Archer: We won’t sp-urn our Ashes lifeline
JOFRA ARCHER is determined to upset Australia again as England look to complete a World Cup and Ashes double.
The fast bowling sensation believes the urn is there for the taking after Ben Stokes’ Headingley heroics planted the seeds of doubt in Aussie minds.
After seeing the Aussies panic on Sunday, the message for England is to keep playing without fear. “The next game is all-important,” said Archer.
“We kept the Ashes alive and hopefully we can win the next one. They’ll be happy if the rest of the games are a draw, so let’s give them one last upset.
“We upset them in the World Cup, so let’s do it again. The thing is, never get complacent.
“The crowd started getting on their backs and they panicked a bit. It was demoralising.
“They got to the second new ball and still couldn’t bowl us out.
“All of those mental facts should sit with them next game.
“We have planted a few seeds of doubt. Everyone would like to win the World Cup and the Ashes as well so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t go and do it now.”
There can be little doubt about Archer’s fearlessness in the third Specsavers Test as he took the attack to the Australian bowlers.
But Archer thought he had cost England the series when he was given out.
He hit three fours in his 15 before being caught on the boundary by Travis Head, who stepped over the rope but threw the ball up before catching it back on the field of play.
The umpires had to check the catch was OK which prompted some sledging which made Archer laugh. “They have terrible chat,” he said. “Nothing to worry about. It made me laugh.
“Someone said ‘that is a great shot Jof.’ If it did go for six it would have been.
“All I can say is we got over the line. It doesn’t matter how many wickets we won by. The point was that we did.”
■ Specsavers are the Official Test Partner of the England cricket team and Jofra Archer was speaking ahead of the 4th Specsavers Ashes Test Match that starts on Wednesday.