Tim Paine hits back at lippy English quick Jofra Archer

Aussie captain Tim Paine called lippy England rookie Jofra Archer for having “a lot” of opinions about the tourists after playing them just twice.

LEEDS, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Jofra Archer of England celebrates dismissing Nathan Lyon of Australia during day one of the 3rd Specsavers Ashes Test match between England and Australia at Headingley on August 22, 2019 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

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Simmering Ashes tensions could reach boiling point at Old Trafford Wednesday night with lippy Test rookie Jofra Archer getting under Australia’s skin before he’s even bowled another ball in anger.

On the eve of the crucial fourth Test, and for the second day running, Aussie captain Tim Paine called out the England fast bowler for having “a lot” of opinions about the tourists after playing them just twice.

Archer accused the Aussies of “panicking” in the last session at Headingley as Ben Stokes levelled the series 1-1, a notion Paine dismissed out of hand.

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England rookie Jofra Archer has had plenty to say in the lead-up to the Fourth Ashes Test. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Paine said 24-year-old Archer, who has only played two Tests but taken 13 wickets and knocked Australian talisman Steve Smith out of the clash at Leeds, was “entitled to his opinion”.

And with all eyes turning to Manchester, and the chance for Archer and Smith to resume their on-field battle, Paine said comments from the Englishman hadn’t been missed by the Aussies.

“I was told a few things when I was down in Derby,” Paine said.

“But yeah, talk is talk and we are here to play this Test Match.

“What’s happened in the past has happened and Jofra is entitled to his opinion.”

Challenge accepted. @JofraArcher 🏏 @stevesmith49https://t.co/EA81UIuz3z #Ashes pic.twitter.com/PS3bRde3It

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 29, 2019

In a sign the series was moving away from its timid start, English seamer Stuart Broad noted an increase in the verbals from the Australians at Headingley, specifically David Warner, and expected more in Manchester.

“You can tell he changed his mindset to be a bit more in the face of the opposition and that suits him better as a cricketer,” Broad said.

“So we’ll expect the same again at Old Trafford, we’ll expect him to come out and be that niggly character on the field he so often is.”

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Paine wasn’t interested in talk of an on-field increase in volume, but more the words off it.

He conceded to making mistakes in the last hour at Leeds, mostly placing too many fielders on the boundary for too long.

But he said there was no sense of panic then, as Archer suggested, or now, with the Ashes still on the line, and Australia would not lie down.

“Jofra’s entitled to his opinion, he’s had plenty of those that’s for sure,” Paine said.

“But we made some mistakes, it happens, we’ve addressed it as a team, we’ve spoken about it honestly.

“I was certainly one of those people who made mistakes, it happens in cricket, we’ve moved on and we’re here ready for a great Test match.”