Ben Stokes.
Credit: PTI Photo
London: The biggest talking point ahead of the third Test at Lord’s has been the return of Jofra Archer for England. The tall and lanky pacer, who has shifted his focus to limited-overs because of his frequent injury breakdowns, last played a game in whites for the national team in Ahmedabad against India in February 2021.
Although is readiness for the rigours of Test cricket has been questioned considering he just played one first-class game before being picked for the series, skipper Ben Stokes was pleased to welcome back the Barbados-born pacer.
"The way in which he's handled the injury setbacks over that period has been very commendable,” Stokes said at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday. “The way in which he's got himself back on the field and playing cricket over a long period of time now. It was exciting to have him back in the squad and in contention for last week but now that we can say he's in the playing XI, it's very exciting for the group. I think Josh is going to be pretty proud of himself that he's managed to get himself back here after two pretty big injuries.”
Stokes reckoned there won’t be any ring rust in Archer and was confident of the pacer making a telling impact in the third Test. “I think when he's playing for England, I know it will be in the short format but I think it's obvious whenever he does get the ball in his hand there is that change in the game. I think the opposition feel it as well because they know what he can do in a spell. I don't think there's any reason as to why we can't see Archer operating at a level like we've seen.”
Beaten at their own game in the second Test, which saw India level the series 1-1, Stokes said the belief in his camp is good and they are raring to seize the initiative back. “The results in this series were always going to ebb and flow between two good teams going against each other. We came out on top in Headingley and they came out on top last game. I don't think we feel like we have the edge over anyone. We respect our opposition, whoever that may be, whatever period in a series it may be. But yeah, we'll be coming out this week and trying to hit them hard and obviously trying to come away with the win.”