Rollercoaster Of Emotions Can Help Trigger A Golden Era In The Game

Chris Stocks exclusively talks to fast bowling sensation Jofra Archer about his rapid rise and how the miracle of Headingley can inspire him to greater things

Three days after England’s epic Ashes win at Headingley, Jofra Archer is back at his home ground of Hove reflecting on an extraordinary few weeks.

This summer was always earmarked as an opportunity to revive cricket in this country. But no-one could have predicted just what an impact firstly the World Cup, which England won last month after a thrilling tied final against New Zealand at Lord’s, and then the Ashes, which are deadlocked at 1-1 following the remarkable one-wicket win for Joe Root’s team in Leeds a week ago, would have.

Archer has been at the epicentre of it all, bowling the decisive Super Over in that Lord’s final and then taking the Ashes by storm with 13 wickets in his first two Tests.

And the 24-year-old Sussex fast bowler is fully aware of the wider implications of England’s success.

“People aren’t shy of telling you when they see you out in the street, so you do know that whatever you’re doing is having an impact on other people’s lives and not just your own,” says Archer. “You’re just glad to see kids – not even just kids, older people – saying they’ve started playing cricket again. A few people told me they started again after the World Cup.

“People are also saying they’re enjoying Test cricket again, which is good, because a few months ago people were saying it was dying all of a sudden. Now it’s back.

“However you can inspire at the time, you just want to, because ultimately we’re only here for a few years, and then hopefully one of those kids is going to have to take up the mantle and carry on the legacy.”