JOFRA ARCHER’S hopes of playing in The Ashes have suffered another setback after his chronic elbow problem flared up again.

The fast bowler, 28, has been forced to fly home from the Indian Premier League with England medics admitting the injury continues to cause him pain.

But there was encouraging news for Test skipper Ben Stokes, who could return from a toe injury as early as today.

He has not played for Chennai Super Kings since April 3 but could feature in their match against Delhi Capitals.

Stokes remains a strong supporter of Archer, writing on Instagram over a picture of the bowler: “This guy’s got the heart of a Lion. We know what you’ve been through and what you’ve put your body through.”

Archer left the IPL last month to have minor surgery on his right elbow in Belgium and has played four matches for Mumbai Indians since then.

It was Archer’s third operation on his elbow in the past two years and he has also suffered a stress fracture of the back.

But now England have pulled him out of the remainder of the IPL.

Archer is replaced in Mumbai’s squad by his friend Chris Jordan.

An ECB statement read: “Archer has been recovering from right elbow surgery. However, pushing through the discomfort whilst recently playing, hoping it will settle, has proved challenging.

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“Therefore, it has been agreed for him to return to the UK for a period of rest and rehabilitation to give him the best opportunity for a full recovery.

“Archer will work on his rehab with the ECB medical department and Sussex.”

It seems impossible that Archer will be fit for England’s Ashes opener against Australia at Edgbaston on June 16, never mind their first Test of the summer, against Ireland at Lord’s on June 1.

With all five Tests against the Aussies squeezed in before the end of July, he may struggle to play any part in the series.

Archer made a spectacular entry into international cricket in 2019 but has since been hit by a string of injuries.

He made an encouraging return in white-ball cricket in South Africa’s T20 tournament and for England this year but is struggling again now.

Archer has not played Test cricket since March 2021.

Stokes has said he wants to hit the Aussies with high pace but, with Archer unfit and Olly Stone injuring a hamstring playing for Notts at the weekend, England’s likely seam line-up at the start of the summer is James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson.

Mark Wood, England’s fastest bowler, has not played in the IPL since April 15 because of illness and has now returned home to attend the birth of his second child.

Elsewhere, Ebony Rainford-Brent, who won the women’s World Cup with England in 2009, has been appointed to the ECB Board as a non-executive director, along with sports development expert Pete Ackerley.