Ashes 2019 | Jofra Archer could be Steve Smith's biggest challenge, suggests Shane Warne
Former Australian cricketer Shane Warne believes that Jofra Archer could be the only English bolwer who would be able to stop Steve Smith and the great run that he’s having in the Ashes. The veteran leg-spinner backed Archer by saying that 'no one likes to face tall 90 mph (145 kph) bowlers.'
The 24-year-old quick from Barbados was a part of England’s World Cup-winning team this year and is set to make his Test debut at Lord's in the 2nd Test match of the Ashes. Meanwhile, Steve Smith, who made his much-awaited comeback to Test cricket, amassed 286 runs (144 and 142) at Edgbaston played a huge role in helping Australia secure a 251 run win in the Ashes opener.
Archer missed the first game with a side injury but he is back in the line to replace James Anderson, who is currently injured, at the Lord's. Warne has backed Archer's extra pace to be a strength and a weapon to get the better of Smith, who seems unstoppable at the moment. Warne, who led Rajasthan Royals to the first ever IPL title, also mentored the franchise with Smith an integral part of the side.
"Steve (Smith) has been the star of the show so far but now we have Jofra joining his Royals (and England) team-mates Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler," said Warne, as quoted by cricket.com.au, after Archer was named in England’s 12-man squad for the Lord’s Test.
"Obviously I would love to see Steve go on and score a hundred in every single innings for the rest of the Ashes but with Jofra coming in I think he'll be set to face his biggest challenge yet and this could make the difference in the upcoming Tests. No one likes to face tall 90 mph bowlers."
"The loss of Anderson was such a blow for England and they will really need Jofra to step up but I think he has all the attributes to do just that," said Warne after England's frontline quick, James Anderson was ruled out of the Lord's Test
"They (Archer and Smith) will have faced each other a lot in the nets so if anyone will have a plan, it will be Jofra."
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