Archer stays calm ahead of the final

I don’t think anyone looked nervous before Australia clash, insists England quick

JOFRA Archer will become a Cricket World Cup finalist less than three months after making his one-day international debut, but England’s leading wicket-taker at the tournament does not expect nerves to be a problem.

Archer only joined his new teammates for the first time in May, after changes to the governing body’s residency rules fast-tracked the Barbados-born seamer’s eligibility, but he has made a stunning impact.

The 24-year-old has already set a

new England record with 19 wickets at the tournament and excelled on his biggest stage to date, dismissing Australia captain Aaron Finch lbw with his first ball of Thursday’s semifinal at Edgbaston, before returning to see off Glenn Maxwell, too.

A crushing eight-wicket victory sets up a winner-takes-all date with New Zealand tomorrow and it will be no surprise if Archer, pictured, is the coolest man at Lord’s.

“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. But the calmer you are, the better you are in these situations,” said Archer. “I just think I’ve always been like this. I try not to get nervous because then you end up doing stuff that you are not supposed to do.

“Butterflies? Not really. Even when we were at breakfast before the Australia game... I may be wrong, but I don’t think that anyone looked nervous.

“Everyone just looked focused by the time we got into the ground. It’s those little things that make you feel like the guys are really ready.”

Archer’s on-field demeanour typically matches his measured words off it, but even he admits that sending the Australia skipper back

for a golden duck set the adrenaline racing.

“Emotions were definitely flying after that,” he said with a smile.

“It definitely pushed the team. Everyone was just a lot more focused and switched on. I’m just glad the team is going well.

“I could be doing terribly as long as the team is winning. That would be alright. I’m just happy to play games and win games.”

It seems increasingly likely that Archer will get another crack at Australia during the forthcoming Ashes series, with the only real question surrounding his fitness, not his ability.

There is a growing clamour to unleash him in the Test arena, but he has been managing a side issue throughout the last few weeks and England may choose to delay his introduction.

“After Sunday, I’ll probably answer that, but for now I’m just focusing on trying to win the final,” he said.

“I’ll keep soldiering on. I have been for a few games now and it’s not got any worse. I was probably going to rest any way, but I don’t think Sussex are going to flog me right now. I think I may get a welldeserved rest.”

Jason Roy will be reunited with umpire Kumar Dharmasena in the final, after the Sri Lankan was appointed for the Lord’s showpiece.

The pair were involved in a tense moment during England’s semi-final thrashing of Australia after Dharmasena incorrectly gave Roy caught behind on 85. Both batsman and official appeared to be unaware that Jonny Bairstow had already used England’s DRS review, with Roy making the signal and Dharmasena sending the decision upstairs – a process that was only quashed after a reminder from Australia’s fielders.

Denied the chance to make the highest-profile century of his career, Roy remonstrated long and loud before trudging off the field in a state of barely concealed fury, with stump microphones picking up an apparent obscenity. The 28-year-old was fined 30 per cent of his match fee and handed two demerit points on his disciplinary record as a result.

Dharmasena will stand alongside South African Marais Erasmus.