England’s hopes of reclaiming the Ashes are hanging on a thread, and captain Ben Stokes struck a distraught figure when plans fell through, but Jofra Archer eventually made his impact in Adelaide. The fast bowler delivered an outstanding performance on the first day of the third Test, sweeping up the Australian tail to record his best Test statistics in six years.
Archer and Stokes had a heated on-field debate early in the second day.
While the right-arm bowler took his first five-wicket haul since 2019, he and Brydon Carse spilt runs late in Australia’s innings, much to Stokes’ obvious displeasure.
Mitchell Starc, who scored successive Test fifties for the first time in his career, capitalised by hitting Archer and Carse for a burst of boundaries on the second morning. Although Archer eventually dismissed Starc with a brilliant delivery, Australia had already raced to fast runs, leaving Stokes dissatisfied with his bowling performance.
Archer began the day with figures of 3 for 29 from 16 overs and went on to finish with 5 for 53 from 20.2 overs, trapping Nathan Lyon lbw for nine with another high-quality delivery. However, Australia added a further 45 runs in just over eight overs to take their total to 372.
Archer evoked memories of his stunning arrival in Test cricket during the 2019 Ashes, drawing an ovation from the Adelaide Oval crowd as he walked off the field. During that series, he claimed 22 wickets in four Tests against Australia, including a career-best 6 for 45 from 17 overs that helped England clinch a thrilling victory at Leeds.
Between that Ashes series and his return to Australia last month, Archer managed only 11 Test appearances and struggled to consistently maintain his pace and rhythm in the lead-up to the third Test. Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee had earlier predicted that Archer would step up in Adelaide, believing the fast bowler was better placed to do so after gaining match sharpness from playing the first two Tests.
“He bowled beautifully and deserved the ‘five fa’. He pitched the ball up. He bowled with good pace. He looked better for those two Test matches of preparation and it looked as though he got the rhythm right. This is a special moment. Anytime you get a ‘five fa’ and can raise the ball, it is well done. He has toiled hard and it has been hot conditions … and he thoroughly deserved the ‘five fa’. Well bowled,” said Lee on Fox Sports.
India
