England's preparations for the second Test against India, starting on July 2nd at Edgbaston, Birmingham, have received a significant boost with the potential return of Jofra Archer. The injury-prone pacer is slated to make a red-ball comeback with Sussex in the County Championship match against Durham, raising hopes that he could feature in the crucial second Test.

Archer's possible inclusion would be a major shot in the arm for the English side, who are aiming to strengthen their pace attack after India's strong batting performance in the first innings of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds. The absence of key bowlers like Archer and Mark Wood was felt as the Indian team, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, amassed 471 runs.

According to reports, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that Archer will join Sussex's traveling group for the four-day fixture. If he emerges unscathed from the match, he could very well be considered for selection in the second Test squad.

Mark Wood is also working towards a comeback, however, he is aiming for the fifth and final Test match against India. Wood has been managing a knee issue and underwent surgery in March after sustaining a medial ligament injury during the Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan. He has started bowling lightly and hopes to be fit for the final Test at the Oval, scheduled to begin on July 31.

England's fast bowling resources have been stretched thin due to a series of injuries. Olly Stone has already been ruled out for the entire Test summer due to a knee injury, while Gus Atkinson was unavailable for the first Test after suffering a hamstring strain against Zimbabwe. Josh Tongue also hobbled off the field during the second unofficial Test against India A, casting doubt on his availability.

Despite these setbacks, England still have several fast-bowling options available, including Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, and Jamie Overton. Ben Stokes, the captain, can also contribute with his medium-pace bowling.

The five-match Test series between England and India marks the beginning of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle for both teams. Shubman Gill is leading the Indian side, with Rishabh Pant as his deputy. The series also marks Gill's first overseas assignment as Test captain after Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format. Virat Kohli is also absent, having retired from Test cricket.

The Test series is being telecast live on Sony Sports Network and streamed on JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. All five Tests are scheduled to begin at 3:30 PM IST.