Jofra Archer played in club match without England's permission... just weeks after they awarded him an £800,000-a-year contract as they try to nurse the fast bowler back to full health after chronic elbow injury

Jofra Archer made an unscheduled return to playing in a club match in Barbados at the weekend without seeking permission from England.

Archer, who was recently awarded a new two-year central-contract worth around £800,000 a year, turned out for his old school side Foundations against Lords in the first day of a three-day club match that continues next weekend.

That came as a surprise to England managing director Rob Key on Monday even though he is in Barbados and saw Archer bowl encouragingly well at an England net session ahead of the third one-day international against West Indies after his long battle with injury.

‘I didn’t know about that,’ said Key when told about Archer’s ‘comeback’ during a press conference to announce another England Test squad without their prime fast bowler. 'I'll find out.'

Archer took four wickets, one of them with left-arm spin, a reflection of the low-key nature of what was an exercise unlikely to cause any further issues with the chronic elbow problem that has restricted him to seven England appearances in two and a half years.

But even though Key was publicly and privately relaxed about the situation it was poor of Archer to not at least inform England of his intention to turn his arm over in a game after the expensive backing they have given him throughout his lengthy absences from cricket.

The gifted fast bowler flew back to England on Sunday night to continue his rehabilitation after taking four for 18 and scoring 11 for Foundations but being left out of England’s party to face India next month to further protect his elbow.

Key revealed on Monday England turned down Archer’s request to go into the draft for next year’s Indian Premier League in a further attempt to treat him with the utmost caution ahead of what they hope will be a return ahead of the T20 World Cup in June.

‘Jofra was keen to go into the IPL auction but we feel now the best way to do this is for us to be in control of his situation,’ said Key before finding out about Archer’s involvement in the club game. ‘We’re going to take it slow with him.

‘We don’t want to put any deadlines on his return. That’s what we’ve done in the past and we’re trying to learn from that. If it takes an extra couple of months for him to come back but we get an extra couple of years out of him then it will be worth it because he’s worth his weight in gold.’