England head coach Brendon McCullum has hinted that Jofra Archer could make a return to the Test side for the third match against India at Lord’s, set to commence on Thursday. Archer, who was part of the squad for the second Test at Edgbaston but did not feature, is being considered as England look to freshen up their pace attack following a heavy 336-run defeat that levelled the series at 1-1. “He’s ready to go,” McCullum said about the express pacer, who last played a Test in February 2021. “It’s hugely exciting, he’s buzzing as well. He’s obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket, but we all know what he’s capable of achieving and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he’s able to recapture and improve on what he’s been able to do already,” added the head coach as quoted by AFP. The 30-year-old Archer has played just one first-class match this season, bowling 18 overs for Sussex, but remains a key weapon England are seriously considering deploying at Lord’s. India, meanwhile, have already confirmed that pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will return after being rested for the second Test.
McCullum also addressed England’s spin options, backing Shoaib Bashir to continue despite an expensive outing in the first two Tests, where he has taken eight wickets at an average close to 60. “We know he’s not the finished article yet, but I feel like he’s getting better and better. As the series wears on, I think we’ll see him play quite a big hand,” McCullum said.
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The coach also clarified that Jacob Bethell, though a more capable batsman than Bashir, won’t be considered as a spin replacement. “He’s a batting option. He’s the next one in if something happens, but we don’t crowbar anything.” With three matches remaining, McCullum expressed hope for a better balance between bat and ball, after the first two Tests produced 11 centuries led by Indian captain Shubman Gill, who has already scored 585 runs in the series.
