MOEEN OUT, LEACH IN FOR LORD’S
SHANE WARNE believes Jofra Archer will prove to be England’s not-sosecret weapon in the battle with Steve Smith at Lord’s.
England have ditched the out-of-form Moeen Ali and drafted in the left-arm pin of Jack Leach in a bid to find the former Aussie skipper’s kryptonite.
But Warne is in no doubt that Archer represents the biggest test for Smith in St John’s Wood as England battle to rescue their Ashes campaign in the wake of their 251-run defeat at Edgbaston.
“Smith has been the star of the show so far but now we have Jofra,” said the legendary former Australia spinner.
“I would love to see Steve go on and score a hundred in every single innings for the rest of the series.
“But with Jofra coming in I think he’ll be set to face his biggest challenge yet and this could make the difference in the upcoming Tests. No one likes to face tall 90mph bowlers. The loss of Jimmy Anderson was such a blow for
England and they will really need
Jofra to step up but he has all the attributes to do just that.”
Anderson was ruled out of the second Test last Tuesday after suffering a recurrence of a calf injury and bowling just four overs in the summer’s first Ashes encounter.
He looks unlikely to return until the fifth Test at the Oval, if he makes it back at all.
Off-spinner Moeen faces a similarly uncertain short-term future as well after England lost patience with his declining fortunes and loss of confidence.
Bowling figures of 3-172 and scores of 0 and 4 with the bat proved the last straw for a player who was axed earlier this summer from the starting XI during the World Cup as well. And while Leach made 92 with the bat as nightwatchman against Ireland, his three overs with the ball went for 26 which is unlikely to spread fear amongst the Australian batting line-up. England hope his angle of attack can unsettle Smith, who has proved relatively susceptible to left-arm orthodox spin during his career. But it is Archer’s pace which England are banking on proving the difference on Wednesday as they seek to down Smith after an attack depleted by Anderson’s absence in Birmingham ran out of ideas and steam. Australia captain Tim Paine insisted his side were ready for whatever England attack lines up at Lord’s as they seek to hammer home their advantage. “We’ve heard a lot about changes in their team and changes in conditions but it is about being able to adapt to any side they bring out,” Paine said. Australia look set to unleash a fresh bowling attack at Lord’s after Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were put through their paces in an impressive run-out in the three-day tour game at Worcestershire. Hazlewood could be the one to step up after taking 3-34 in 15 overs. Starc took 2-56 in a drawn match.