England's Ashes hope is back, and takes a wicket
Jofra Archer, England's injury-ravaged fast-bowling star, has taken his first red-ball wicket in four years and already English thoughts are turning to Down Under.
Now 30 Archer is playing his first red-ball match since May 2021, featuring for Sussex in their County Championship Division One match at Chester-le-Street.
After making 31 with the bat on Sunday, he got hold of the ball - a Kookaburra, which is being used in these fixtures - for the first time on Monday and took a wicket during his second spell, trapping left-hander Emilio Gay leg before.
Archer - whose Test career has been derailed by a string of injuries - finished with one for 28 from his 14-over spell, which included six maidens.
"Now I know my body can hold up to it, the mental part of the game (is a greater issue)," Archer told BBC Radio Sussex.
"Over the next couple of days I'm going to have a battle with it. It's all good. I'll keep trucking along.
"When the scoreboard got to 50 overs I was like, 'It's time to come off now', but we got to the end of day and it wasn't that bad."
There is plenty of bowling to come for Archer if he wants with Durham 5-249 in reply to Sussex's 361.
Archer has played 13 Tests for England, but none since February 2021.
Asked if he felt ready to return to Test cricket, Archer replied: "I guess so.
"I just want to get through the game. I'm glad I've finished a day of four-day cricket."
It was also a red-letter day for West Australian Liam Guthrie who added another wicket to his overnight half-dozen to finish with a career-best haul for Northamptonshire against Middlesex.
Guthrie, who has a UK passport and so isn't considered an overseas player for Darren Lehmann's Northants, topped his previous best when he had centurion Joe Cracknell brilliantly caught one-handed by Calvin Harrison at point.
That gave Guthrie 7-94 passing his 6-60 for Queensland against Victoria.
At the close on the second day of four Northants were 5-308 in reply to Middlesex's 413.
Elsewhere Caleb Jewell made 32 as Derbyshire replied to Gloucestershire's 187, in which Cameron Bancroft made 58, with 398. Batting again at Bristol Glos were 1-62 with captain Bancroft 32 not out, still 149 runs behind.
with PA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
Ellie Carpenter one step closer to signing with Chelsea in the WSL after wife signs with London City
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News. A massive transfer deal that would put Ellie Carpenter and Sam Kerr at the same English club has been confirmed. Carpenter was on Wednesday night confirmed to be Chelsea's newest signing. 'I'm really excited about this new challenge; it's a new adventure. It feels like the right move for me, and I can't wait to get started and give my all for this club,' Carpenter said. 'I'm very proud to join such a big club, one of the biggest in women's football. Chelsea have enjoyed so much success in England, and I'm delighted to now be a part of it.' Chelsea head of football Paul Green said they had tracked Carpenter for years. 'She has a lot of experience for someone of her age and has won numerous titles in her career, including the Champions League. 'She is an athletic full back who loves to get forward. We are excited to see how she continues to develop and what she will add to an already talented squad of players.' Carpenter's wife, Danielle van de Donk, was confirmed as signing with newly- promoted English Women's Super League side London City Lionesses. The pair met and were playing together in French league side Lyon. Van de Donk's contract was not renewed and Lionesses were quick to snag her signature. Ellie Carpenter with wife Danielle van de Donk who has recently signed with London City. Picture Instagram @vogueaustralia Carpenter had a year left on her contract but it was unlikely she will want to play in France while her wife lives in England. Sources had indicated Kerr's club Chelsea were keen to sign the talented defender - offering up right back Ashley Lawrence in return. It is a good move for Carpenter, who has achieved all there is to achieve with Lyon - including multiple league titles and Champions league victory. While the French league is one of the best in the world there is huge investment occurring in the WSL with plans for expansion for the 2026/27 season. Originally published as Ellie Carpenter one step closer to signing with Chelsea in the WSL after wife signs with London City
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Simmo on Sheed: ‘He's stayed as humble as you can be'
Dom Sheed's first AFL win was also Adam Simpson's first as Eagles coach. Just over a decade later, what turned out to be Sheed's last AFL win was also Simpson's last as Eagles coach. In between, Sheed iced the 2018 kick that made him a premiership hero and earned Simpson premiership coach status, with the latter lauding the 'special connection' the two share after this week's retirement announcement. Simpson was full of praise for the outgoing midfielder, saying his personality had never changed despite the life-changing goal. 'He's just such a quality person,' Simpson said on AFL 360 of Sheed, who played all bar one of his 165 games under the coach's tutelage. 'He's stayed as humble as you can be after achieving something like that.' Reflecting on Sheed's pinpoint kick from deep in the MCG pocket to give West Coast a late lead they would never surrender against Collingwood, Simpson said he 'wasn't surprised' that it had sailed through – despite not watching the moment as he focused on how his team needed to set up in the seconds that followed. 'The race at Subiaco was exactly there,' Simpson said of the south-east pocket location tying in with the raceway at their former training venue. 'We can't get them off the track (without taking shots from there), and when they come on the track, we can't get them on to do proper skills – they're just having shots from that pocket. 'So if there was ever going to be a pocket, it would be that one.' Simpson and Sheed in 2023. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian Simpson said Sheed's ascension to grand final hero almost didn't happen, with the left-footer's role in the side in late 2018 only formalised after Andrew Gaff's lengthy suspension for his hit on Andrew Brayshaw. 'It wasn't a smooth first three or four years. He actually, in the '18 season, was playing reserves football through form,' Simpson said. 'After what happened to Gaffy, when he got rubbed out for eight weeks, there became a spot available for a particular role. He came in and never looked back. 'It would have been a really interesting discussion if Gaffy was available coming into that game.'
Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lions Tour LIVE updates: Queensland Reds go head-to-head with British & Irish Lions in Brisbane
Latest posts 7.36pm Some history lessons for the Reds and Lions The last time these two sides met in 2013, the Lions edged out the Reds 22-12, with current coach Andy Farrell's son Owen kicking 17 points and recently retired English halfback Ben Youngs scoring the only try in the game. You have to go way back to 1971 for a Reds win, when the Queenslanders got a famous 15-11 win over the Lions. It didn't seem to affect the Lions too much, going on to beat New Zealand in a Test series for the first and only time. Let's see if Les Kiss' men can write another chapter at Suncorp Stadium tonight. 7.28pm Who have you got? 7.28pm Payto's pre-game view from Brisbane By Iain Payten Stormagedon skipped south-east Queensland so happy to report it's a beautiful night in Brisbane, with clear skies and a dry deck. It's a fraction chilly, if we really try to find fault, but it's no cyclone bomb. This should be a cracker. The Reds and Lions have plenty of history, with the Queensland Rugby Union offices at Ballymore still having a stuffed Lion they claimed in a win over the famous tourists in 1971. There's been a late change for the Lions, with fullback Hugo Keenan ruled out with illness, meaning Elliot Daly will start at no.15. The Reds have a monstrous forward pack, and they'll turn to them to put pressure on the Lions. But the Queensland halves, Kalani Thomas and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, are young, and their game management will have to spot on. Keep an eye out for Hunter Paisami at no.12. There was once a time not long ago that Paisami was among the first picked for the Wallabies, but injury has hampered his last few seasons. He will be primed for a big one. 7.27pm Good evening Good evening rugby fans, it's Jonathan Drennan here guiding you through tonight's action at Suncorp Stadium, where the Reds will take on the Lions, who are fresh from a 47-point victory over the Force in Perth. We have a solid 10/12 combination for you on display tonight, with Payto in the playmaker's jumper once again in Brisbane and he'll be popping up with his expert commentary while I am on the blog. I cannot remember a week with so much rugby, not that I am complaining. Reds tonight, Waratahs Saturday evening and then up to Newcastle for the Wallabies on Sunday. It's all go. Tonight, we have the Reds who will try to beat not only the Lions, but also the bookmakers who are paying out $17 on a home victory. The Lions have named a very different side to the one we saw in Perth and more of that later, but Finn Russell is back and will be looking to create havoc on the Suncorp field. He is also paired with Ireland's halfback Jamison Gibson-Park, on his day, a world-class operator and this will be a likely halves pairing for the Tests if all goes to plan tonight. Let's get into it.
