JIM LESSONS FOR JOF
Archer must find way to cope with hurtful attacks
JIMMY ANDERSON says England need to be sure Jofra Archer is in the “right frame of mind” before selecting him for the series decider against the West Indies.
The fast bowler, whose trip home to Brighton between the first Test in Southampton and second Test in Manchester broke bio-secure protocols and led to him being dropped and fined, broke his silence on Monday.
In a newspaper column printed in Ireland and not green-lighted by the ECB, Archer admitted to struggling mentally with the fallout to his blunder and to “seriously considering taking a break from cricket”.
Anderson said he believes his team-mate will want to play in the third Test, which starts at Old Trafford tomorrow.
But he warned that Archer, captain Joe Root and coach Chris Silverwood need to be honest with each other.
“We’ve not seen much of Jofra because he’s been in isolation for a few days,” said Anderson.
“He’s said about his frame of mind. It’s something he’s going to have to sit down with the captain and coach and figure out if he is in the right place to play.”
In his column, Archer admitted to an “error of judgement” but insisted the reaction to his trip to Brighton has been over the top, hurtful and included racist abuse on social media.
Anderson admitted the landscape has changed since he made his debut but that Archer needs to develop coping mechanisms to deal with the inevitable scrutiny.
“I was fortunate when I came into the England team,” said England’s leading wicket-taker.
“There was no social media back then, but the way people can get their opinions out there, it’s quite visible.
“It’s just finding methods as a player to deal with that, and I think using the team around him as well, whether that’s family, friends, management and the players and coaches here.
“It’s important everyone does that, not just Jofra.”
Anderson also responded to the suggestion by Silverwood that he would pick England’s best attack by reminding everyone that he and Stuart Broad have a fantastic record when playing together.
“I’d really like to think that if we’re in a situation where we’re both fit and England are picking their strongest bowling attack, then we’d both be in that,” he said.
“I’d love to think we’ve got plenty more games together in the future.”
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