Is Jofra Archer ready to go the distance in Test cricket?
It was the question posed by Justin Langer, Australia’s head coach, before the fast bowler’s much-anticipated debut at Lord’s this week; there is a theory that stamina could be a shortcoming.
But when Australia’s plan to get overs into the legs of England’s expected replacement for Jimmy Anderson was put to the man himself the answer was in keeping with a cricketer who is softly spoken off the field and yet supremely confident with it.
“I’m probably more ready than I’ve ever been,” said Archer, who earlier that morning had tweeted his hope of claiming a spot on the honours boards at Lord’s. “I don’t think Justin Langer has seen me play first-class cricket. I usually bowl 40 overs every game. I think he has another thing coming.”
Archer was England’s leading wicket-taker in their victorious World Cup campaign with 20 victims but is coming into a Test side that sits 1-0 down to Australia. He is right to point to his back catalogue of four-day cricket –televised short-form tournaments propelled him to global superstardom but it is the longer stuff he claims to prefer.
Since his first-class debut for Sussex in 2016 his workloads have been significant too. That said, despite averaging 24 with the Duke ball, Archer has played only one first-class fixture in the last 11 months – the 2nd XI match last week in which he took seven wickets but, more importantly, proved his fitness after a recent side injury by sending down 31 overs across two days.
This is perhaps why Archer, back at the ground where his super over helped secure the World Cup, has warned England supporters not to “expect miracles” from him this week. Replacing Anderson, the country’s most prolific Test bowler, would represent a fair old challenge for any newcomer even if, in the case of Archer, his debut is probably the most talked up since Kevin Pietersen at Lord’s in 2005, if not Graeme Hick 14 years before that.
While the pitch looked green but dry two days out the ground’s topography should suit him. As well as the much-discussed 90mph-plus speeds he generates, bowling wicket-to-wicket is one of Archer’s great attributes. And having claimed eight wickets for Sussex against Middlesex here last season he believes the famous slope is a significant factor for him.
He said: “I think the slope did have a hand in some of the dismissals [against Middlesex]. If one nips down the slope it’s a good ball; if it doesn’t nip down the slope it’s still a good ball. The margin of error sometimes can be a lot bigger than at most other grounds.
“I personally believe in Test cricket you get a lot more opportunities to redeem yourself. In 50-over cricket if you don’t have a good 10 overs, that’s it – you’ve got to wait till the next game. But you have ample chances to do it in a red-ball game.”
Another difference is the tighter regulations on short balls in limited-overs cricket. Archer’s deceptive bouncer struck three batsmen on the head during the World Cup and, while still restricted to two per over in Test cricket, there is more leeway as regards wides.
He said: “You don’t always set out to hit the batter. It could be a wicket-taking ball and a dot ball as well. If it hits them, with the concussion [rules] now you don’t want to cause someone to miss a few games or be out for a few weeks. Equally, it is good to know you are quick enough for people to fear you a bit.
“Pace makes batters do funny things. It may make him play a shot he is not accustomed to. He may be a bit late on the ball so if you have the batter overthinking then you are in a good place.”
England have certainly been thinking about how best to remove Steve Smith and while they are yet to decide whether Sam Curran replaces Joe Denly – a move that would give Joe Root six bowlers but put greater pressure on the top order – it is hoped Jack Leach can pick the lock.
Asked about Smith’s average of 34 against slow-left armers – 29 runs less than his Test average but slightly amplified by turning pitches in the subcontinent – Langer replied: “I don’t buy into it. He’s got this incredible ability to solve problems, I’m sure he’ll be thinking a lot about he’s going to play all the new bowlers who are coming in.”
While Australia trained during a dry morning, England were forced indoors by rain and Simon Harmer, the Essex off-spinner who plays on a Kolpak deal, made a guest appearance to help replicate Nathan Lyon. Smith’s wicket may be the most pressing issue for Root but it is not the only one.