THE ASHES: Jofra... the man who puts the ace in pace
Buttler is banking on X-factor Archer
ENGLAND
Gideon Brooks
DEBUTS do not come much bigger than an Ashes encounter with Australia at Lord’s.
But Jos Buttler predicts X-factor bowler Jofra Archer will take proceedings in his stride, insisting he was born to star on the greatest stages the sport can provide.
England attempt to level the series with Au s t r a l i a at Lord’s this week after suffering an emphatic opening defeat at Edgbaston.
The fact they go into battle without leading wicket-taker Jimmy Anderson after he suffered a potentially series-ending calf injury has only l oaded more pressure on replacement Archer.
Relish
But Buttler believes Archer will thrive on that pressure.
“Jofra is going to relish it and he has incredible skill and selfbelief,” said Buttler.
“He is still a young man at 24, but a lot has happened to him in a short space of time and he has taken it all in his stride.
“He has been exposed to a lot of pressure situations in IPL (Indian Premier League) and the Big Bash.
“He is one of the most talkedabout cricketers in the world at the minute and has had to deal with that expectation. He has done that really well.
“I think his character is suited to the pressures and things that come with international cricket. I think he is a man who can really deal with that.”
Buttler maintains that those who were impressed with his performances in the World Cup with a white ball are going to be even more amazed at his skill with a red ball.
And if the Lord’s pitch and overheads are anything like they were for the one-off Test against Ireland in the week before Edgbaston, Australia could be in for an examination of their technique against the moving ball.
“Jof is going to bring pace and that X-factor to our side,” said Buttler, speaking at an event laid on by his equipment sponsor Kookaburra at Lord’s yesterday.
“It is a really exciting time for him and he has obviously got fantastic skills with the white ball, but I think he prefers bowling with the red one, which is an exciting proposition.”
Archer will offer a point of difference for England’s bowling attack but the loss of Anderson will still be keenly felt.
“Take James Anderson out of any side in the world and they are going to miss him,” said Buttler.
Brutal
The other change sees Jack Leach replacing Moeen Ali, a move born as much from the latter’s dipping confidence as the former’s angle of attack.
If Steve Smith has a weakness – and it was not immediately apparent from Edgbaston that he has – it is facing left-arm spin, and the match-up between the pair could prove brutal for one of them.
And close friend Buttler is backing Leach to succeed. “Hopefully he will get Smith with one that pitches outside leg and hits the top of off,” he added.
“But I am excited for him as he has worked very hard to get himself in the position he is now in.”
England v Australia starts Wednesday at Lord’s at 11am. Live on Sky Sports Cricket.