FLAT TRACK BULLY
Gough wants Archer to be enforcer on dull Kiwi pitches
ENGLAND have been told to “find a way” of taking wickets on flat pitches with Jofra Archer as their new strike weapon.
The expectation on Archer’s shoulders have been sky high from the moment he first pulled on an England shirt and his performances over the summer have done nothing to dampen the vibe.
So here in New Zealand on his first overseas assignment and with just four Tests under his belt, he is the X-factor that England are hoping will help them cut a swathe through the Kiwi line-up.
And after watching him rough up the New Zealand ‘A’ batsmen as they made 302-6 declared thanks to a Glenn Phillips hundred, bowling consultant Darren Gough is in no doubt of the value of their latest pace star.
“You need a strike bowler, and the third spell was the best he’s bowled since he’s been here,” said former England bowler Gough, right.
“The pitch is flat, not doing anything sideways or through the air, and as a captain or a coach you’re looking for a bowler to do something – and Jofra has done that.
“It’s not easy but you find a way to attack, even on flat pitches, and this is the best prep you can get because there’s a good chance next week could be similar to this.
“Archer is just a natural talent.With him, it’s about continuing to challenge him and giving him a target.
“I say, ‘OK, you bowl at 95 mph and Tim Southee and Trent Boult bowl at 85. They somehow find a way to take wickets in New Zealand on flat pitches. So what do they think? If you need control, you go to
Stuart Broad. If you need a wicket, you go to Archer.”
Archer claimed 2-58 from his
17 overs, taking the wickets of Hamish Rutherford and Tom Blundell.
He also had the impact of providing wickets for others, with Ben Stokes picking up Tim Seifert and Jimmy Neesham following a hostile spell in which Archer struck Phillips on the arm and on the body, and regularly put the batsman on the floor as he took evasive action.
“My goodness that was the quickest I’ve ever faced in my life, jeez,” said Phillips following his 116.
“He hit my forearm, nearly took my head off a couple of times and got me in the chest a couple of times.
“I’ve played against him before for the MCC Young Cricketers when he was playing for Sussex 2s and he was all over me back then too. The challenge was unbelievable and it was the most fun you can have out there. “With [Australia batsman] Steve Smith getting hit [in the head] a couple of months ago, it is in the back of your mind as he’s running in, but it is a tactic and if you’re watching the ball you’ll be alright.”
The only real concern for England came when Joe Root jarred his hip when trying to stop a boundary and had to hobble off with pins and needles and unable to feel his left foot. Thankfully he was back on the field soon after to allay any fears, but there was less joy for opener Rory Burns who fell in the penultimate over of the day for 14 cutting straight to point.