Now Is The Time For England To Unleash Their Lethal Weapon

Chris Stocks has followed the impressive comeback trail of Jofra Archer this week and argues that he simply must play in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s

- Chris Stocks

Jofra Archer will return to Lord’s, the scene of the greatest triumph of his short international career so far, on Wednesday to make his Test debut.

This is the stage where the 24-year old fast bowler delivered the decisive Super Over that won England the World Cup final against New Zealand in such thrilling fashion four weeks ago.

Now Joe Root needs Archer to bowl a succession of super overs against Australia to get England’s Ashes campaign back on track following the morale-sapping defeat in the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

Losing James Anderson four overs into the first Test was a major handicap for Root and with England’s all-time leading wickettaker likely to be out for much of the series with a calf injury, Archer is the man to come in.

Jason Gillespie, the Australian who is Archer’s coach at Sussex, believes England made a huge error by not including him for the first Test, with concerns over the side strain he sustained during the World Cup banished this week as he made a successful return to second XI action for his county.

“He had to start the first Test but the powers that be decided he wasn’t quite ready,” said Gillespie.

“He understood. I think he was more hoping that if an opportunity was there he could take it. But you’ve got to remember everybody was saying he wasn’t ready for 50over cricket before the World Cup – and I think we all saw what a great World Cup Jofra Archer had.