It’s not easy being Archer

‘If I had to bowl at 90 mph every ball, I would be lucky to play half a season’: England pace ace

cricketers feel the same.

“But I don’t think Chris Gayle has even retired from Test cricket!” Archer counters. [This is true, but he also hasn’t played it since September 2014, against Bangladesh.]

“That’s a bad stereotype to think that anyone who comes from the Caribbean is going to be all about whiteball cricket.

“They say we only care about the money as well, and that’s totally not the case. Chris Gayle’s average in Test cricket is over 40.”

Archer feigns nonchalance but there are times when it is obvious social media bothers him. Lurking online are probably his harshest critics, those who dismiss his injuries, question his commitment, damn him for letting his speed drop. And like a lot of young people, he can’t always look away.

“People don’t care if you’re sick, if you’re injured, if you’re battling something emotionally, they’ll still have their opinion and there’s nothing you can do,” Archer says.

“People don’t understand at all about fast bowling. I’ve never seen anyone who has played professional sport have a go at me. People who have been in that position have an idea of what you go through. You turn up, you’re not going to get the same feel at a ground every day. It will not always be the same.

“You’re only human – and there’s stuff you’re going to go through that’s different.

“If you had to bowl 90 mph every ball. you wouldn’t play a whole season. Half, maybe, if you’re lucky. Not all. Even Nortjé in Johannesburg went through some spells where he wasn’t 100 per cent and it just goes to show, you’ve got to know your body, you’ve got to know what you can give, you’ve got to know that you’re good enough to be here in the first place, so you don’t worry about what goes on off the field.

“I always try to bowl full intensity, but if you’re tired your full intensity won’t be 90 mph. Day four, day five, when you’ve already bowled 30 overs in a game – that’s understandable, surely?’

Indeed it is. And maybe that is what Archer needs most of all: understanding. It’s certainly something Pietersen could relate to, as well: it’s not easy being him. | Daily Mail