English pacer Jofra Archer who was fast-tracked in international cricket picked only one wicket in first innings and a five-wicket haul in the second was put under pressure by a South Africa team which will not be intimidated by him in Cape Town said Proteas coach Mark Boucher.
South Africa, recently ended their five-match losing streak in Test cricket as they handed England a 107-run loss in the first Test match of the four-match Test series at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
“No, I wouldn't see him as England's greatest threat. He's got a spell in him that can ruffle a few feathers. We were in a position in the game to take him on a bit more. We were playing ahead of the game,” Boucher said.
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Archer was let off by the umpires despite bowling two beamers at Anrich Nortje. Boucher then talked about not getting intimidated by Archer as he said, “We're in a position where we understand he's a wicket-taker, he's going to take wickets. But we're also not dartboards. I've always encouraged the batter to set up to score and, if there are opportunities to score, you've got to take that.”
“He's under a bit of pressure as well because he was going for quite a few runs. He's a threat, yes, but they've also got quite a few other bowlers who are threats in that line-up. I'm pretty happy with the way that we played him. He bowled well in the second innings, bowled with some heat on an up-and-down wicket,” he added.
After the win in the first Test match, South Africa will take the field against England in the second Test scheduled from 3-7 January at Newlands, Cape Town.
(With The Hindu inputs)