Archer workload is abuse!
Windies fast bowling legend, Michael Holding has criticised Jofra Archer’s workload during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s as “unsustainable”, arguing that bowling 44 overs in the match was tantamount to “abuse”.
The Barbadian fast bowling sensation made a stunning Test debut at Lord’s last week, sending down 29 overs in the first innings and another 15 in the second – all at express pace.
Remarkably, the 24-yearold accounted for 22 of the 75 overs bowled on the dramatic penultimate day.
“Archer bowled a third of all the overs bowled. That’s a spinner’s quota,” Holding told media here.
“If you keep bowling him like this, you will lose the 96 mph delivery. He’ll still bowl fast – 90 mph – but do you want to lose the
express pace? It is not just about this match or the next, but next year and the one after that.”
In the first innings, Archer’s workload was matched only by new-ball partner Stuart Broad, who sent down 27.2 overs. However, as England went in search of wickets on the fourth day of the rain-hit encounter after Australia resumed on 80 for four, Archer was used as the main strike bowler.
He bowled with fearsome pace to twice hit marquee batsman Steve Smith with short-pitched deliveries – the second of which was a frightening blow to the head which forced the batsman to temporarily retire hurt, eventually ruled him out of the second innings and also put him out of the third Test at Headingley, starting Thursday.
Archer was the only England pacer to bowl more than seven overs in the second innings, as the hosts pushed for a victory which ultimately eluded them.
“It’s abuse. When I was bowling, we had three other quicks just as fast. We could share the burden,” Holding contended.
“England need to be very careful with Archer. He is obviously very fit, as you could see with his recovery from the side strain. Like me, he is