Archer Returns to Lord’s for First Test in Four Years

After a four-year absence from Test cricket due to injury setbacks, Jofra Archer is prepared to participate in his first Test match at Lord’s. Ahead of the third Test, former Indian cricketer Varun Aaron highlighted the potential showdown between England’s Jofra Archer and the Indian batting order as a crucial element to monitor at Lord’s cricket ground.

Speaking with Indian media, Aaron suggested that the English fast bowler possesses the capability to challenge both Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul.

“The Archer versus India matchup is what I’ll be watching closely. Archer has the skill to straighten the ball from off-stump when bowling to a left-hander. Jaiswal has been a vital player for India, especially at the beginning of innings,” Aaron stated.

He further emphasized Archer’s strong track record against Shubman Gill, suggesting that he could present difficulties for the Indian batsmen.

“Archer can also exploit any vulnerabilities that KL Rahul might have with the ball moving back in, reminiscent of Woakes’ strategy of frequently targeting the stumps. If Gill enters the game early, Archer’s past performance against him is also noteworthy,” he added.

Aaron also shared his view that the contest between Bumrah, Siraj, Akash Deep, and England’s top order could be another exciting aspect of the match.

“The face-off between Bumrah, Siraj, and Akash Deep against the top order of England’s batting lineup is significant. Siraj and Akash Deep collectively secured 17 wickets in the second Test, achieving numerous breakthroughs with the new ball. Ultimately, securing early wickets and giving your team a strong start at Lord’s often sets the tone for the entire Test match,” he concluded.

He also drew attention to Gill’s previous struggles against Archer, pointing out that Gill has only scored 18 runs against Archer in Test matches, with an average of 9.00.

The third Test of the five-match series between India and England is scheduled to commence on Thursday at Lord’s.