England skipper Ben Stokes shared his thoughts on the buzz around Jofra Archer’s return to the playing XI for the third Test against India, set to begin on July 10 at Lord’s. Stokes believes Archer should take pride in his comeback after spending a significant time recovering from injuries.
Archer, who last featured in a Test match in 2021, has been named in the XI for the Lord’s Test, replacing Josh Tongue. The pacer had been sidelined due to recurring stress fractures but recently bowled 18 overs in a County Championship game for Sussex, which paved the way for his Test selection.
Speaking ahead of the match, Ben Stokes praised the 30-year-old for his resilience and determination to make a return. In a pre-match press conference, he said:
“Yeah, really exciting. I think it’s great for English fans and Jof, it’s a longtime coming. The way in which he has handled the injury setback over that period, it’s been commendable. The way in which he has got himself back on the field, playing cricket over a long period of time.”
“It was exciting to have him back in the squad in contention last week but now we can say he is in the playing eleven. It’s a very exciting day for the group but Jof is going to be pretty proud of himself that he has managed to get himself back after big injuries.”
Stokes Confident Archer Can Regain 2019 Pace, Says His Spells Can Shift Momentum
When questioned about whether Jofra Archer could replicate the sharp pace he showcased in 2019, Stokes remained positive, stating that the fast bowler’s spells have the ability to shift the momentum of a match. He further added:
“Definitely. When he played for England in the shorter formats and he gets the ball in his hand, there is that change in the game. The opposition feel it as well because we know what he can do in a spell. There’s no reason we can’t see Jofra Archer not operating on a level we have seen him doing on his debut.” (1:37)
Stokes responded to the question regarding Archer’s bowling workload by stating that he isn’t approaching it with any pre-set expectations. The England skipper concluded:
“It will be in the moment kind of a thing. If you do get a sense to give an extra over or two than you originally plan because he’s been a big threat and you can get 1-2 overs out of him to potentially get a wicket. But there’s definitely going to be no pre-conceived ideas around his bowling.” (2:11)
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.