Test cricket often has that charm to produce match-winners on a consistent basis. Be it batting or bowling, young guns coming into the longest format and making a space for themselves is quite remarkable. England fast bowler Jofra Archer is just 24 years old. At the start of what is expected to be a superb career, Jofra Archer Test Cricket Career stocks is rising as the clock ticks by.
The 2019 World Cup hero had made his international debut for England in May 2019. Since then he has dictated the show in ODIs and was the most successful English bowler in the World Cup. Archer was handed a call-up into the England Test squad for The Ashes 2019. He showed his finesse and energy by traumatizing the Aussies at Lord’s in his debut Test that included five match wickets.
Archer also felled Steve Smith with a bouncer and the latter was concussed to miss the third Ashes Test at Headingley. It was always going to be the Archer story at Headingley especially with Smith missing out. And as expected, the lanky right-arm pacer produced a heroic spell on a rain-hit first day.
Jofra Archer Test Cricket Career registered 6/45, five of which came in the final session of the day. He reversed the fortunes of the home side after they were in danger of wasting ideal bowling conditions on an overcast day.Australia had reached 136-2 thanks to a third-wicket stand of 111 between David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne.
But Archer had other ideas. He got Warner caught behind for 61 to spark a collapse as the Aussies fell for 179. The match of course took a different turn as England are on the brink again but credit to Archer. Jofra Archer Test Cricket Career saw him with spell in the first innings which is perhaps one of the best in recent Ashes history. It also brought back fond memories of Stuart Broad’s eight-for in 2015.
Here we look at Archer and discuss how the explosive bowler is set to become the next big thing in Test cricket and The Ashes.
Archer’s explosions a grand factor
Archer has all the characteristics of a great fast bowler. He has deadly pace, unplayable bouncers, nagging length and line and consistency. It brings him in the zone of former legend Mitchell Johnson. The Englishman is England’s best bet in the present moment and is somehow set to be a pioneer like that of a James Anderson in the future.
The right-arm pacer clocked in excess of 90mph at Lord’s and set himself running high at the Aussies. Jofra Archer Test Cricket Career showed that he possesses the exciting raw pace to trouble the best batsmen in the world. At Headingley though, he wasn’t quite clocking great speeds. However, it was a demonstration of full length, seam movement, and control.
These are other sets of attributes up his sleeves.
Archer is already a fan favorite. He was the match-winner for England in the World Cup. To show his credentials in Test cricket is something that will please the fans even more. So much so, the fans at Headingley cheered Archer all day and as he led England off, they were saluting England’s new strike sensation.
“I didn’t do too much differently from Lord’s. It was a bit bowler-friendly today. I’ll more than take 6-45 but I can be tidier in the future,” Archer said after a heroic spell in the first innings.
Jofra Archer Test Cricket Career draws comparisons with legend Dale Steyn
Now this is huge for the Englishman. Playing in just his second Test and to be likened to someone like a Dale Steyn is remarkable. “He bowled at bit like Dale Steyn with the new ball, tried to use the conditions and ramp it up when he needed to. It was world-class bowling at its best,” said Australia’s opening batsman David Warner.
We all know the impact and aura Steyn had for South Africa in a glittering Test career. Steyn was vicious energy all day and he charged in to leave batsmen startled on any given pitch in the world. Steyn ended with 439 Test scalps.
The 24-year-old Archer was flattered by Steyn comparisons. “It is really nice, flattering really,” said Archer. “Dale tweeted me a few years ago when I first started playing for Sussex. It is nice that someone who has played so many matches and has taken so many wickets would even think about me.”
Steyn’s strike-rate – averaging a wicket every 42.3 balls. Whereas, Archer’s strike-rate is way better at the moment. Although, it’s just the beginning.
Archer a mature head just like India’s Bumrah
Now the reason why Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is being mentioned here is simply because of the fact that the limited-overs Mr. Consistent, came in and ripped apart teams after being handed his Test debut last year. Bumrah had a superb 2018 and ended the year with 48 scalps. All his wickets came outside the sub-continent.
Similarly, Jofra Archer Test Cricket Career is shaping up the right way. He knows what the format demands despite earning sucesss in white-ball cricket. He hasn’t shied away and understands the basics of great Test match bowling. Like Bumrah, the Englishman varies his options and bowls as per what the situation demands.
It’s a great asset to have given formats require constant changes in approach.
“There will be times in Test matches when you have to focus on hitting a length and there will be times to ramp it up as well. This wasn’t a wicket you had to run in and bowl 90mph. It was a bit softer on top and it would swing and nip as well. As long as you put the ball in the right areas you should get wickets,” said Archer.
This is a 24-year-old rising pacer talking like a matured cricketer who knows so much of the game.
England cannot afford to burn out Archer
The story at Headingley could have been much better for England. Instead, skipper Joe Root missed the plot completely. After bundling out Aussies for 179, Root’s side was folded for 67. The pacers came back after hardly any rest and Archer pulled his hamstring in his ninth over.
Archer had to be withdrawn from the field of play as Ben Stokes stepped in and completed the final two balls of his over. It was unknown though whether Archer was merely suffering from cramp or a more serious soft tissue issue.
This is something many pundits and former cricketers fear. That is Root over-utilising his most lethal weapon. England have plenty of fast-bowling options in the starting XI. The workload needs to be monitored.
Archer bowled 17.1 overs in the first innings (most by any England bowler). He bowled 42.3 overs in total in the second Test. Going forward, England cannot put all the burden on Archer and say run in.
However, this Test is gone from England’s hands after Aussies took a substantial 283-run lead and looks set to win the Test and take a 2-0 lead. The dream of regaining The Ashes for Root is all but over.