Injury could be ‘blessing’ for Archer, says Wright
JOFRA Archer’s injury lay-off could be a blessing in disguise for England, according to the fast bowler’s Sussex team-mate Luke Wright.
England will be without Archer for their forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka after the 24-year-old suffered a stress fracture in his right elbow. He has also been sidelined for the Indian Premier League season.
Archer enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2019, playing pivotal roles in England’s World Cup triumph, and series draw against Australia in the Ashes.
“As much as it is a disappointment that Jof is injured, it might just give him the break he needs,” Wright, who played 101 one-day and Twenty20 internationals for England, told the PA news agency.
“It will allow him to take a breath and figure out what he needs to do to go again. The break will help him out.
“Not many players are expected to come into an international side, knock over Steve Smith every day, win the Ashes and win the World Cup.
“Jof’s injury will give him time to spend at home for a sustained period with his family and friends in Barbados. He hasn’t had that for a long time. He can reflect, assess and go again. When Jof is on form and confident, he is as good as anyone in the world.”
Archer’s absence from next month’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka will be a blow to England.
Since his Test debut in August last year, Archer has taken three five-wicket hauls, with no player in the world having managed more during the same period.
But in the weeks building up to Archer’s injury, there were suggestions that he was being overburdened by England.
“Jof is the one who says he wants to keep bowling, and that is the hardest thing to manage with him at times,” added Wright, 34, who was speaking at the launch of Dynamos Cricket, ECB’s new programme for children.
“When he is bowling close to 150km/h and he is telling you he is fine and he wants to keep going, any captain would find him hard to take off, so I felt sympathy towards Joe Root.
“But as Jof keeps maturing, he will learn the demands of international cricket - the wickets are flatter and you are out in the field a lot longer - so it is something he will have to manage over time.”
It is hoped that Archer will be available for England’s first Test of the summer, against West Indies at The Oval on June 4.
Providing he is fit, Archer is also in line to help England become double world champions at the T20 World Cup in Australia this autumn.
ANGLING on the South Wales coast has taken a battering this month with a number of matches called off in stormravaged February.
However, with some venue switching, club matches have actually taken place in the three-week period.
First up for the challenge were Caerau SAC, who managed to fish their scheduled first monthly match of the 2020 season.
Fishing in and around the Barry area, a 27-strong group of anglers who braved the weather were beset early on with undersize fish.
But perseverance paid off and better fish came to the scales at the back end of the match.
In first place was Paul Worsley, with spotted ray and whiting for 2.34kg.
Runner-up was Mark Davies with a single codling for 0.81kg and third spot went to Nicholas Fender with another codling for 0.80kg.
The club’s next match is on Saturday fishing at Lavernock Point to Bendricks Rock.
Booking-in is at Cosmeston Lakes car park at 1pm.
Penarth SAC’s two matches during the period were fished at their local pier and beach.
A good thornback ray of 9lb 10oz from the pier took first place for Derek Sidaway in the first of the matches.
Calvin Parker took second spot with a codling of 1lbs 10oz and Simon Tritschler, fishing Dock Beach, was third with a silver eel for 13oz.
Junior winner was Finnan Williams from the pier with a whiting for 2oz.
The second match was won by Parker from the beach with 8lbs 6oz, including a bass of 5lbs 2oz and a codling of 3lbs 4oz.
Mike Purnell was second with a 2lbs 5oz codling and Andrea McQuiston was third from the beach with a 1lb 10oz codling.
This week’s match takes place on Sunday at the club’s local pier and beach.
Booking-in is at the pier from 8am, fishing 9am-1pm.
Newport SAC had a match last weekend at Sudbrook, where fish were hard to find. First place went to Kane Hyden, with a pouting for 0.35kg.
Runner-up was Gareth Mutlow with a 0.18kg rockling and third place went to Jamie Mills with a rockling of 0.14kg.
Sea View Lads SAC fished the first of their midweek matches at Sully and the Bendricks.
Top spot went to club fixture secretary Paul Crook with the only fish of the match – a thornback ray of 5lb 10oz.
The club then tackled Storm Dennis, where nine brave souls fished the points at Barry in the first leg of the clubs annual single and pairs competition. Crook notched up another win with two codling for 4lb 7oz.