Cricket

James Anderson, England's legendary pacer, has expressed his unwavering support for Jofra Archer, suggesting that the speedster could play a pivotal role in England's quest to reclaim the Ashes in Australia in 2025/26.Archer, who has faced a challenging spell with injuries, has only played white-ball cricket since recovering from a persistent elbow injury and hasn't featured in a Test match since February 2021. However, Anderson sees the pacer as essential to England's Ashes campaign, if he's willing and physically able to take on the demands of the red-ball game."If we can keep him fit, the Ashes is a definite opportunity," Anderson told The Guardian. "The only worry is whether the injuries have scared him away from Test cricket and he thinks: 'Can my body cope?' But if Jofra works hard enough, and he's managed well, he would be huge for us in the Ashes."England's current focus on building a formidable pace attack has also contributed to Anderson's own retirement from international cricket, as the team prepares a roster of quicks fit for Australian conditions.Beyond Archer, Anderson highlighted England's promising crop of fast bowlers, including Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, and Matthew Potts, all of whom could be vital contributors to England's attack in 2025/26.Among the new generation of bowlers, Anderson praised Surrey's Gus Atkinson, who debuted in the same match Anderson bowed out against the West Indies. Atkinson's impact was immediate, with 12 wickets in the series, including a stunning seven-wicket haul in the first innings. Anderson noted that Atkinson, who has now accumulated 40 wickets in eight Tests, has "got it all.""I think we've got enough experience with Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Archer potentially, and then the guys that are coming in," Anderson said. "Gus Atkinson has done really well, so have Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts. They're getting experience all the time and if they've got 12 Tests under their belts that's great. It doesn't have to be 50 Tests.""He has got it all. Pace, skill and he picks up things really quickly. I've worked with him a little bit and he'll say, 'right, I want to learn an in-swinger' and within 12 balls he'll have it. That's a great trait. He's got amazing ability and a great temperament."

England won the toss and elected to field first in the second ODI against West Indies in Antigua. The hosts made one change to their lineup, with Shamar Joseph replacing Alzarri Joseph, who was ruled out as a precautionary measure.England's captain, Liam Livingstone, expressed confidence in his team's bowling attack, particularly Jofra Archer and John Turner, who impressed in the first ODI. He also acknowledged the importance of moisture in the pitch, which could assist the spinners.West Indies skipper Shai Hope emphasized the need for his team to adapt quickly to the conditions and praised the young players in their pace attack. He stressed the importance of consistency and playing good cricket every time they take the field.The match began with Jofra Archer bowling to Brandon King. King got off to a solid start, scoring a boundary in the second over. However, he was dismissed in the fourth over by Turner, who took a maiden international wicket.Matthew Forde, who has impressed with his bowling up front, spoke about the importance of adapting to the conditions and using his cutters effectively. He also highlighted the special bond he shares with Jayden Seales, his fellow pace bowler.The pitch report indicated that there was some moisture in the surface, which could make it challenging for the team batting first. The square boundaries were equidistant at 63 meters, while the straight boundary was 73 meters.Overall, both teams expressed confidence in their abilities and acknowledged the importance of adapting to the conditions. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched sides.

Jofra Archer's resurgence has been a beacon of hope for England's cricket team, as the fast bowler continues to prove his worth after a series of setbacks. In the fourth ODI against Australia at Lord's, Archer claimed two crucial wickets to help England level the series 2-2.Archer's performance was a testament to his enduring talent, which was first showcased in the 2019 ODI World Cup final and his Test debut in the Ashes. Despite suffering stress fractures in his back and elbow, Archer has remained resilient and is now reaping the rewards of his hard work.The 29-year-old has played 24 competitive matches this summer, including the T20 World Cup, and is on track to surpass his previous season's tally of 681 deliveries. This is a significant milestone for Archer, who was sidelined for 14 months before making his return in May.Archer's return has been carefully managed, with a focus on avoiding further injuries. He has been excluded from Test cricket until 2025, but is expected to feature in the limited-overs series in the Caribbean and the Champions Trophy next year.Beyond his on-field contributions, Archer's experience and leadership will be invaluable to England's white-ball team. As one of the senior players and a two-time World Cup winner, Archer will play a key role in mentoring the younger players and fostering a winning culture.

England and Australia faced off in the third ODI at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground, with England winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Australia, seeking a win to clinch the five-match series, sent Matthew Short and Mitchell Marsh to open the batting.Jofra Archer, recalled to the English side, opened the bowling and immediately made an impact. His short-ball strategy paid off as he dismissed Short for 21, caught by Adil Rashid at deep backward square leg. Archer continued to trouble the Australian batsmen, hitting Marsh on the thigh pad and getting the ball to nip back into Steven Smith's pads.Matthew Potts, bowling from the other end, also impressed. He beat Marsh's outside edge with a delivery that nipped away and forced Smith to fend off an awkward bouncer. Potts also conceded a boundary to Short, who cracked a drive through point.Marsh, who had been promoted to open in the absence of Travis Head, looked solid and scored a single off Potts. Cameron Green, who came in at number three, also got off the mark with a single.As the innings progressed, Australia began to build a partnership. Marsh and Green played cautiously, rotating the strike and avoiding any unnecessary risks. They managed to take Australia to 21/1 after the first four overs.However, the match was interrupted by rain, forcing the players off the field. The rain delay lasted for over an hour, and when play resumed, England had a new bowler in Brydon Carse.Carse continued to put pressure on the Australian batsmen, hitting Marsh on the chest with a shorter delivery and getting the ball to seam away from Smith. Marsh and Green remained resolute, though, and managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

England's cautious approach to Jofra Archer's workload will continue during the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia. Archer has been gradually reintegrated into international cricket after recovering from back and elbow injuries.Despite his impressive performance in the T20 World Cup, Archer has been carefully managed to avoid overexertion. He played only 3.3 overs in the T20I series against Australia and was rested for the second game in Cardiff.England's interim coach, Marcus Trescothick, emphasized the need to manage Archer's workload throughout the ODI series. "He's played a really good stint of T20 cricket, but there's a jump in intensity getting loads up to taking full part in an ODI," Trescothick said.Archer's long-term goal is to return to red-ball cricket, but he has not played a first-class match since May 2021. Trescothick confirmed that Archer is comfortable with the ECB's plan to manage his workload."He knows the plan," Trescothick said. "It's discussed long in advance of picking the team on each day. We know what we're doing with him, and where we're going."Trescothick will continue to assist England as an assistant coach for the Test series in Pakistan and New Zealand. He believes his experience working with Brendon McCullum will ensure a smooth transition when McCullum takes charge across formats in January."I'm directing it in a way that I know will be very similar to when he comes in," Trescothick said. "He'll talk the same way, manage in the same fashion, and debrief in the same way."

Tymal Mills, the newly appointed T20 captain of Sussex, expressed both delight and frustration as his team secured a spot in Finals Day. While thrilled with their performance, Mills lamented the absence of Jofra Archer due to a scheduling conflict.Mills described the scheduling clash as "pretty stupid" and "a real shame," as it will prevent England players from participating in Finals Day, which will be held on September 14. The ECB is exploring options, but players will only be released if they are not required for the final two T20Is against Australia.Mills acknowledged that the absence of Archer, who took 2 for 20 in Sussex's quarter-final win over Lancashire, will be a significant loss. He emphasized that whoever replaces Archer will have "big boots to fill."Surrey, who defeated Durham in the quarter-finals, will be the most affected by the scheduling conflict. Jamie Overton has been called up by England as injury cover, joining Sam Curran, Will Jacks, and Reece Topley in the T20I squad. Surrey is awaiting confirmation on the availability of their four Test players: Gus Atkinson, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, and Jamie Smith.Mills expressed disappointment that other counties, such as Warwickshire, will also be without key players due to England's T20I commitments. He believes that the scheduling conflict undermines the importance of Finals Day.Despite the scheduling challenges, Mills praised Sussex's performance under his leadership. After missing out on the quarter-finals in 2023, Sussex has won 10 out of 15 games this season. Mills attributed their success to their aggressive batting approach and improved record at Hove.Mills emphasized his commitment to Sussex and his desire to win the Blast for the club. He believes that the team has the potential to succeed and is confident in their ability to perform well at Finals Day.

Jofra Archer's decisive over proved pivotal in England's comprehensive eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in St Lucia. After West Indies captain Rovman Powell had plundered 20 runs off Archer's previous over, the hosts looked poised to accelerate their innings with five overs remaining.However, Archer responded with an exceptional over of wide yorkers, outswinging at increasing pace. Nicholas Pooran, who had just reached 200 runs in the tournament, was dismissed for a thin edge to Jos Buttler. The over culminated in a crucial collapse of 3 for 6 in 12 deliveries, effectively ending West Indies' hopes.Archer's impact was significant for England. It demonstrated his tactical acumen and the success of his recovery from long-standing injuries. He acknowledged that the lively pitch encouraged him to crank up his pace, a strategy that had not been as effective earlier in the tournament.Beyond his bowling contribution, Archer emphasized his commitment to contributing in all aspects of the game. He expressed his joy in giving back to the team and his willingness to embrace pressure situations.The victory over West Indies, who had won eight consecutive matches, was a significant boost for England. However, Archer cautioned against complacency, emphasizing that it was only the first game of the Super Eight stage.England's next challenge is against South Africa, the team that inflicted a crushing defeat on them in the 50-over World Cup. Archer downplayed the significance of that match, stating that England had moved on and would approach the game with a fresh plan.

Jofra Archer's emotional return to Barbados for the T20 World Cup was a moment of immense pride and joy for the England pacer. As he stepped onto the field at Kensington Oval, the cheers from the crowd were deafening, with a large contingent of children from his alma mater, Christ Church Foundation, adding to the thunderous applause.Archer's eyes welled up with tears as he surveyed the scene, overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from his homeland. "It was a little bit emotional," he admitted. "I had a little bit of water in my eye, a bit of a cry, but I was just settling."The prime minister of Barbados had invited Archer and his teammates to her box, but she had also arranged for students from Archer's and Chris Jordan's former schools to attend the match. "It was really, really emotional," Archer said. "I felt really supported. I felt unbelievable."Archer had avoided media interactions before the game, preferring to focus on his return to Barbados. "Once you get the first ball out of the way, any nerves are gone," he explained. "You tend to forget everything else and just focus."Archer's return to fitness has been carefully managed by England, who are eager to have him at his best for the T20 World Cup. He underwent surgery on his right elbow last year and has been gradually building up his workload since then."It was just a little bit of luck because, you know, if we'd gone a little bit… it could have gone wrong," Archer said. "Maybe I could peak too early and could have missed this. Or I didn't get up to speed fast enough and I miss it again. So I just feel very lucky that everything had checked along with this block."Archer has been playing cricket since November and feels fully fit. He believes his body is ready for the rigors of international cricket after bowling against Pakistan in the fifth T20I at the Oval."It's alright to train and it's alright to play in games here, but to get that last 10% intensity and [feel] actually, the body is okay. You know when you are able to step it up and the body takes it, then that's really, really refreshing."Archer will not play Test cricket this summer, but his eventual return to the format is being carefully managed. "I've got a PDF file of every single game I'm supposed to play in from now till next summer anyway," he said. "Yeah, they've really planned out almost everything."England have one more match at Kensington Oval before moving to Antigua for the rest of their group matches. The highly anticipated clash with Australia on Saturday could be crucial to their T20 World Cup hopes. The majority of fans will again be cheering for England and for one of their own.

Defending champions England will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Scotland on June 4 in Bridgetown, Barbados. Despite facing rain-affected preparations, England remains a formidable contender for the title.Phil Salt, who impressed in the Indian Premier League, will be a key player for England. The return of pacer Jofra Archer adds firepower to the bowling attack. England will be the overwhelming favorites against Scotland, who are making their first appearance in the shortest format of the tournament.England has a strong record in T20 cricket, having won the World Cup in 2010 and 2022. They will be aiming to become the first team to win the tournament three times.In the other match of the day, Afghanistan will face Uganda in Guyana. Afghanistan, who performed well in the last ODI World Cup, will be the favorites against the African nation, who are making their tournament debut.