Archer quick off mark to show he can still deliver

FOR the sendoff he gave to Rishabh Pant, they could probably fine Jofra Archer any percentage of his match fee and it would be worth it.

- By Andy Dunn

A couple of balls earlier, Pant had the audacity to dance a couple of steps down the wicket and swat England's fastest bowler to the pavilion boundary. One-handed.

Moments later Pant's off-stump was cartwheeling its way towards the champagne tent on the Nursery Ground and Archer was having a word or two.

It was one of the moments of the English cricketing summer. If you thought Archer was back when he took a wicket with the third ball of his first Test appearance in four years, then this was stump-smashing confirmation.

This was the type of ball he is capable of bowling. Too quick, too skiddy, too accurate for one of the world's best batsmen.