After England’s barnstorming series-leveller against Australia at Lord’s, it is time for the two teams to invoke the spirit of the Pet Shop Boys – or the Village People, for those of a certain vintage – and go west. The only problem for Sunday’s tantalising decider in Bristol is an afternoon forecast that is more Wet Wet Wet.
At the Metro Bank One-Day Cup final officials invoked common sense for its reserve day on Monday and scheduled a 20-over match before the expected rain. The regulations may prove more rigid for an international match, however, raising the prospect of a 2-2 draw between these two countries for the second summer in a row. It’s not the Ashes, but it would still be a bit of an anticlimax.
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One man desperate to see some action is Jofra Archer, a fast bowler making up for lost time after being robbed of so much of it these past few years by injury. Although whether England are prepared to let him play back-to-back games – even after just six overs on Friday – remains to be seen. Archer was pencilled in to play games one, three and five in this series but gave the medical staff a “nudge” to let him feature in the fourth.
England’s caution is understandable, with management trying to strike a balance during this latest comeback from elbow stress fractures. Archer’s year has been mapped out meticulously – just short of telling him when he can shower, he joked earlier in the season – with an eye to a possible Test comeback. Archer does not know when he will be thrown a red ball – Rob Key, the managing director of men’s cricket, and the physio Craig de Weymarn will decide – but the away Ashes in just over a year’s time is the long-term goal.
“We had to win to keep the series alive and that in itself, made it a bit special,” said Archer, fresh from figures of two for 33 on the night. “Sunday is kind of a final. I don’t think anyone wants to miss Lord’s. The physios and medical team gave their opinion but ultimately it’s a group decision and I gave them a little bit of a nudge for this one. I’m just happy playing whatever cricket’s on.
“I’m still on the park and we’re approaching the end of the summer. So for me, that’s a take. I wanted to play a summer, and then I want to play a year, and then I want to play a few years. So everything is going to plan.”
While he set out on this journey in the T20 World Cup and was a bright note during an otherwise disappointing campaign for the side, Friday night under lights was a significant step forward. Archer bowled with sustained pace – his quickest burst since 2019 – and had the white Kookaburra zipping about lavishly. Marnus Labuschagne, pinned on the forearm first ball, will doubtless attest to this, likewise Mitch Marsh after being clean bowled by a near-unplayable nip-up-the-sloper.
It may be projection but it also felt like Archer was truly leading the attack, spurring on Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts through his own performance. Aged 29, the right-armer is one of older heads in this rebooted ODI team; a side that had shown character from 2-0 down and been driven by Harry Brook’s surging form with the bat. Were it not for a preventative schedule, Brook could be said to have already made a case to replace Jos Buttler as skipper.
“It’s weird seeing the team change,” said Archer. “Just the other day I was playing warm-up football on the ‘young side’ and a couple of weeks later I’m on the old team. It’s been a bit of a shock, but everybody is looking forward. The guys have been around and have played big roles for their counties, so it’s not like you are babysitting anyone. Everybody looks after themselves and Brooky looks after everyone.”
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