England must not rush back Jofra Archer for the second India Test - the fast bowler's return is exciting, but hold him for Lord's, writes NASSER HUSSAIN
The return of Jofra Archer to an England Test squad for the first time in over four years is exciting news – both for him and the team – after all the injury problems he's had. And for that reason I wouldn't risk him in next week's second Test at Edgbaston, but hang on to him for the third game at Lord's.
I can understand the temptation to bring him straight back in to the starting XI, and clearly England wouldn't have selected him if they weren't sure of his fitness after he came through 18 economical overs for Sussex against Durham at Chester-le-Street.
But there are a couple of points to consider. First, what's the rush? Archer has only just played his first red-ball game since 2021, and Sussex have a Championship match starting against Warwickshire on Sunday at Hove. The Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace has said that he wouldn't pick him until the third Test.
Second, who do you drop to make way for him? We all know Chris Woakes gets better as a series progresses, and there were already signs in the second innings at Headingley that he had improved from the first day. Also, Edgbaston is his home ground.
Josh Tongue cleaned up India 's tail brilliantly, and that's something England have had a problem with in recent years. And I thought the spell Brydon Carse bowled at the start of India's second innings was exceptional. None of those three looks very droppable to me.
I get that England want to have a good look at Jofra before they fly to Australia in the winter, but they could do that just as well by having him around the squad at Edgbaston and building up his loads in net sessions and during intervals.
Mark Wood, the other quick bowler England are desperate to recall, made a good point the other day, when he said that the likes of him and Archer can't expect to waltz straight back into the side. They have to prove they're ready. In this instance, we have to take the ECB medics – and Jofra himself – at their word.
You can see why England might want a bit more cutting-edge against India's top order, after they scored five individual hundreds between them at Headingley. It's not just the pace Archer brings – it's the skills as well. There may also be concerns about playing Woakes in three back-to-back Tests when he himself is coming back from injury, but his record at Lord's is so good you'd be keen to play him there.
But Archer hasn't played a Test since the tour of India in early 2021, and however good you look in a county game or in the nets, there's nothing quite like international cricket to put your body through the wringer. Can he come back for a third spell and still be touching 90mph? Can he withstand a day and a half in the field?
He's a once-in-a-generation talent. And that's why I'd give him just a few more days to get ready for the rigours of Test cricket – before unleashing him on India at Lord's.
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