England pace sensation Jofra Archer has opened up on getting preference over the experienced paceman Stuart Broad in the Playing XI for the first Test of the three-match Test series against the West Indies being played at the Ages Bowls in Southampton from Wednesday (July 8).
Stand-in captain Ben Stokes and England have on Wednesday surprised one and all with a hard call to leave out veteran pacer Broad and instead gave the nod to Archer and Mark Wood to partner James Anderson for the opening game of the Test series against the Windies.
It was for the first time when a veteran of 138 Tests with 485 wickets, Broad is missing a home Test since 2012 – which shows that England is looking to the future.
After Day 2’s play on Thursday (July 9), Archer admitted that he is still confused about how he managed to leapfrog the experienced Broad for the first game of the English home season, although, he hopes to repay the faith shown in him by giving credible performances.
Archer was quoted as saying by Sky Sports on its new “Zone” on Thursday: “I still don’t know how I got the nod over him (Broad), I’m still a bit confused by it today. I’m glad to be given the opportunity and hope I get the chance to show why I was picked.”
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Before the play of the opening day, players from both teams England and the Windies took the knee in support of the 'Black Lives Matter' initiative, and Jofra Archer, being a black player himself, hailed the support of his team-mates regarding the issue of racism.
The Barbados-born pacer added, “It was nice to be supported. This year has been an eye-opener, not to a lot of people in the black community, but to everyone else. Obviously, we knew what was going on. We live in a time now where everything is being recorded and a lot of people might not know that was happening up until this year. Any support around the matters going on is much appreciated really.”
Meanwhile, Archer further claimed that the Jamaican must have experienced discrimination as it was more rampant in his playing days.
The star pacer added: “To be honest he probably experienced a lot worse than what he let on yesterday. Back in those times, it was obviously a lot worse than now. The incidents now might be through and far between, but back then he probably woke up to it and ended his day with it as well.”
He signed off by saying, “We will never really understand the full extent of what him and some of his team-mates went through. As long as everyone is a bit vigilant to what is going on, and puts a stop to it.”
(With PTI Inputs)
