Jofra Archer’s England Test debut in the 2019 Ashes series was certainly one to remember.
The lethal fast bowler announced himself to cricket’s longest format by flooring Australia‘s star batsman Steve Smith with a 91.3mph delivery in an action-packed second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
Archer is set to make just his 14th Test cap against IndiaGettyArcher stole the show on his Test bow, as he went on to take three wickets, while his blistering pace leaving Australia’s top order flinching.
The fearless star also felled Marnus Labuschagne, as his dazzling display took centre stage in a fiesty Ashes Series dominated by the return of Smith and David Warner to England after the infamous ball-tampering scandal.
Fast forward six years, and Archer will now be hoping to replicate his past heroics, as he prepares to make his first Test appearance at Lord’s since the 2019 Ashes exploits.
The 30-year-old has been named in England’s side to face India at Lord’s in the third Test of their series on Thursday.
This will mark Archer’s comeback to this form of cricket after a four-and-a-half year absence, with his last outing coming in February 2021, also against India.
With the series evenly poised at 1-1 following the visitors’ emphatic 336-run victory at Edgbaston, England will look to Archer to revive their bowling attack.
But he will have to go some way to wreak more havoc on his next Test outing at Lord’s than his last with that display so fierce that it left the Australia players in a state of genuine fear.
As England found themselves 1-0 down in the series, the Sussex star was introduced to the fold ahead of the second Ashes Test to inject some much-needed aggression to the attack.
And Archer certainly took his role seriously, who marked his entrance into Test cricket in the most ferocious style.
He immediately unleashed his blistering pace on their leading batsmen, and endeared himself to the home crowd by hitting pantomime villain Smith on the forearm.
Archer bowled one ball at 96.1mph during his dazzling debut display in the 2019 AshesGetty GettyOne fearsome delivery struck Australia star Steve Smith on the neck[/caption]Alongside teammate David Warner, the series marked Smith’s return to English soil after serving a one-year ban from cricket after being found guilty of ball-tampering during a 2018 Test match against South Africa.
With the duo being taunted by fans throughout the series as a result, the Lord’s crowd duly erupted into cheers at Archer’s delivery.
While it left Smith requiring medical treatment, this did not stop Archer, who continued a hostile spell of bowling that saw him reach speeds of more than 95mph.
And things soon got worse for the batsman, as he was struck on the neck by a vicious 91.3mph bouncer from the England star.
Smith was immediately floored by the ball, and stayed down with concerning growing from both sets of players on the field.
Thankfully for the former national team captain, he was able to return to the field after passing the necessary concussion protocols, and was met with boos from the England fans as he returned to the crease.
AFPSmith lay on the ground in pain after failing to get out of the way of one Archer ball[/caption] GettyBoth England and Australia’s players were left concerned as the batsman stayed down[/caption]But the incident left Australia’s players shaken, having brought back terrible memories of former teammate Phillip Hughes.
Hughes received a bouncer to the same part of the neck as Warner in 2014, but was tragically killed as a result of a burst artery causing a haemorrhage.
The 2020 Amazon docuseries ‘The Test’ went behind-the-scenes in the Australia camp as they rebuilt from the ball-tampering scandal, and showed members of the team looking visibly distressed by Smith’s injury.
Reacting to the delivery, former bowler Peter Siddle told the cameras: “We were all in shock.
“The worst is when he was lying there, that was probably the scariest moment for us all.”
Despite soldiering on, before being dismissed for 92 by Chris Woakes, Smith was later withdrawn for the Test’s final day, with Marnus Labuschagne becoming Test cricket’s first concussion substitute.
Credit: Amazon PrimePeter Siddle later opened up on[/caption]Labuschagne would also fall victim to another fearsome Archer delivery, as he was clattered on the grille of his helmet.
Archer ultimately claimed three wickets on his debut, as England managed to draw the second Test, before he then soared to new heights in the third with a stunning six-wicket haul.
And England will be hoping to see more of Archer’s undeniable talent against India this week, with captain Ben Stokes in no doubt over the quality he will bring to the team.
Discussing the bowler’s return, Stokes told talkSPORT: “The skill that Jofra possesses – we all know what that is. It’s all pretty obvious.
“I think we know what to expect – well, what we will expect from Jofra – which is incredibly skilful in times where he bowls the absolute speed of light.
“He’s a game changer – he’s got all the attributes to be one of the all time greats to bowl for England.
“So very exciting times this week.”
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