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BY RICHARD EDWARDS

JOFRA ARCHER is on the fast-track to stardom – and could be the quickest bowler in world cricket by the time the summer is out.

That’s the view of pace great Colin Croft, who watched Archer tear through the West Indies in England’s group-stage demolition of the men from the Caribbean at Southampton last Friday.

Archer (left) has looked immediately at home with England at this World Cup, forming a devastating partnership with fellow quick Mark Wood. And Croft has seen enough of Archer to persuade him that he represents the future of an England bowling attack.

“Jofra Archer is a very exciting prospect,” said Croft, who is working with the ECB on their aim of getting one million kids involved in the sport. “He’s going to be the mainstay of the England attack for a long while – both in one-day and Test cricket.

“He is potentially the fastest bowler in the world and he has the potential to be not just the fastest, but the best fast bowler in the world.

“He’s a tremendous prospect and he has all the attributes you need. He’s strong, he’s athletic, he’s focused and he is quick.”

Archer has certainly shaken up some of the world’s best players in this World Cup so far.

That includes the West Indies’ Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, who looked ill-at-ease against Archer’s thunderbolts at the Hampshire Bowl.

Wood and Archer have so far managed to record the two fastest speeds in the tournament – Archer’s fastest is 153kph, slightly behind Wood’s 154kph, but ahead of Aussie Mitchell Starc’s 152kph.