The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Archer backing pair to dig hosts out of trouble
CRICKET: Difficult second day for England
Jofra Archer has backed Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler to bring England back into the first Test against Pakistan after a difficult second day left them up against it at Emirates Old Trafford.
England saw opener Shan Masood rack up a career-best 156 as he carried the tourists to 326 all out, then lost their entire top four in less than 20 overs.
Things were looking decidedly dicey at that point, with Ben Stokes in the pavilion for a duck and captain Joe Root gone for 14, but Ollie Pope made 46 not out before the close to begin the fightback and take the score to 92 for four.
He will resume on the third morning alongside Jos Buttler, who owes the side an innings after missing a catch and a stumping when Masood had just 45 to his name.
Archer, who joined Stuart Broad in taking three Pakistan wickets, has not given up on the pair pulling things around.
“I wont say they can dig us out of a hole because I don’t think we’re in a hole at the moment, but I think they can put on a really big partnership and help swing the momentum of the game in our favour,” he said.
“We just need to get as close to, or past, their total. Obviously the wicket is getting easier to bat on and I have no doubt that the two not-out guys can go on and score big.”
Archer was speaking for the first time since his unauthorised breach of the biosecure bubble saw him spend the second Test against the West Indies in isolation, but he made it clear he is already past that transgression.
He said: “I’m fine, I’m back playing cricket again. Whatever happened last series is gone.”