The Ashes 2019: England can’t wait to unleash Test debutant Jofra Archer on Aussies at Lord’s

Expectations will be high on Jofra Archer at Lord’s after the hammering England copped at Edgbaston. But the fast bowler’s ability ‘to deal with pressure’ is part of his undoubted charm..

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Australia should be on red alert for Jofra Archer when he make his Test debut at Lord’s because he’ll tell anyone that will listen he prefers a red ball over a white one.

Archer, 24, made his name as white ball weapon in the Big Bash and then the World Cup and looms as the answer to England’s Ashes prayers when the second Test kicks off at Lord’s on Wednesday.

While the home team included left-arm spinner Jack Leach hoping he could be kryptonite to Australia’s superman Steve Smith, it could be Archer who provides England more of a weapon.

Jofra Archer meets up with England bowling coach Chris Silverwood.

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Sent to prove his fitness in a second XI county game, Archer took 6-27 for Sussex last week and video of his demolition of the opposition, who were rolled for just 79, went viral.

Archer’s World Cup winning teammate Jos Buttler, set to play together at Lord’s this week too, said had the x–factor England needed to get back in to the series.

“In his short international career so far we’ve seen what an impact he’s had,” Buttler said at Lord’s on Saturday.

“He’s got amazing skills with the white ball but, having talked to him, I think he prefers bowling with the red one. That’s exciting for us.

Archer played a huge role in England’s World Cup success.

“And when he makes his mark - I think he just brings that x-factor to every game he’s played in. It’s really exciting for the world to see him in the Test arena.”

“If he gets his chance, I expect him to perform really well.

“You’ve seen what he can do in the Big Bash and obviously the IPL as well, so he’s well versed in pressure situations and big games.”

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Archer was England’s leading wicket-taker in their triumphant World Cup campaign, which ended with him being chosen to deliver a super-over after the tied final.

Buttler suggested it would be wrong to think of the fast bowler as a limited-overs specialist.

“He’s got amazing skills with the white ball but ... he prefers bowling with the red one,” he said at the launch of Kookaburra’s new SmartBall, which records data from a microchip in the pill.

Matthew Wade and Jofra Archer were BBL teammates in Hobart.

Archer has a serious first class bowling record, with 131 wickets, in just 28 matches, to underline his red ball credentials.

Buttler made just six runs in two innings in the first-up loss at Edgbaston, his first match after England’s World Cup success.

Despite the defeat however, and the axing of Moeen Ali for Lord’s as a result, he said that England was still well and truly in the series.

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“There’s no need to panic. We’re 1-0 down with four matches to go in this series. And Test cricket is hard, you’re playing against the best players in the world,” he said,

“And if you’re not good enough for long enough, then you’re going to lose. But we know we have a fantastic team – stay calm, nothing really changes.

“We lost that game but we’ll come to Lord’s full of excitement and belief that we’re a good enough side to win this Test and make it 1-1.”