Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BUBBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE
Archer has spent more endless months under Covid restrictions than any other player and is counting down the days until it’s all over
JOFRA ARCHER has revealed that spending nearly six months in cricket’s bio-secure bubbles has pushed him to the limit.
And the fast bowler thinks if life does not change next year, he will need significant breaks from England cricket if he is to retain a grip on sanity.
Archer is competing for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL in the United Arab Emirates after a long international summer.
He believes he has spent more t i me u n d e r C o v i d restrictions this year than any other cricketer, including his Royals team-mate Jos Buttler.
Archer said yesterday: “You get into a mental frame of mind that you’re just counting days down. You’re still going to play and train but when you’re done you’re just counting days down.
“I might actually get a calendar just to cross them down to feel like the days are going faster.”
Archer entered England’s summer bubble on June 23 and, aside from his well-publicised blunder between
Tests against the
West Indies, spent the best part of 16 weeks in a pitchside hotel.
He then swapped one bubble for another at the IPL, which has been a real challenge, and wants changes if the restrictions are still in place in the new year.
“I think you’re going to need to have your family with you, especially in these bubbles,” said Archer. “It helps you stay sane, because I reckon about four days, five days in, you start to get a little bit of cabin fever.
“While everyone at England has done a great job, you are going to need to be managed properly.
“Bigger squads will definitely have to be taken into consideration as well, either that or some guys would just have to play fewer formats.
Being someone who plays all three, I’ve probably done the most bubble days out of anyone. I’ve probably done just more than Jos.
“I think you’d have to play one or two formats maybe, or if you’re going to play in all three formats you can’t play all the games.”
Ironically, Archer is battling to prolong his stay in the UAE with the Royals fighting for the last semi-final spot. They have a make-or-break clash with King’s XI Punjab tomorrow.
And while the England bowler is feeling the effects off the pitch, on it he has been in fine form with 17 wickets in 12 matches and weighed in with a stunning catch against Mumbai on Sunday.
Should the Royals beat Punjab and win their final match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, Archer could have just four f u l l d ay s back in England before he boards another plane for another bubble in South Africa.
Rajasthan Royals v Kings XI Punjab live on Sky Sports tomorrow at 2pm.