), he picked two wickets at an economy rate of 9.5. It was also reported that Archer travelled to Belgium to consult a specialist during the IPL 2023 before returning and playing a few more matches. ECB had also sent a support staff to Mumbai.

However, even before the league stage could get over, the 28-year-old returned home and was replaced by Chris Jordan. One was expecting that the move would help Archer turn up for England in the Ashes 2023 but the latest developments have ended those hopes as well.

Archer is now set to miss his third English summer but ECB Managing Director for England Men's Cricket Rob Key is hopeful that the Barbados-born cricketer would play for England at some point. He hasn't ruled him out of the 2023 World Cup in India.

"I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later," Key has said.

However, former England captain Kevin Pietersen has opined that Archer's England career and suggested that he should accept lucrative franchise contracts on offer.

A recent report in Times London had suggested that IPL franchises are planning to roll out multi-million contract deals of Rs 50 crore each for six top English cricketers that will make them quit international cricket to participate in T20 leagues throughout the calendar year.

One more report had claimed that Mumbai Indians (MI) have plans to give a year-long contract to Archer which would see him play for MI franchises around the globe throughout the year. Archer already represents MI Cape Town in the SA20

"I'm gutted for Jofra. Absolutely gutted. I think this will probably end his journey with English cricket," Pietersen wrote in his blog for Betaway.

"I know that there are reports around a franchise contract, and that would be the smartest thing for him to do now. Take six months to recover, select a few tournaments to play, and bowl at the speed of light for a few months of the year. He would earn good money and still have a career in the game," he added.

"I think the longer form of the game has passed him by. I think English cricket has probably passed him by. It's no fault of his own, he's just injury prone. As much as he would love to play for England, because I know that's his dream, it's probably finished," Pietersen added.

"He should now just go and cash in as much as he can in franchise cricket. But first of all, get himself fit," Pietersen added.