Did Moments Like This Make It All Worthwhile for Archer After England's Victory at Lord’s?

London, July 14 (NationPress) Making a remarkable comeback to Test cricket after a lengthy absence of four years, England's fast bowler Jofra Archer expressed that moments like the thrilling 22-run victory over India in the third Test at Lord’s justify his return to the longer format of the game.

Archer’s remarkable figures of 2-52 and 3-55 played a pivotal role in securing England's lead of 2-1 by successfully bowling out India for 170 on an exciting fifth day of play.

“It was quite intense for my first game back. I probably bowled more overs than I anticipated, but every delivery counted today, so I’m not too concerned about it. I’ve only played one other Test here at Lord's, and that match was equally special. It has taken a long time to return, involving extensive rehab and training,” he stated.

“Yet, moments like this make it all worthwhile. This experience truly justifies all the waiting. I never thought I wouldn't return. We are now here, and the plans we devised years ago are beginning to materialize. I feel somewhat speechless witnessing it all come together,” Archer conveyed to Sky Sports after the match.

His prolonged absence from Test matches was primarily due to injuries to his elbow and back, necessitating significant rehabilitation. “I’ve played only one other Test here at Lord's, and that match was just as significant. It has been a lengthy journey filled with rehab and training, but moments like this validate it all,” he reiterated.

“Managing my workload remains challenging, being told I can bowl on certain days but not others, while trying to balance all that training with the desire to play cricket. Some days I feel ready, but the uncertainty makes caution the wiser choice. I’m not completely out of the woods yet, but this marks a positive start. The style of cricket our team plays means I’ll bowl a significant number of overs!” he added.

Archer made an immediate impact on day two by beginning his bowling spell from the Nursery End and taking the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal, which he acknowledged significantly boosted his confidence.

“The first celebration felt emotional. It has been a long journey, and I can’t express the extent of the criticism I’ve faced over the past three years. I aimed to stay composed, but once the catch was taken, all restraint vanished, and the joy of the crowd was overwhelming. Every moment has made all the hard work and rehab worthwhile,” he shared.

When asked about the friendly banter exchanged by England’s fielders whenever an Indian batter stepped up during the fourth innings, Archer remarked, “It was a collective initiative. We united as a group yesterday, acknowledging that sometimes we tend to be overly accommodating.”

“When we play in other venues, some teams aren’t as gracious towards us as we are to them, so we aimed to adjust our approach. I can’t say if it energized our performance in the field, but it’s definitely a tactic we’ll keep in mind for the future!”

In closing, Archer mentioned that he didn’t take pride in sending off Rishabh Pant after bowling him out for nine on day five. “It wasn’t a moment of pride to give a send-off to Pant. I simply told him to charge down the pitch. He came down the track, which slightly irritated me, so when the ball nipped down the slope, I felt fortunate for that,” he concluded.