ENG v PAK 2020: Younis Khan calls Jofra Archer a “major threat” in upcoming clashes

Younis also felt Pakistan needed to make atleast 300-350 in first innings to put pressure on England.

Pakistani batting coach Younis Khan has called England speedster Jofra Archer a major threat in the upcoming clashes between Pakistan and England. The Pakistan squad left on Sunday for England, where they will play three Tests and as many Twenty20 internationals, starting in the first week of August.

25-year-old Archer was a shining star in England’s 2019 World Cup-winning campaign and played a huge role in rattling Steve Smith during the Ashes the same year.

"He (Archer) is a real match-winner and a threat. Archer has strong nerves which he proved while bowling a crucial super over in the World Cup final. He has bite in his bowling and his high arm action is very good and gives him nip in his bowling,” Younis said to AFP.

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However, Khan, the first and only Pakistani batsman to score 10,000 plus runs in Test cricket, said that Archer can be countered.

"There is a hype around him so that can be an added pressure on him. I have told the batsmen to play close to the body and play on the back foot because his in-swinger can be very dangerous. I remember playing him in the side game. He got five wickets in the match but was not on top of his bowling at the time like he is now,” Khan recalled his bout with Archer during a match against Sussex in 2016.

Younis was not oblivious to the threat posed by England’s two old-timers in James Anderson and Stuart Broad. He said that Pakistan should also be cautious of England's two most experienced bowlers. He also felt that Pakistan needed 300-350 in the first innings to put pressure on England.

"Anderson and Broad have a wealth of experience. They are always a great pair. Whenever England has won they have the major share, but in August the weather will be dry and not very overcast so they can be handled properly,” he said.

(AFP inputs)