Unleashing Archer can make all the difference

THERE has not been this much anticipation and expectation for a Test debut since Kevin Pietersen was thrown into the Ashes in 2005. And we all know how that turned out.

It is no exaggeration to say Jofra Archer could transform not only this Ashes series but a Test side still struggling to locate their true identity.

He steps out at Lord’s today looking to recreate his World Cup magic in a second Test England cannot afford to lose.

And the good news for England is that Archer, with his ready smile hiding an inner steel, looks perfectly equipped for the greater demands of the ultimate form of the game, just as he turned out to be for the challenge of 50 overs. Simply, the man was born ready. Joe Root knows it, too. The England captain realises there is little point playing down the potential impact of a special talent who, fitness permitting, already looks destined to go on to make the same impact Pietersen did. Except perhaps without the unhappy ending.

Root was asked at Lord’s yesterday whether he was as excited as everyone else about his debutant and he simply said: ‘Yes, especially having heard his press conference yesterday!

‘He’s certainly very confident and that’s great to see in a young guy, as he should be off the back of a brilliant World Cup.

‘He made it very clear red-ball is his favoured format. We’re very excited to see him at the start of his journey.’

Root, however, deflected the question of whether England’s latest cap could win them the Ashes.

‘If you ask him, he’ll definitely say yes,’ he said. ‘That’s what you want from young guys, coming in full of confidence and belief in their own ability.’

In a Test that sadly looks certain to be seriously disrupted by rain, England want to use Archer’s pace in short, sharp bursts. Hence the likely inclusion of Sam Curran as a sixth bowler, in at the expense of specialist batsman Joe Denly.

And, while that would give England’s side a very unbalanced appearance, it is surely the best way to go in this match simply because Curran has proved himself to be a Test cricketer and Denly has not.

Certainly Root was just as happy bigging up the 21-year-old Curran yesterday as he was Archer, even though England wanted to wait until today before finalising their XI in the expectation of rain that could last for much of the first day.

‘Sam’s a brilliant talent,’ said Root. ‘He’s got the ability to change the game with both bat and ball, similar to Ben Stokes. And his record is fantastic. He has had a huge impact in most of the games he’s played and I’m sure he’ll play a huge amount of Test cricket. It’s great to see him pushing his case really hard.’

England have to get it right here. It would take an awful lot to take the gloss off the World Cup win but virtually squandering the Ashes in two Tests would go close.

It is up to England and their new spearhead Archer to avoid that miserable scenario.

Root bristled when it was put to him that defeat here would mean England have lost six of their last seven Tests against Australia, arguing that the 4-0 away defeat was a long time ago, but he cannot allow his side’s Ashes travel sickness to spread to home.

England were keen to point out this week that Root’s captaincy, which reaches its 30th Test here, stands comparison statistically with the best but scratch the surface of a win percentage of 51 and there is a high loss rate too. The almost complete absence of draws in modern Test cricket makes Root’s England a very up-and-down side.

‘We’re in English conditions and we really back ourselves to come back strong after last week,’ continued Root. ‘We’ve done that time and time again when we’ve been defeated, especially at home.

‘I’m expecting a big response from the boys. Last week will have hurt everyone and they will be absolutely desperate to go and win this week. And I expect nothing less.’

If England are going to defend their proud unbeaten record in home Ashes series that stretches back to 2001 they must hope Archer, who will probably take the new ball with Stuart Broad, can find a way through the impenetrable Steve Smith.