Former England captain Nasser Hussain stated that adding Jofra Archer in the second Test against India would be a risky move. Archer has been reinstated to the England squad after missing four years of Tests due to injury.
He returned to first-class cricket on Sunday, playing for Sussex, and has been picked to England’s squad for the second Test, which begins on July 2. Hussain stated that, while supporters would be delighted to see Archer return to the red-ball squad, the pacer may find it mentally difficult to return to the Test setup after such a long absence.
“First and foremost, it’s good news for Archer and England because Jof must have gone through so much with those [elbow and back injuries], the rehab, the pain, the mental torment of constantly getting injured and making comebacks, so it’s great to see him back in the squad; he hasn’t played a Test match in four years. Fundamentally, if you’re an England supporter, you should be happy to have Jofra Archer back in the red ball group,” Hussain
Nasser Hussain advised against selecting the right-arm pacer for the Birmingham Test, warning that it could be harmful to his physique.
He recommended that it would be better to give him another week and play him in the Lord’s Test instead.
“I believe it’s too risky this week, but it could have gone so well – I’m not sure about Jofra Archer’s body – that they say, ‘We’ll play you this week.'” Then the question becomes, who do you leave out? Hussain stated.
“I believe it is a worthwhile gamble, but I’m not sure if it’s worth taking this week. I’d do it a week later at Lord’s. He only returned to first-class cricket for Sussex after four years, bowling 18 overs this week. When Archer is totally fit, he is among the best in the world. He is pure box office; he has that raw pace. Unfortunately for him, he has not been entirely fit for quite some time. So it’s a gamble,” he explained.
Hussain proposed three possible methods to Archer’s return: leaving him at Sussex for more game time or playing him directly at Edgbaston. He also added that include him in the squad to assess his readiness through regular practice sessions.
“They could’ve made three decisions with him. Leave him at Sussex to play another County Championship game, which I believe is on Sunday against Warwickshire, and then choose him for the following Test at Lord’s. The difficulty with it is that he’ll have played three games in three weeks, including the Lord’s Test, after not playing in four years,” Hussain added.
“Another alternative is to select him and play him, which they might do in Edgbaston. Or put him in the squad, get some overs into his legs every morning, lunchtime, and teatime after play, and see how he does,” he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator questioned the urgency of Archer’s return and said that it would be better to wait another week. He acknowledged England’s long-term emphasis, notably on the Ashes, and admitted they must determine whether Archer can handle two consecutive Tests.
“What is the hurry when we’ve waited so long? Why not wait another week just to make sure? Obviously they’ve got one eye on the future as well. It’s not just about Edgbaston and Lord’s and this series. We know what’s coming up next and they would love to have Archer involved Down Under. Bowling fast is hard work and it is a risk. It’s a risk they’re willing to take and I think they have to take before the winter, they have to find out if Jofra can get through maybe two of these next four Test matches,” he concluded.
India
