Last week, England’s veteran seamer Jofra Archer joined the squad before the second Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, but didn’t play. He is in England’s playing XI for the third Test, which begins on Thursday, July 10, at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Archer will play his first Test since February 2021. In 13 Tests, the 30-year-old has taken 32 wickets at 31.05. The Lord’s surface is anticipated to help seamers, and Archer’s recovery couldn’t have come at a better time for England after their bowlers allowed 5.14 runs per over in the second innings of the Edgbaston Test.
Chris Archer’s return to the team excited England captain Ben Stokes. The star all-rounder praised Jofra Archer for his tenacity despite several injuries.
“Very exciting. It benefits English supporters and Jofra Archer. He waited a long time. His handling of injury setbacks has been commendable. “How he’s got back on the pitch and playing cricket for a long time,” Stokes remarked in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, 9 July.
“It was exciting to have him back in the squad and in contention for last week, but now that we can say he’s in the playing 11, it is very exciting for the group, but also, I think it’s a pretty great day and I think Jofra is gonna be pretty proud of himself that he’s managed to get himself back here after two pretty big injury scares,” Stokes.
England named their team a day before the third Test. England retained Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse and replaced Josh Tongue, the five-match series’ leading wicket-taker, with Archer. The lineup is unchanged.
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