Archer set for testing return to cricket at Lord's

JOFRA Archer will make his long-awaited return to Test cricket at Lord’s this week, ending more than four years of injury-induced exile.

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Archer was named in the England XI yesterday for the third Test against India, replacing fellow fast bowler Josh Tongue in the only change to the side that suffered a crushing 336-run defeat at Edgbaston — a result that levelled the five-match series at 1-1.

Lord’s holds fond memories for the 30-year-old, who famously bowled the World Cup-winning “Super Over” there in 2019 before returning later that summer to make a sensational Test debut against Australia. That match saw him unleash a 92 mph bouncer that floored Steve Smith and led to Marnus Labuschagne becoming Test cricket's first concussion substitute.

Archer has played just one County Championship match for Sussex this season, bowling 18 overs and taking a single wicket. However, after a full week of training with the England squad in Birmingham, team management are confident he is ready to add to his 13 Test caps in the match starting Thursday.