JOE BELIEVES JOFRA’S SCARY PACE CAN PLAY ASHES ROLE

JOFRA ARCHER has already impressed Joe Root enough to be a contender for this summer’s Ashes.

The Barbados- born fast bowler ( left) has only just become eligible for England and is trying to play his way into the World Cup squad for the end of this month.

But captain Root, who has so far been shrewd enough to avoid Archer’s lightning pace in the nets, could barely hide his excitement at the thought of calling on him for a few overs at Steve Smith and Co.

And even though it is still early days in Archer’s England career, the noticeable problems he gave the Pakistan batsmen in Cardiff in the seven-wicket T20 win, were enough to suggest he could make life uncomfortable for the Aussies come August.

With Mark Wood (below) also producing a ferociously fast spell in the Caribbean, Archer’s emergence could mean that England have the sort of artillery to respond in kind to the Aussies for the first time since nce Steve Harmison and d Andrew Flintoff played their last Ashes Test together 10 years ago.

“You could see the value of what he could bring to a side – that at extra bit of zip,” purred red Root. “We will see the more he h plays.

“I’ve not had the chance to face him in the nets yet, which could be interesting. He hurried a few of their guys up.

“He is someone that wants to get into the game and make things happen, which is a brilliant quality to have on this stage.

“I am looking at everyone with an eye on the Ashes, anyone that is in the shake-up. Naturally he will. Subconsciously you are always looking at county cricket, around the squad, who is in good form, who could potentially be a good option for the Ashes squad. “It’s exciting to see another optio option to add to what is a growing gro bowling group, in the experience we have h with the two senior s guys and guys like l Woody putting in a performance like he di did in that last Test match. mat It’s great to see us producing d i more players and giving us different options.”

Bowling three or four spells of four overs in a day is a long way from bowling four overs in an entire match and England are mindful of not upping T20 specialist Archer’s workload too much too soon.

But at 24 and with an athletic frame that can generate pace seemingly at will, the enthusiasm over a third potential debut this summer is e n t i re l y understandable.

By then Root could already have made it a summer to remember at the World Cup where he will be integral to English success even though he goes about things in a different way to most of his top order team-mates.

Root’s white-ball skills are based around more classical strokeplay and an eye for a gap that only the very best players in the world can regularly thread. The power comes from elsewhere, with Root’s role utterly essential.

“I feel pretty good at the moment,” said Root. “I feel I complement guys pretty well and I feel like I can play that role which guys can bat around and take pressure off them that way so they can play their shots.

“I’m looking to add more power to my game, but I have to remind myself to do things my way.”