Archer in need of 'fine-tuning' ahead of long-awaited England return

By Sports Desk January 25, 2023

England paceman Jofra Archer is just in need of some "fine-tuning" ahead of his long-awaited return to international action.

Archer has endured a torrid time with injuries across the last three years, and has not featured for England in any format since March 2021.

However, he is set to play against South Africa in a three-match ODI series, which starts in Bloemfontein on Friday.

"Hopefully it can be a repeat of 2019," Archer told reporters. "We've got again a 50-over World Cup and an Ashes in the same year so more of the same, please.

"There's no reason to look back. I've done my time and I'm here now. That's the most important thing.

"I'd probably say I'm about 80 per cent [fit]. Just some fine-tuning now.

"I know whenever I'm fully fit, I don't think there's much that can stop me, it's just a matter of when that was going to be."

Archer has warmed up for England's tour of South Africa by taking eight wickets for MI Cape Town in the SA20.

"Playing cricket again for the first time a few weeks ago, I'm still riding off that wave of emotions right now," said Archer, who is not expected to play in all three ODIs.

"Hopefully in two days it can go up another level. It's just been good to play cricket and actually not have to worry about if my body's going to give way. I think that was the most important tick for me so far."

England white-ball coach Matthew Mott is willing to be cautious with Archer's recovery.

"We will work through it with him, see how his body is coping," Mott said. "I definitely think he is a high priority and he will be managed as well as possible. 

"What he is very big on is not wasting too many balls in practice. He really loves his match balls and that's a great attest of his resilience.

"We will keep talking to him about his bowling loads and how he's going."

South Africa head into the series with ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year on board, Marco Jensen.

However, only two of his 39 wickets, and 16 of his 234 runs, have come in ODIs.

Related items

  • Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies Asalanka leads Sri Lanka to ODI series win over West Indies

    Sri Lanka wrapped up the ODI series against the West Indies with a five-wicket victory in Pallekele.

    The hosts successfully chased down their opponents' total of 189, giving them an unassailable 2-0 in the three-match series.

    Sri Lanka controlled the early powerplay - Asitha Fernando (3-35) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25) took two wickets apiece to leave the tourists at 31-4 in the ninth over.

    Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) then claimed three of his four wickets as Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph were all dismissed in the space of 14 balls.

    However, Sherfane Rutherford (80 off 82 balls) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) steadied the ship to take the Windies from 58-8 to 189.

    Although Joseph claimed Avishka Fernando (9) in the fourth over, Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama both chipped in with contributions of 38 to get the hosts to 112-4.

    Skipper Charith Asalanka (62 not out) led the charge thereon, while Kamindu Mendis (11) comfortably got them over the line with 34 balls remaining.

    Data Debrief: Rutherford-Motie historic stand proves academic for tourists

    West Indies were looking to level the series, but their hopes were not aided by Sri Lanka's impressive bowling.

    Rutherford and Motie did their best. Their partnership brought 119 runs, which is their nation's highest ninth-wicket stand in ODI history, breaking the previous record of 85 between Yannic Cariah and Alzarri Joseph.

    However, it ultimately proved in vain as the hosts secured the series with a game to spare.

  • 'I was a tired, grumpy old man' - Stokes apologised to England team-mates after Pakistan defeat 'I was a tired, grumpy old man' - Stokes apologised to England team-mates after Pakistan defeat

    Ben Stokes says he apologised to his England team-mates after his frustrations were evident during the second-Test defeat by Pakistan.

    The hosts levelled the three-Test series on Thursday after wrapping up a 152-run win in Multan.

    However, it could have been a different story but for fielding errors at crucial stages for the visitors, Jamie Smith and Joe Root notably dropping catches to dismiss Salman Agha, whose subsequent knock of 63 helped Pakistan seal victory with a day to spare.

    Stokes, who returned to action following a hamstring injury, could not hide his frustration during a difficult day for England, but insisted he would not let his emotions get the better of him again.

    "No one means to drop catches, but it just proves how important catches are in these subcontinent conditions, they don't come along that often," he told Sky Sports.

    "I actually apologised to the group last night. It's the first time in my captaincy that I've let my emotions and how I was feeling with the way the game was unfolding show in my body language.

    "I owned up to that and was very annoyed at myself for letting that out. It's something that I don't want to do or be seen to be doing, so I apologised to the group about that.

    "Poor old me, I was a tired, grumpy old man last night! You won't see that happen again."

    However, England coach Brendon McCullum defended the actions of his skipper.

    "We all know how passionate Ben is, how much it means for him to play for England," he said.

    "We've seen that through his bloody-mindedness to get back from injury, which was significant, and to do so in a nine-week timeframe and to have his first TM [Test match] in extreme conditions, 40 degrees, and be able to give what he gave to the side.

    "I think, maybe, that's where some of that frustration led to - certainly, it wasn't directed at any of the players. It was more about trying to assess the rhythm of the game, and to impact on it."

  • Sri Lanka breeze to series win over West Indies Sri Lanka breeze to series win over West Indies

    Sri Lanka cruised to a nine-wicket victory over West Indies to seal a T20I series triumph.

    With the series delicately poised at 1-1 heading into the final match on Thursday, Sri Lanka started with intent in Dambulla.

    Maheesh Theekshana (2-19) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2-24) led the charge as Sri Lanka skittled through the Windies' top order.

    Rovman Powell's stubborn 37 and a contribution of 32 from Gudakesh Motie steered West Indies to a reasonable total of 162-8, but it was one well within reach of Sri Lanka.

    Pathum Nissanka clipped seven fours and one six in a 22-ball 37 to get Sri Lanka's chase rolling at pace, before he was bowled by Gudakesh Mottie (1-31).

    Yet the damage was mostly done, with Kusal Mendis powering his way to an unbeaten 68 and Kusal Perera plundering 55 from 36 balls to get the job done with the minimum of fuss.

    Data Debrief: Perera closing in on Sri Lanka record

    Perera is now just nine runs away from surpassing Tillakaratne Dilshan (1,889) as the leading scorer in Sri Lanka's T20I history.

    His efforts, combined with those of Nissanka and Mendis, saw Sri Lanka win for a fourth time in their last six T20Is at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, although this is the first time they have won at the venue in that run when batting second.

    The Windies' miserable record in Asia has continued, meanwhile. They have won only one of their last 11 T20Is in Asia (L10), with that victory coming in the first match of this series. They have now lost 33 T20Is on the continent in total, with only Ireland (35) having lost more.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.