BEN GARDNER

It rarely takes the very best long to resume normal service after some time out. Think Steve Smith scoring hundred after hundred in the 2019 Ashes following his Sandpapergate ban. Think Jasprit Bumrah, who returned from a year’s absence to take 20 wickets at a 20th century economy rate in the 2023 World Cup. Think Pat Cummins, who went six years between his first and second Test appearances, and yet somehow appeared fully formed in both, a 90mph, twinkle-eyed wobble-seam automaton.
Last year, during a brief respite from four years of injury hell, it took Jofra Archer one game, ...