Jofra Archer, England’s newest fast-bowling demon, on Friday, 23rd August, insisted that he doesn’t need to bowl in warm-ups to do well in the match after his heroics on Day 1 of the ongoing third Ashes 2019 Test against Australia at Headingley.
After making a remarkable debut at Lord’s Test, Archer continued his splendid form with the ball in the third Ashes Test, leading the English pace attack from the front by taking 6 wickets for 45 runs to help the hosts to bundle Australia out on a mere score of 179 in Leeds.
His comment came after there was some noise about his late entry at Headingley, as the paceman turned up 20 minutes late, though Jofra cleared that he had been stuck in the city’s one-way system.
As per AFP, Archer said after Day 1 play: “Actually I was early but there was a one-way street so I ended having to park in the car park behind the rugby field. I’m pretty relaxed. I actually don’t think I need to bowl in the warm-up at all. I bowl a few balls before we go out and that’s enough for me.”
The young fast bowler also warned Australia that he does not always need to bowl at 90mph to unsettle the opposition. He added, “I don’t need to run in and bowl 90mph every spell to get wickets. I believe if I put the ball in a good area then I will take wickets if I’m bowling at 87-88mph. This wasn’t a wicket where you had to run in and bowl 90mph. It had a bit of swing and nip and you needed to put it in the right areas.”
On his 6-wicket haul in Leeds, Archer insisted that he hadn’t done too much different from what he had done at Lord’s, adding: “I didn’t do too much differently from Lord’s. It was a bit bowler-friendly today; at times it did go flat and the ball stopped swinging but it started again.”
Archer signed off by saying, “I’ll more than take 6-45 but I can be tidier in the future. It’s been really good so far, from the moment I’ve put the badge on, it’s been the happiest days of cricket so far and hopefully plenty more ahead.”
(With AFP Inputs)
