LIVELY PITCHES TO SUIT JOFRA
ENGLAND head coach Chris Silverwood has challenged Jofra Archer to make his mark on the forthcoming Test series against South Africa.
The tourists capped their first full day in Johannesburg by watching team-mate Ben Stokes become BBC Sports Personality of the Year but were back to the hard yards yesterday morning, putting themselves through a three-hour training session in 29-degree heat at Benoni’s Willowmoore Park.
Archer batted and took part in fielding drills but did not bowl due to a cold, though Silverwood’s description of his ailment as “a little bit of a sniffle” suggests it is a minor complaint.
England have yet to rule him in or out of the two-day warm-up which begins at the same venue today but, as the game against a Cricket South Africa invitational side is not restricted to 11-a-side, they have the option to use all of their bowling options sparingly.
By the time the four-Test series gets under way on Boxing Day, though, expect Archer to be firmly in thick of things and eager to put his lethargic outings against New Zealand – against whom he claimed two wickets at a cost of 209 runs – behind him. The same stubborn
Kookaburra ball awaits but, on traditionally livelier surfaces, Silverwood has nudged the fast bowler to keep finding new answers as he gets to grips with the demands of touring life.
“I think he’ll get more out of the pitches than in New Zealand. There’s usually a bit more bounce here which I think will encourage him,” said Silverwood.
“He’s still very young into his international career, especially his Test career, and it’s the first time he has come across those New Zealand conditions. So did I expect him to have all the answers? No I didn’t and it would be wrong of me if I did. “But he will learn and he has some good people around him that he can learn from.We will continue talking to him. Joe Root is continually learning what’s the best way of captaining him as well. We’ll all work together on it.” ❑ENGLAND’S Laura Marsh has retired from international duty at the age of 33. Marsh won three World Cups in a 13-year career that saw her become the most successful spinner in the history of English women’s cricket.