Naseer Hussain explains why England must avoid playing Jofra Archer in 2nd Test

Jofra Archer is in line to make a Test match appearance for England after four years when they take on India in the second Test of the five-match series at Edgbaston in Birmingham. However, not everyone is convinced the pacer is ready to play as early as the second Test.

Former England captain Naseer Hussain has said that while he is glad to see Archer making a comeback into the squad named for the second Test by England, he believes that playing the pacer in the XI is “too much of a risk this week”.

“Firstly you have to say it’s good news for Archer and England in that Jof must have been through so much with those [elbow and back injuries], the rehab, the pain, the mental torment of continually getting injured and making comebacks, so it’s great to see him back in the squad, he hasn’t played a Test match for four years. Fundamentally if you’re an England fan you should be pleased to see Jofra Archer back in a red ball squad,” Hussain said on Sky Sports News.

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But he went on to add: “I think it’s too much of a risk this week but it may have gone so well — I don’t know Jofra Archer’s body — it may have gone so well that they say ‘we’ll play you this week’. Then the problem is who do you leave out?”

“I do think it is a gamble worth taking, I just don’t know if it’s worth taking this week. I would do it a week after at Lord’s. He’s only just made his first-class comeback for Sussex for four years this week where he bowled 18 overs. When Archer’s fully fit he is one of the best in the world. He is absolutely box office, he has that raw pace. But unfortunately for him he hasn’t been fully fit for a very long time. So it is a gamble.”

Hussain went on to explain that if England play Archer in the second Test and then the third at Lord’s, it might be too much for the bowler’s body.

“The problem with [playing him at Lord’s] is then he’ll have played three games in three weeks, that Lord’s Test his third having not played for four years,” Hussain said. “What is the hurry when we’ve waited so long? Why not wait another week just to make sure?”

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Archer last played for England in 2021 in the longest format of the game. If he does end up playing the second Test, it will be a remarkable turn of events for Archer, who only made his first-class return for Sussex last week against Durham, where he bowled 18 overs and picked a wicket.

Hussain is not the only one in England that believes that England should resist the urge to play Archer in the second Test. Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan also was of the opinion that Archer does not need to be rushed back into the eleven. England won the first Test by five wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Sussex coach Paul Fabrace said that England should wait till the third Test to give Archer a shot.

“I would be definitely sticking with Chris Woakes for Edgbaston because he knows the pitch inside out,” the former England assistant coach said. “Why change the team? They’ve just won the Test at Headingley. They’ve set themselves up nicely for the series. If I was in their situation, my honest answer would be that I would save him for the third Test match. You have to be careful that he’s only bowled 18 overs of red-ball cricket.”

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