Archer given all-clear to rejoin England squad for third Test
he’s very aware of the consequences of his actions and very remorseful.
“As a side and mates we’ve been there for him. He’s aware he made a massive error but once the disciplinary has gone through it’s time for us to look at him being available.”
Meanwhile, Ben Stokes’ latest tour de force has seen him rise to top spot in the International Cricket Council
Test all-rounder rankings as well as a career-high third in the batting charts.
Stokes propelled England to a #raisethebat series-levelling 113-run victory over the West Indies at Emirates Old Trafford with a personal contribution of 254 runs and three wickets.
That has been enough to dislodge Windies captain Jason Holder after 18 months as
Stokes became the first Englishman to take the number one spot in the all-rounder rankings since Andrew Flintoff in May 2006.
His 497 points is the highest accumulated by any allrounder since South Africa great Jacques Kallis aggregated 517 in April 2008.
Supreme and altogether more contrasting knocks of 176 and 78 not out – the latter after opening the innings as England sought quick runs on the final day – led to Stokes rising six places in the batting ranks. Only Australia batsman Steve Smith and India captain Virat Kohli sit higher in the order than Stokes, with England captain Joe Root dropping one spot to ninth.
Stuart Broad’s six wickets in the match on his England recall has meant a return into the top-10 of the bowler’s rankings. The Nottinghamshire all-rounder has risen four places to sit 10th in the standings.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali has been named vice-captain for the upcoming one-day international series against Ireland. With Jos Buttler part of the Test set-up, Moeen has been chosen as Eoin Morgan’s deputy.