Jofra Archer, the speed demon, is set to make a highly anticipated return for England in the third Test, replacing Josh Tongue as England seeks to counter India’s recent dominance. This strategic move comes in the wake of India’s commanding performance at Edgbaston, with England now banking on Archer’s raw pace to rattle the formidable visitors.
Captain Ben Stokes highlighted Archer’s unwavering resolve, stating the bowler is “very, very determined” despite having had limited game time in red-ball cricket recently. His re-entry provides England with a potent weapon, promising a level of match-winning pace that has been sorely missed throughout the current series.
Archer’s Test career has been notably intermittent since his sensational debut, with an average of under 11 overs bowled per year. Despite this, Stokes expressed full confidence in his abilities: “I don’t see that being negative… expectations are understandable,” acknowledging the high hopes placed on the returning quick.
While Archer’s first public glimpse on Wednesday was limited to light fast-bowling, the true litmus test will be his performance under intense match pressure. His ability to deliver speeds of up to 96 mph offers England a significant ray of hope, a potential game-changer to disrupt India’s well-settled top-order batsmen.