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Jofra Archer insists he must remain patient on his return from injury despite producing career-best figures in England’s ODI win over South Africa.
Archer collected 6-40 from 9.1 overs as England bowled out South Africa for 287, with a 59-run victory ending a five-match ODI losing streak ahead of their World Cup title defense later this year.
The 27-year-old made only his second England appearance since spending 17 months with a serious back and elbow injury, with Archer not opting to open the bowling for the first time in his England career.
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Jofra Archer inspired England to win over South Africa with six wickets.
“Being back after so long, it’s surreal,” Archer said. “You just get that feeling after you start playing. It definitely increases a bit.
“I’m having the best time. I know enough that I’m not as homesick as I used to be. I’ve done everything I need to do in the last 18 months and I’m just ready to play cricket.
Jofra Archer took six wickets as England avoided a 3-0 series sweep in South Africa
“It’s just a long road, it’s a little tick but I want to see how I do in April, June, July and September. This is just the beginning of the road.”
Archer only returned 1-81 in the series opener on Saturday but provided more of a threat in the third and final ODI of the tour, regularly exceeding 90mph and confident that he could have “bowled another 10” overs.
England captain Jos Buttler led the praise for Archer’s performance and said: “It was fantastic and probably deserved the player of the match award. When the game was in the balance to return there and take the wicket of Klaasen broke the game open for us.”
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England captain Jos Buttler says his side have made ‘great strides’ in the run-up to the World Cup.
‘Good game’ for Archer
Archer blew through South Africa’s top and middle order to lead England to victory, with former England captain Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton impressed by the paceman’s immediate impact on his return to international duty.
“You have the context of him not being at his best for two years because of the injury,” Atherton said Sky Sports. “Elbow and back injuries are very serious for a fast bowler, so there are always doubts about his quick return to full fitness.
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Watch the best bits from Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan’s brilliant display against South Africa in the third and final ODI.
“He has a way to go to prove that he can do all formats on a consistent schedule, but this was a very good game for him. He proved his worth because South Africa have a cost. in 50-over cricket and England have got that in Archer and Adil Rashid.”
Hussain added: “Fast bowling is not easy and he has got Michael Holding’s effortless grace. Everything is in line – everything is in a straight line, the seam is the position. [is fantastic]. It’s just perfection. Not much can go wrong, except for yourself.
“He’s a graceful fast bowler and it’s great that he’s back in international cricket. He’s like gold dust and needs to be looked after. He’s a big name for English cricket and world cricket. He’s a box office hit.”
What’s next?
England’s white-ball side is back in Bangladesh in March with three one-day internationals followed by numerous T20 internationals. The ODIs are on 1st, 3rd and 6th March, with T20Is to follow on 9th, 12th and 14th March.
Ben Stokes’ Test side begin a two-match series in New Zealand from February 16, looking to build on nine wins in 10 matches since Stokes took over as captain and head coach Brendon McCullum.
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