Ahead of the four-Test series in India, England fast-bowler Jofra Archer has launched a warning by saying that the tourists have good spinners in their squad and India won’t "out-spin" them in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship games starting February 5 in Chennai.
England team is currently in India to play four Tests, five T20Is, and 3 ODIs and Archer admitted the challenges of bowling with a red ball on Indian surfaces, as he is set to play his first Test in the subcontinent as he has so far played his 11 Tests largely in pacer friendly conditions.
However, the pacer said England hopes to get some good wickets with a little bit of pace for the bowlers in India but insisted the upcoming four-Test series “will not be a one-sided” affair at all even if there are spinning tracks, they are ready for the challenges here.
Archer wrote in the Daily Mail: “I’ve played lots of Indian Premier League here but nothing in terms of first-class cricket, so the challenges of bowling with a red ball will become clearer.”
He added, “In the IPL the batters have to come at you, whereas in Test cricket they can sit on you for a full session if they want and if the pitch is dead there is nothing you can do about it. So let’s hope we get some good wickets with a little bit of pace for the bowlers. Or even some turn, because if they spin, the matches will not be one-sided. We have good spinners in our squad and India won’t out-spin us.”
Meanwhile, Archer, who was on break and missed England’s recent Test tour of Sri Lanka having spent a lot of time in the bio-secure bubbles, said he was grateful to be able to spend some time off at his home in Barbados and he is now feeling refreshed and raring to go against India.
The speedster further wrote: “It’s hard not to enjoy yourself in Barbados and I was grateful for some time off and to chill with family and friends after such a busy period of cricket in 2020. There were some COVID-19 restrictions, but there was a lot more freedom than we’ve had in the UK.”
He continued, “Last summer, I did more time in the England bio-secure bubbles than anybody else and after missing the tour of Sri Lanka it’s time to get those days back up once again. I was already due to miss the one-day series in South Africa before it was canceled so that I could go home for Christmas, but it was nice not to be rushed back either. I arrived in India feeling refreshed and recharged, ready to start playing cricket again.”
On the rotation policy, especially pacers, as England is set for 17 Tests this year, Archer said: “I know that Stuart Broad talked about playing two of six Test matches this winter because the conditions do not necessarily suit fast bowlers and, similarly, if I play two against India I will be happy.”
He further explained, “As an attack, we must get used to more rotation and it feels good that any one of us can walk away from the team knowing that whoever comes in as our replacement will perform. I guess for years it has been a big thing for bowlers to strive to keep their places in the team, but now it’s more like you are passing the baton over in as strong a position as possible.
You don’t hold back, you must give everything you can when you get an opportunity. There’s no trying to preserve yourself. These are new times in cricket and you have to adjust. We face 17 Test matches in 2021 and it is virtually impossible to play everyone, so resting periods have been organized well in advance.”
Jofra signed off by saying, “Decisions like this come about from speaking to coach Chris Silverwood and both England captains, Joe, and Eoin Morgan. Most tours include all three formats, so you need to be across everything with all of them if you play all three like me. It’s important that everyone is on the same page.”
