ENGLAND TO ROLL OUT THE BIG GUNS
JOFRA ARCHER returns to the England side to face Pakistan today with a licence to thrill — and could be joined in the attack by Mark Wood as Joe Root (right) rolls out the big guns to try to end the Test summer with a bang. Archer looks certain to play at the expense of Sam Curran in the last of the six bio-secure Tests this summer that have done so much to safeguard the future of the game and, as Sportsmail reported yesterday, has been told to turn up the heat on Pakistan with raw pace. And England were contemplating throwing in the fit-again Wood to join Archer, with spinner Dom Bess missing out, in an allout pace attack on the Ageas Bowl ground where the pair last played together in the very first Test of this unique season. ‘It has been made
clear what Jofra’s role is this week,’ said England captain Root on the eve of today’s final Test. ‘Chris Silverwood said as much when he spoke yesterday and that gives him real clarity going into the game. ‘I think Jofra is keen to show what he can do. He’s coming off the back of a rest and is full of energy, so hopefully we’ll see him at his best this week.’ It is clear England want Archer, who has endured a mixed summer and was rested for the second-Test draw, to prove he can replicate the extreme pace that was a feature of his introduction to international cricket last year, notably against Steve Smith at Lord’s. But Root is not yet prepared to give him the new ball, with the record-breaking pair of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad both set to play their fifth Tests out of six. ‘In these conditions you pick those two (Anderson and Broad) to take the new ball,’ insisted Root. ‘They are experienced, they set the tone and they are the best to exploit those conditions first up. The exciting thing is you then have Jofra to come in and hopefully get the ball zipping around at 90mph plus. There may be a time in the future for Jofra to take the new ball but more likely it will be abroad.’ England are determined to end the season on a high with uncertainty over when they will next play Test cricket, with Root, 1-0 up with one to play, vowing to not hold anything back. ‘We owe it to ourselves after all the hard work we’ve put in,’ added Root. ‘We want to make sure we turn up and throw everything at Pakistan and leave the Test summer with a brilliant performance under our belt.’