Ashes 2019 | Test cricket can go perfect for you one day, and bad for you on another, says Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer admitted that fortunes in Test cricket can be perfect one day and bad on another day for any player. After picking up six for 62 in the first innings – for which he won the Man of the Match award – Archer took a bit of a beating in the second innings, courtesy of Matthew Wade.
In his debut Test series, Archer has largely blown hot and cold in alternate innings. He burst onto the scene in the second innings at Lord’s and threatened to win the match for England. Then he blew the Aussie lineup away with a six-fer in the first innings of the third Test before an average second innings spell. In the fourth Test, he was dealt with ease in the first innings, before he found his rhythm again the second innings. The same story continued at The Oval as well – six for 62 in the first innings, none for 66 from 16 overs in the second.
“Test cricket can be perfect for you one day and it won't be the next day. There would be good days and bad days. I just need to keep going. The management team is very good,” Archer said at the post-match presentation, reported Cricbuzz.
Set a mammoth target of 399 to win, it was Stuart Broad, Archer’s new-ball partner, who did all the early damage by removing the openers early and Steve Smith later on. Then, Archer got into a duel with centurion Matthew Wade, who pounced on the youngster’s inconsistent line and length on multiple occasions despite being startled by his pace and bounce.
“(On his duel with Wade today) Probably I was a little grumpy with the wicket being flat. It was just serious cricket,” Archer said.
Overall, Archer will rest knowing that in only his first summer in international cricket, he has already played an integral part in a World Cup triumph and picked up 22 wickets in an Ashes series.
“It has just been exciting cricket since I have worn the English jersey. Being able to draw the series is really special,” Archer added.