England's Archer recalls 'dark times' during teen injury
14 May, 2020
England bowler Jofra Archer has said the years he spent as an adolescent grappling with a long-running back injury were "dark times".
The 25-year-old Archer -- who hasn't played because the Boxing Day Test against South Africa after suffering a stress fracture -- opened up about his struggles in a podcast for his Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday.
Archer, who only built his international debut in 2019, said he feared the injury would scupper his profession prospects.
"It felt like I was passing up on my golden years. The doctor told me if he didn't look at improvement, he couldn't possibly see me playing golf club cricket," the pacer explained.
"You're young and you intend to play, you must make the almost all of your youth because before you know it, you're 20, 21 and even 25.
"And then a lot of folks don't take chances in guys who certainly are a little bit older.
"Those were dark circumstances to be honest, I spent 2 yrs out of cricket."
The fast bowler's absence from the sport has coincided with a lengthy period of enforced relax for all top-trip cricketers just as the coronavirus pandemic halted major sporting events worldwide.
The start of the English season and the IPL, world's richest cricket tournament, have already been postponed indefinitely.
The Barbados-born Archer emerged as you of cricket's most exciting players this past year when he helped England win their first men's 50-over World Cup, going for a team-high 20 wickets at 23.05.
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