English legend James Anderson threw his support to return Jofra Arler and urged selectors to release the pace of ace in the key third test against India at Lord’s.
Archer, 29, has not played a test match since February 2021 due to a number of injuries, including stress fractures and elbow problems. Recently, however, with Sussex returned to the first -class cricket and was part of England for the second test in Edgbaston. England has suffered a heavy defeat of 336 in this match, allowing India to balance the 1-1 and Anderson series that it is now or never when it comes to reintroducing the archer.
“You could still try to build it and play it later in the series, but by then it could be too late,” Anderson said.
“I think he will play. He played one game for Sussex, was around the team in Edgbaston and bowed a little. I just feel like you have to play it. It’s too much a game that doesn’t.”
England’s head coach Brendon McCullum stopped to confirm Archer’s selection, but offered a shining evaluation of physical and mental readiness Pacer. After years of failures, Archer seems to be finally preparing back to the test arena.
“Jofra looks fit, looks strong, looks ready to go and comes into calculations,” McCullum said.
“It is extremely exciting. He also buzzes. He apparently passed by injury and over time outside the test cricket.
“We all know what he is able to achieve in a test cricket, and we hope that if an opportunity comes to him, he can capture again and also improve what he has already done in that form of the game.”
Archer’s potential return is part of a wider debate on the selection before the third test, which starts on Thursday at Lord. Gus Atkinson’s rapid pitching will return to a dispute after recovering from the injury of hamstring suffered during a one -time test against Zimbabwe in May. The launch of versatile Jacob Bethell was also considered, although head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that a 22 -year -old man would not replace the primary spinner Shaiba Bashir.
“It’s a possibility of launching,” McCullum said about Bethell. “It’s another if something happens.
“He wants to constantly improve his bowling so that he can obviously affect the game across the bat and the ball. It is not something we would look at from a tactical point of view.”
England’s Squad for the third test contains a combination of youth and experience, but all eyes will be on whether selectioners take Anderson’s advice and release Jofra Archer in a “cricket home” in a potentially key match in the series.
England Squad for the third test vs. India at Lord’s: Ben Stokes (C), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Cars, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pte, Joe Root, Jamie, Chris Woaes.
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Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
8 July 2025
