ARCHER’S RED HOT AND READY FOR AUSSIES
AUSTRALIA should be on red alert for Jofra Archer when he makes his Test debut at Lord’s because he’ll tell anyone that will listen he prefers a red ball over a white one.
Archer, 24, made his name as a white ball weapon in the Big Bash and then the World Cup and looms as the answer to England’s Ashes prayers when the second Test kicks off at Lord’s on Wednesday.
While the home team included left-arm spinner Jack Leach hoping he could be kryptonite to Australia’s superman Steve Smith, it could be Archer who provides England more of a weapon.
Sent to prove his fitness in a second XI county game, Archer took 6-27 for Sussex last week and video of his demolition of the opposition, who were rolled for just 79, went viral.
Archer’s World Cup-winning teammate Jos Buttler, set to play at Lord’s this week too, said Archer had the X-factor England needs to get back into the series.
“In his short international career so far we've seen what an impact he's had,” Buttler said at Lord’s on Saturday.
“He's got amazing skills with the white ball but, having talked to him, I think he prefers bowling with the red one. That's exciting for us. And when he makes his mark — I think he just brings that X-factor to every game he's played in. It’s really exciting for the world to see him in the Test arena.”
Archer has a serious first class bowling record, with 131 wickets in just 28 matches, to underline his red ball credentials.
Buttler made just six runs in two innings in the first-up loss at Edgbaston, his first match after England’s World Cup success.
Despite the defeat however, and the axing of Moeen Ali for Lord’s as a result, he said that England was still well and truly in the series.
“There's no need to panic. We're 1-0 down with four matches to go in this series. And Test cricket is hard, you’re playing against the best players in the world,” he said. “And if you're not good enough for long enough, then you're going to lose. But we know we have a fantastic team — stay calm, nothing really changes.
“We lost that game but we'll come to Lord's full of excitement and belief that we're a good enough side to win this Test and make it 1-1.”