Sussex and England pace bowler Jofra Archer has had successful surgery to remove a piece of glass which became lodged in a finger when he smashed a fish tank in the bath while trying to clean it.

The 25-year-old played two Tests and all five T20s during England’s time in India but was ruled out of the one-day series because of a problem with his right elbow, which deteriorated during the two-month tour.

While that issue remains the bigger concern England men’s managing director Ashley Giles said the finger problem, initially sustained in January, had been resolved.

Speaking on the Tuffers and Vaughan programme on Radio 5 Live, the former spinner said: “This is going to sound like an awful conspiracy. He was cleaning or something at home and he’s got a fish tank, dropped the fish tank, cut his hand.

“So he’s been in surgery today, he’s come out of it well. It was managed through India.

“It didn’t stop him playing but, given he came home for an injection and treatment on his elbow, he went to a specialist – I think it was still a bit stiff – and they’ve operated.

“I think they’ve found a small fragment of glass still in the tendon so it was the right thing to do.

“We’d got a clear window to do it as well. We obviously wish him the best for his recovery.”

Meanwhile, Archer's participation in this year's IPL will be decided later this week.
The 25-year-old, who has a £800,000 contract with Rajasthan Royals, was named MVP at the most recent tournament in November, but was already due to miss the start of this year's event, which gets underway on April 9, because of his elbow complaint. 

Archer's fish tank accident is not the first unusual injury that an England player has suffered this year.

Batsman Zak Crawley missed the first two matches of England’s Test series against India after slipping on a marble floor and spraining his wrist ahead of the series-opener. 

Crawley was leaving the dressing room in Chennai on Tuesday when he took a tumble on the uncovered surface and landed hard on his right hand.