Archer consistently troubled the Australian batsmen with his shrewd variations in length and raw pace. The Barbados-born bowler forced the prolific Steve Smith off the field after bowling a vicious bouncer on day four, which prevented the former captain from batting in the fourth innings and has since ruled him out of the third Test at Headingley.

Marnus Labuschagne, Smith’s concussion substitute in Australia’s second innings, faced similar hostility but rose to score a gutsy half-century.

“It’s abuse,” added Holding, who formed a fearsome fast-bowling battery with the likes of Andy Roberts, Colin Croft and Joel Garner during his playing days. “When I was bowling, we had three other quicks just as fast. We could share the burden.”

Holding compared Archer to fellow fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who has been a mainstay for South Africa across all formats. Rabada, 24, the same age as Archer, has bowled more than 7,000 overs in Test cricket – more than any comparable quick at the same age – but has been blighted by back trouble and forced to compromise on pace at times.

Archer is set to make his second Test appearance for England in the third Ashes Test at Headingley, which begins on Thursday.