Archer back in England side for Test

● Pacer Jofra Archer has been recalled for England’s final Test against West Indies to be played at the Old Trafford despite his claims of being racially abused after missing the second Test for a breach of Coronavirus rules.

Manchester, July 23: Jofra Archer was recalled Thursday to England’s squad for their series decider against the West Indies despite saying he might not play following racist abuse he received after being left out of the second Test for a breach of Coronavirus regulations.

“I need to be 100 per cent mentally right so that I can throw myself into my cricket this week,” fast bowler Archer wrote in his Daily Mail column published on Wednesday.

“If I play and don’t bowl

90 miles an hour it’s going to be news,” he added.

Barbados-born quick Archer, however, was back in England’s 14-man squad for Friday’s Test at Old Trafford, with the threematch series all square at

1-1. Meanwhile, veteran England paceman James Anderson said skipper Joe Root and coach Chris Silverwood would have to assess with Archer whether he was “in the right place to play”.

There is certainly no denying the Barbados-born Archer’s talent.

In eight Tests since his debut last year he has taken 33 wickets at an average of 28.12, with his tally already including three five-wicket hauls.

But as they showed during their 113-run win in the second Test, England have plenty of pace bowling options, with Stuart Broad taking six wickets on his return to international duty.

England have been rotating their seamers throughout a series that forms part of a gruelling schedule of six Tests, including three against Pakistan, in seven weeks.

Veteran spearhead Anderson could now return on his Lancashire home ground, having been rested from the series-levelling win, as could Mark Wood.

Meanwhile left-armer Jack Leach, who will turn the ball away from the tourists’ clutch of righthanded batsmen, may be recalled in place of fellow Somerset spinner Don Bess.