Samson, Archer and the short ball battle

Sanju Samson is facing the first ball of the fifth India-England 720I, after England's short balls caused him to be caught in the deep four times in a row.

- Rasesh Mandani

We are going back fourteen months.The venue is the Wankhede Stadium, the last time these two opponents faced each other in a T20I. Samson is up against Jofra Archer, who has already dismissed him thrice in the series in the same fashion.

How does Samson react? He moves wide outside his off-stump to make room, his back leg way across, front leg in line with the off-stump and pulls Archer for a six in front of square leg. Archer follows him, but Samson repeats the dose, this time behind square leg. Then he cuts him over third man for four. This exchange between two equals faded from memory once Mark Wood's pace hurried Samson in the next over, leading to him holing out to square leg.

Samson’s five dismissals facing bouncers became the lasting impression of his battles against England. Archer, a fast bowler whom Samson once captained in the IPL was the wrecker in chief. Come Thursday, as the succeeding chapter plays out, Samson will look to change the outcome.