Scary Jofra Archer back with an Ashes bang to prove a nightmare for Australia
Just when you thought it was safe to face up to England’s stuttering pace sensation, ‘Scary Jofra’ came back with a bang to rip through a feeble Australian batting order at The Oval.
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Pace sensation Jofra Archer has rediscovered his pace and his mojo in a terrifying sign for Australia’s feeble batting line-up.
After a stunning entrance to Test cricket the 24-year-old crashed back to earth with a reality check during England’s heavy defeat in the fourth Test at Old Trafford last week – registering figures of 0-97 as his pace faded on a lifeless wicket.
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But after a sizzling 6-62 at the Oval dismantled Australia, rolling the hapless tourists for 225, it’s fair to say ‘Scary Jofra’ is back.
With the radar gun once again showing him hitting the mid-140s, Archer had Australia’s batsmen hopping – with Marnus Labuschagne wearing a painful blow to his right elbow in one hostile spell.
Archer knocked over both of Australia’s openers inside his first three overs – and didn’t stop all day, sending down a mighty 23.5 overs in the day.
The indefatigable Archer bowled a seven-over spell after tea and was then given just a two-over break before being recalled to the attack by Joe Root.
He responded by knocking over Australia’s final two poles in the space of five balls.
“It was a tough wicket to bowl on, to be honest,” Archer said.
“It looked good but it was a tough wicket to bowl on. I didn’t feel there was much assistance.
“I think we’ve got more assistance from most of the pitches than we did today. We had to be consistent and try to hit a good line.”
Archer then called on his batsmen, who finished the day 0-9 and with a 78-run lead, to bat Australia out of the contest and deliver a morale-boosting victory which would force a drawn series.
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“I’m happy that we didn’t lose a wicket tonight,” he said.
“We have to take that momentum from today, bowling and batting, into tomorrow and hopefully build on the lead.
“(A win) would mean a lot for the team. There’s still a lot to play for - there’s the Test Championship and even our personal game. Although the Ashes is lost, we’ve still got a lot to play for.”