England’s five-match Test series against India is delicately poised at 1-1, but the mood in the English camp is anything but settled. After the bruising 336-run defeat at Edgbaston, selection calls have come under scrutiny. And now, one of England’s greatest voices has weighed in. James Anderson, now a retired legend, believes Jofra Archer must play and now at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s.
Anderson backs Archer for Lord’s: “It’s too crucial a game not to”
“You could keep trying to build his overs up and play him later in the series, but it could be too late by then,” Anderson told media ahead of the third Test as per the ICC. “I think he will play. He’s played one game for Sussex, he was around the team at Edgbaston and bowled a bit. I just feel like you’ve got to play him. It’s too crucial a game not to.”
Archer hasn’t played a Test since February 2021 but returned to red-ball cricket recently with Sussex before linking up with the England squad in Birmingham. He bowled in the nets, was part of the dressing room, and by all accounts, has looked sharp.
Anderson understands what Archer can bring at Lord’s. This is the ground where Archer famously announced himself in red-ball cricket with that fiery Ashes debut in 2019. And the feeling is that India might be the perfect opposition for his Test return.
McCullum hints at Archer’s return too
Head coach Brendon McCullum hasn’t confirmed Archer’s spot in the XI, but didn’t hide his excitement either.
“Jofra is looking fit, he’s looking strong, he’s looking ready to go, and he’ll come into calculations,” McCullum said. “It’s hugely exciting. He’s buzzing as well. He’s obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket. We all know what he’s capable of achieving in Test cricket and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he’s able to recapture and also improve on what he’s been able to do already.”
England had a great opening Test in Leeds. However, it was there batters who won them the clash, with the hosts leaking five centuries and bowling over 200 overs. After a week’s gap, the English bowlers pushed away more. Courtesy of Shubman Gill’s marathon 269, England bowled 151 overs in the first innings itself before turning up for 83 more in the second.
The likes of Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue both broke down. And hence, this has opened the gate for Archer and Atkinson, who can easily walk in the team.
England squad for third Test vs India
Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
