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The Hindu
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
For Archer, pace is ace
The clock had just ticked over to 1.46 p.m. on a warm Friday afternoon when Jamie Smith, the England wicketkeeper-batter, edged Mohammed Siraj to substitute wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. In itself, it was a significant moment in the third Test. Smith had been a thorn in India's side in both preceding Tests, had been dropped by K.L. Rahul at second slip off the same bowler when only five some two and a half hours previously and had breezed to 51 when Siraj finally had his man. As Smith walked off to a warm applause, a lithe figure sprang off his seat in the dressing-room, made his long walk down the stairs, past the Marylebone Cricket Club members in the Long Room and emerged into the sunlight. It set off a more frenzied round of approbation from the 20,000-plus fans at Lord's. The man walking out, at No. 10, hadn't played Test cricket for more than four years. This was his return to the five-day game, after numerous false alarms. Jofra Archer had become England cricket's Most Valuable Property even before he first represented the country, in a One-Day International against Ireland in Malahide on 3 May 2019, just weeks before the start of the 50-over home World Cup. Formerly having played for West Indies at the Under-19 level in 2013, he made the move to England because he had a British passport – his father is English – and quickly made people sit up and take notice with his blistering pace from an unhurried run-up and an explosive but effortless action. Dream start It took him three years after his Sussex debut to win the nod to represent his adopted country – he was born in Bridgetown, Barbados – and he celebrated his England debut with three wickets in four successive matches at the World Cup, against Bangladesh, West Indies, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. He then defended 15, just about, in the Super Over after the final against New Zealand ended in a tie in regulation time, conceding just two runs off the last two deliveries to facilitate another tie, at the end of which England were declared champions, for the first time, on boundary countback. Archer's Test debut came exactly a month later, on 14 August 2019, also at Lord's in the highest-profile clash of a high-profile summer – the second of five Ashes Tests. Archer's reputation had preceded him at the World Cup; now, having seen him in action, the Australians were even more wary of the threat he posed. The lanky quick had to wait nearly 100 minutes for his first wicket, Cameron Bancroft who was trapped leg before, but by the end of the Australian first innings, he had shown himself to be the real deal. The defining moment of the Test came later in Australia's first innings, with Steve Smith – in his second Test cricket after a ban for his part in the sandpapergate scandal in Cape Town in March 2018 – batting on 80. Smith had uncorked 144 and 142 in the first Test in Birmingham whilst singing the redemption song, and was holding Australia's innings together with 80 of the finest in his team's 203 for six. Armed with the second new ball, Archer stunned him with a sickening blow to the back of his head with a ball that spat off a length and kept following the champion batter. Smith went down in a heap, retired hurt, came back to make 92 but was ruled out of the second innings, and the next Test, with concussion. It was a terrible moment, but it was also the moment when the legend of Archer started to take shape. Archer played each of the next three Tests, taking six for 45 in his third Test innings, in Leeds, and rounding off the series with six for 62 in the first innings of the final Test at The Oval. With 22 wickets in four Tests, he had justified the hype, he had showcased his substance, his X-Factor, his ability to make things, to shake batters up, to bring the spectators to the edges of their seat. Injury woes Over in India, Jasprit Bumrah was making waves with his own uniqueness. Test cricket braced for Archer to join him in the destruction stakes. What an exciting time ahead. In theory, yes. As it turned out, while Bumrah has gone on to greater things and kept his tryst with superstar performances, Archer hasn't followed suit, largely through no fault of his. Fast bowlers have a few obvious target areas that stymie their progress – knees and ankles, the back. Not many have, however, had the misfortune of courting one injury after the other to the elbow. Archer's uniqueness, it would appear, isn't restricted to his bowling alone. Between his debut and February 2021, in a little over a year and a half, Archer played 13 Tests for 42 wickets, around his early jousts with injuries. Then, his five-day career hit an absolute roadblock. Every time he was primed for a return, the spectre of injury raised its ugly head all over again. The sense of déjà vu was unmistakable, matched only by the peaking of the frustration levels – of Archer, of the England team management, of the other stakeholders of English cricket, and to the average fan who was reconciling to life without Archer in Test cricket, ever again. But Archer himself didn't lose hope. It could have been tempting to go down the white-ball lane, to dump the agony of surgery and rehabilitation to prepare for long bowls in the Test match cauldron. He could have chosen to make a name for himself playing just T20 and 50-over internationals and a fair bit of franchise cricket, and no one would have had an issue. But Test cricket, with its nip-and-tuck and its fascinating highs and lows, appealed to him immensely and Archer told himself that if he didn't play another Test, it wouldn't be for want of trying. The second coming And thus eventuated his second coming, at the same venue where he had made a name for himself in the World Cup final and on his Test debut. Throughout the summer, in the lead-up to the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in Nottingham towards the end of May, Archer bombarded Ben Stokes with single-word text messages: 'Zim??' Zim didn't happen; it was destined to be Lord's. After the Zimbabwe Test, as England were playing India in Leeds in the first Test, Archer featured in his first County game for Sussex since the summer of 2021. In Chester-le-Street against Durham, he bowled 18 overs for one for 32, enough to convince Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum that he was ready for Test selection. England didn't rush him back, though. They picked him for Birmingham but gave him time to integrate with the new set-up, only unleashing him at Lord's, the place where he had stacked up numerous happy memories. Archer must have had a song in his heart when he stepped over the boundary rope and took guard against Siraj. He was back, wasn't he? His first ball back was an edge to third-man for four. A quarter of an hour later, he was dismissed by a peach from Bumrah, bowled through the gate. With a wry smile and a resigned mental shrug, he walked off, knowing his time with the ball was not far away. Within 39 minutes, Archer was roaring like a lion, taking off on a wild run that was only halted by the slight figure of Shoaib Bashir running in from long-leg, rocked by the ferocity with which Archer thudded into him. There was a good reason for such frenzied celebration. Archer needed only three deliveries to make his first statement, having his Rajasthan Royals colleague Yashasvi Jaiswal caught in the slips in his first over with a trademark spitting cobra that squared the left-hander up. His next ball, to Karun Nair, screamed past the batter's nose at 93mph. Within four balls of his comeback, Archer had sent down the fastest ball of the series. What else was in store? Four more wickets, as it turned out. Plenty of fire. Numerous 'beat-the-bat' routines. The odd body blow, such as the one Siraj copped on his left bicep late on day five. Jofra Archer was back, unmistakably so. Older, yes. Wiser, for sure. And just as hostile, make no mistake. At Lord's, left was right for Archer – all five of his victims were left-handers, including Jaiswal in both innings and Rishabh Pant in the second, bowled by a beauty that shaped in in the air, straightened brutally on pitching and rushed past his outside edge to send his off-stump cartwheeling. Just the previous over, Pant had charged Archer and swatted him, one-handed (he was favouring his left hand, injured index finger and all), through mid-on for an electric four. 'Charge that,' Archer screamed as he sped past Pant, clearly still rankled at the audacity with which the little 'keeper had treated him just minutes back. Every time Archer had the ball in his right hand, before he set out on that graceful, loping run, two heavy gold chains dangling around his neck, there was a feeling that something was about to happen. It didn't, not all the time, but there was something poignant and visceral in Archer attacking the bowling crease. There was a buzz of anticipation, the expectation that a spectacle was about to unfold. Not many bowlers possess that quality, that reputation. As Joe Root pointed out, the very fact that Stokes turned to a bowler playing his first Test in forever to have a go at the most prolific batter of the series when Shubman Gill walked out to bat in India's first innings was the ultimate show of faith, the ultimate vote of confidence, in Archer's skills. How England treat Archer for the rest of the series will be followed with interest. If he has a say, the 30-year-old would love nothing more than to play at both Old Trafford and The Oval. After all, he has so much catching up to do, doesn't he?
Express Tribune
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
I want to just lie on my bed, says Stokes after Test win
England captain Ben Stokes reaches for the ball during the third Test against India at Lord's. Photo: AFP England captain Ben Stokes said he was looking forward to a lengthy lie-down after leading from the front in a dramatic 22-run win over India in the third Test at Lord's on Monday. The all-rounder was named player of the match after scoring 77 runs and taking five wickets across the Test, in addition to an important first-innings run out of Rishabh Pant, as England went 2-1 up in a five-match series. Stokes put himself through a particularly gruelling stint on Monday's final day by bowling 19.2 energy-sapping overs on his way to leading England's attack with a second-innings return of 3-48. "I'm not going to lie, I cannot wait to just lie on my bed for four days and then be raring to go for (next week's fourth Test at) Manchester," Stokes told reporters. His position as a fully fledged all-rounder had been called into question by repeated knee problems but Stokes showed his worth to England as a lively medium-pacer on Monday. Stokes took the key wicket of India opener KL Rahul before bouncing out Jasprit Bumrah when the tailender was offering stout support to Ravindra Jadeja (61 not out) as the all-rounder guided his side towards a target of 193 after a collapse. The tense chase only ended when last man Mohammed Siraj unluckily played on to spinner Shoaib Bashir. Stokes has a deserved reputation for taking key wickets, with the 34-year-old saying: "I have got some history of turning up in moments like that with the ball. I was pretty pumped. "Bowling to win a Test match for your country on day five... if that doesn't get you going or up for going out there and putting in for your team, I don't know what will. "The game was on the line. Today it was going to be my decision on when I stopped bowling." England's win came six years to the day since their 2019 Worl Cup final win at Lord's, with Stokes, Jofra Archer, Joe Root and Chris Woakes the four survivors from that stunning Super Over success. Archer bowled the most tense six balls in England's limited-overs history and the memory of that day inspired Stokes to open the attack with him on Monday in what was the Sussex express quick's first Test after more than four years of injury-induced exile. Stokes' decision was vindicated by Archer ripping out dangerman Pant's off stump before the 30-year-old held an excellent caught and bowled chance to dismiss Washington Sundar in front of another capacity crowd at the Home of Cricket. "That was genuinely the reason why we went with it, it felt right in my tummy that Jof was going to do something this morning to break the game open," said Stokes.
NDTV
15-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Jofra Archer's Stern Message To 'Keyboard Warriors' After Lord's Test Performance
England pacer Jofra Archer is glad to have silenced the "keyboard warriors" who went after him during his long rehabilitation from multiple injury setbacks. Archer, featuring in his first Test since 2021, sparked India's collapse in the second innings of the third Test at Lord's. He dismissed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck before claiming the scalps of Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar to fashion England's 22-run win here on Monday. The 30-year-old has long been troubled by elbow and back injuries, and has played only white-ball cricket for England since 2021. "I guess I was a little bit emotional (after England's win). It was a long journey. I can't tell you the amount of keyboard warriors there have been for the last three or four years," Archer told 'Sky Sports' after playing a pivotal role in helping England take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. "It (comeback) was a long time coming, a lot of rehab, a lot of training but it's moments like this that make it all worth it. The whole crowd gave me a huge lift," he added. Archer, incidentally, shone on a day when exactly six years ago he bowled a Super Over in the World Cup final against New Zealand at the same venue as England lifted the trophy on boundary count. "The hardest part has been playing cricket for the last year and a half and still having the training wheels on talking about workloads -- bowl today, don't bowl tomorrow. "Sometimes you think you are ready but you never know until you do it. The safer way is the best way so I am not too fussed and this is surely worth the wait," said Archer, who sent Pant's off-stump cart-wheeling early on the final day, a setback India struggled to recover from. Elaborating on his comeback, Archer said he is still not completely in the clear as far as his rehabilitation is concerned. "The plans Keysey (England managing director of cricket Rob Key) and I made a few years ago are starting to fill the calendar. I am a bit speechless as to how things are coming on. "I think I still have overs marked out until December so I am not totally out of the woods but this is a good start. It was very hectic for a first Test back. I bowled more overs than I thought I would." Reflecting on Pant's dismissal, Archer said the crucial wicket gave England the "energy" to go for the win. "I think that (wicket) gave everyone the energy to push for this win."
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘He thought that was a World Cup final': Ben Stokes recalls conversation when Jofra Archer confused date of ENG's 2019 WC triumph with IND's 2002 NatWest final win
After edging past India in a tense 3rd Test at Lord's which England won by 22 runs, captain Ben Stokes shared a hilarious conversation with pacer Jofra Archer ahead of the 5th day's play on Sunday. This was the same date (July 14) where on 6 years ago, England had won the 2019 World Cup with Archer and Stokes both playing pivotal roles. But according to Stokes, Archer got confused over the date and thought it was the day India had chased 326 to win the NatWest final at Lord's in 2002. 'You know what day today is, don't you?' Stokes had asked Archer. 'You know that highlight package of India knocking off 300-odd back in the day with Ganguly? He thought that was a World Cup final. He thought that was six years ago today. Absolute beauty, that boy,' Stokes revealed to the reporters after the 3rd Test on Sunday. 6 years ago, England had won the World Cup 2019 on basis of hitting more boundaries than New Zealand in the final. The match was a tie after 50 overs as well as after the Super Over. This was the first time England had won the World Cup title and also the first time a 50-over World Cup was decided after the Super Over. Stokes did not have much of a role to play in the first innings, but he played one of the innings of his life in the second one with the England side in crisis. When Jos Buttler came out to join him, England were struggling at 86/4 in the 24th over, their World Cup dreams threatening to evaporate. His 110-run partnership with Buttler brought the chase back to life. Not only that, with signs of mental exhaustion writ large on his face, he marshalled the England lower order to take the match to a Super Over by taking a single off the last ball. Not surprisingly, he was one of the batsmen nominated by England to bat in the Super Over. In the Super Over, Stokes and Buttler came out to bat for England and plundered 15 runs in the one over bowled by Trent Boult. Archer took the ball for England, while New Zealand sent out Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham. Neesham got off to a great start but there was a run out off the last ball. England were awarded the match for their superior boundary count.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Virat Kohli dragged into Lord's 'nonsense', Atherton seeks forgiveness after 'degrading' Test: 'There's no place for...'
In addressing the on-field clashes during the Lord's Test match between India and England, which ended on Monday, former captain Mike Atherton dragged Virat Kohli into the discussion as he recalled his shoulder-barge episode during the tour of Australia last year. Atherton's comment came after ICC punished India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj for "provocative language and gesture" in his aggressive send off to England opener Ben Duckett on Day 4 of the Test match. Mike Atherton recalled Virat Kohli's shoulder-barge episode in Australia tour last year The incident occurred in the opening session on Sunday in London when Siraj aggressively celebrated Duckett's dismissal, and in his follow-through, made contact with Duckett when the batter was on his way back to the Lord's Long Room. Siraj was fined 15 per cent of his match fees and handed one demerit point. Addressing the situation in his column for The Times, Atherton called for balance — urging that while fiery passion is part of Test cricket's charm, physical confrontations like Kohli's shoulder barge or the Brydon Carse- Ravindra Jadeja clash should have no place on the field. "Forgive me for degrading the report of a great match with this nonsense, but wouldn't spectators rather see players caring too much, rather than too little, about playing Tests. No one, of course, wants to see physical altercations on the field of play, or sustained nasty verbal abuse. There should be no place, for example, for the shoulder barge that Virat Kohli initiated in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne last Christmas, when he diverted from his path to deliberately walk into Sam Konstas. In a match where there was plenty of spice and niggle, tempers flared as Carse and Jadeja collided mid-pitch, although the impact was entirely accidental, after Jadeja had deflected the ball towards third man, with both players ball-watching rather than minding each other's path," he wrote. The Kohli incident had taken place on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test in December last year, when the former India captain had deliberately walked up to Australia batter Sam Konstas and bumped his shoulder, which was followed by a heated exchange between the two. Despite his act, Kohli escaped major sanctions after the ICC announced that he had accepted a fine worth 20 per cent of his match fee. Atherton also drew parallels between the Lord's Test match and England historic ICC World Cup win six years back at the very same venue. "Six years ago to the day, Lord's had witnessed the most remarkable finish to any cricket match, when the World Cup final was decided on a boundary countback after a Super Over. Now the game delivered an extraordinary finish again, with two of the protagonists from that day, Stokes and Jofra Archer, taking centre stage," Atherton remarked.
