Joe Root has warned against burdening Jofra Archer with expectations, following the 24-year-old paceman’s superb performance in his debut Test series.
It’s been quite the year for Archer. After starring in England’s maiden World Cup triumph, he made his Test debut at Lord’s and went on to take 22 wickets in four matches, with six-wicket hauls in England’s two victories, at Headingley and The Oval.
He wasn’t among the wickets in the final innings at The Oval, but his sustained pace and the drama he served up with the duel against Matthew Wade, who battled to a century, visibly lifted the crowds. However, Root said he was still figuring out how best to use Archer, and cautioned against expecting too much of him at the start of his international career.
“For the second time this summer, Jofra Archer was involved in a head-to-head battle that will last long in the memory.”@benjonescricket analyses what was a fascinating showdown. https://t.co/4VsiouPChz
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 15, 2019
“He’s come in and been fantastic. Four Test matches, two six-fors. He has a way of having a huge impact on the game, you saw his spell here, it just changed the whole atmosphere of the ground, was incredible really,” said Root.
“That World Cup was incredible, for it to finish how it did and across the board there were some fantastic contests,” said Root. “To be backed up by such an evenly matched Ashes series, again we were blessed with brilliant support throughout but the cricket itself was gripping – quite hard to be involved in at times, especially when you were on the wrong end of it.
“But what a summer of cricket it’s been, I think a huge success for English cricket and we’ve got a great opportunity now to spring the game forward in this country.”
