India vs England: Jofra Archer Returns To England Test Team After 4 Years For Lord’s Test

Lord’s (England) July 9: Jofra  Archer returns to England Test Side after 4 Years. The speedster was out from the team for last 4 years. He has been victim of too many injuries in the past years. His form also got dipped consistently due to injuries. Today the England Cricket Team announced the playing  11. The England team is all set to play against India on the iconic Lord’s Cricket Stadium. This will be the third test between India and England in the ongoing Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy.

Jofra Archer Replaces Josh Tongue

Jofra Archer will be playing on Josh Tongue’s place. Jofra Archer was last in England whites in the year 2021. He was out of the action due to severe injuries. He played last Test match against India in the year 2021. Jofra Archer has played very minimal limited overs match. Due to many injuries he has been out of the action from test team. 

His return marks his 14th Test appearance and a third straight against India. Archer’s last red-ball showing was during England’s tour of India in early 2021. In the opening Test of that series, he made an immediate impact by removing both Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, and finished with figures of 2/75 in the first innings. England rode that early breakthrough to a comprehensive 227-run win, only to lose the series 3-1.

Archer also featured in the third Test of the same tour, though on a rank turner in Ahmedabad, his role was limited. He bowled just five overs but still made his presence felt by dismissing Gill once again.

Series Level

The lord’s Test presents a crucial opportunity not only for England to take the lead in a tightly-contested series but also for Archer to reassert himself as a force in Test cricket. With India’s top-order firing and the series locked at 1-1, England will hope that Archer’s pace, accuracy, and past success against Indian batters, particularly Shubman Gill, can provide the edge they need at the ‘Home of Cricket’.

Despite a 336-run hammering in the second Test, England have made no other change to their XI. Questions had been asked over Zak Crawley’s performance in the second Test, with Chris Woakes also under the scanner after underwhelming outings across both matches of the series. England, however, have decided to put their faith in the experienced duo as they chase a series lead at Lord’s.

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes ©, Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir