Latest news with #PaulFarbrace
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
England make Jofra Archer decision for second Test against India after fast bowler returned to red ball cricket for Sussex
Jofra Archer has been added to England's Test squad to face India next week. Archer, 30, has not played a Test match for more than four years but returned to first-class action with Sussex at Durham earlier this week. The 2019 World Cup winner got through 18 overs in the only innings in which Sussex bowled, but England's selectors clearly saw enough to merit a recall. He joins the 14-man squad selected for the first Test victory over India at Headingley, which Ben Stokes ' team won by five wickets. Archer took the most recent of his 42 Test wickets in his 13th appearance, dismissing now India captain Shubman Gill in a 10-wicket defeat in Ahmedabad in February 2021. His preparation for Edgbaston next week involved getting Durham batsmen ducking and weaving on a sluggish Chester-le-Street pitch, returning figures of one for 32 in the process. However, his Sussex coach Paul Farbrace claimed England should resist the temptation to fast track one of their genuine 90-mile-per-hour bowlers. 'The conversation we had was that he would come and play in this game and then he'd be assessed at the end of this game,' said Farbrace, formerly England's assistant coach. 'If I was in their situation my honest answer would be that I wouldn't pick Jofra for the next Test match. I would save him for the third Test match. 'I'd pick the same team for the next game and bring Jofra back into the third game of the series. That's how I would manage him but I'm no longer involved in that. If they choose to ask my opinion that would be my view.' Archer's inclusion increases England's options for the second of five Tests in seven weeks. Chris Woakes looked off-colour in Leeds, returning his second worst match figures in a home Test, but has great knowledge of Edgbaston, his county home with Warwickshire. Brydon Carse improved in the second innings at Headingley and although Josh Tongue was ineffective for periods, his ability to wipe out the tail - taking three wickets in 10 balls in the first innings and three in four in the second - has provided England's attack with another dimension. England also have Essex seamer Sam Cook and Surrey all-rounder Jamie Overton as bowling options in their squad.
Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Jofra Archer recalled by England for second Test vs India against county's wishes
England have thrust Jofra Archer straight into their squad for Wednesday's second Test against India at Edgbaston, despite the Sussex coach's belief that he needs more time in county cricket. Archer played his first first-class match for four years this week, for Sussex against Durham. He bowled only 18 overs across four spells, as the game petered out into a draw in which Sussex fielded just once. He was economical and bowled at good pace, however, and returned encouraging figures of 18-8-32-1 as Sussex continued their strong season by taking 14 points from the fixture. At the end of the game, Paul Farbrace, the former England assistant coach who now runs Sussex's team, said he would not pick Archer for Test cricket until the third match of the series at Lord's on July 10. England have instead added him to the squad for the second Test at Edgbaston, for which players report for duty on Saturday evening. The rest of the squad remains the same: the XI who won the first Test at Headingley, plus Jacob Bethell, Sam Cook and Jamie Overton. Overton – and perhaps Cook – may return to play for their counties in the round of Championship action that starts on Sunday. Archer does not appear at all likely to play for Sussex against Warwickshire at Hove and is in line to return to Test cricket – whether at Edgbaston or Lord's – on the back of a single County Championship innings. After this week's round, the Vitality Blast returns for its second block, meaning there is no Championship action until July 22, the second day of the penultimate Test at Old Trafford. Archer last played Test cricket in early 2021 and has been bedevilled by a string of nasty elbow and back stress fractures and, most recently, a fractured thumb suffered at the Indian Premier League that delayed his carefully-planned return. Fantastic to see Jofra Archer back with a red ball in hand — Rothesay County Championship (@CountyChamp) June 23, 2025 Speaking to reporters at the Riverside after the game, Farbrace said: 'The conversation we've had was that he would come and play in this game and then he'd be assessed at the end of this game. 'It's up to Rob [Key], Luke [Wright, the national selector], Ben [Stokes, the captain] and Brendon McCullum [the coach] to decide whether they want to pick him to play at Edgbaston on Wednesday. When I'm asked – and I haven't been yet – all I'll report back is that he looks in great rhythm, he bowled very nicely, he's bowled 18 overs so far in the game, it's their decision whether they pick him or not. 'If I was in their situation my honest answer would be that I wouldn't pick Jofra for the next Test match. I would save him for the third Test match [at Lord's]. I'd pick the same team for the next game and bring Jofra back into the third game of the series. That's how I would manage him but I'm no longer involved in that. If they choose to ask my opinion, that would be my view.' England are also still missing Gus Atkinson (hamstring) and Mark Wood (knee). Atkinson could return for Lord's, but Wood's best case scenario is playing Championship cricket in late July and the fifth Test at the Oval. Is unknown quantity Archer actually in England's best team? Quite aside from whether Archer is truly ready for the rigours of a five-day Test match on the back of a single bowling innings in the Championship, England must assess whether he is really in their best XI to play at Edgbaston. When fully road-tested, Archer is surely in England's best attack. In the summer of 2019, he was a magnificent weapon, capable of bowling with swing and seam with the newer ball, or menacing bounce with the old ball. If he gets anywhere near that level again, he will be a very welcome addition to England's arsenal. He has shown signs of his best in white-ball cricket over the last 13 months, but it is in the longest format that he can be most dangerous. #OnThisDay 2019 | Jofra Archer's maiden Test five-for 🔥 — The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) August 22, 2022 He returns a bit of an unknown, though. And while England's attack at Headingley conceded more than 800 runs and at times looked toothless on a flat pitch, every member of the pace trio deserves another crack at Edgbaston. Chris Woakes is always better for the gallop and, at 36, grew into the game. He has still not lost a Test under Ben Stokes's captaincy, and Edgbaston is his home ground. Brydon Carse looks England's best paceman right now and, like Archer at his best, can threaten with the new and old ball. And while Josh Tongue made a slow start at Headingley, he finished with a bang. He picked up just one top-six wicket – the vital scalp of Rishabh Pant – but mopped up the tail with ease in both innings, which was a decisive factor in England's victory. England have had so many problems bowling to the tail over the years that Tongue's arrival is most welcome. Still, Tongue seems the likeliest to drop out. Perhaps England will feel another 'kiss the pitch' bowler is required at Edgbaston, rather than a second 'bang it in' quick. If that is the case, Archer will get the nod.
Int'l Cricket Council
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
England urged to be patient with Archer for second India Test
Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace had a good view of Archer's red-ball return and the highly-rated mentor echoed Vaughan's sentiments upon erring on the side of caution with the right-armer's immediate return to the Test arena. England play the second most amount of matches during this ICC World Test Championship cycle and have a highly-anticipated five-match Ashes series at the end of this year to consider when plotting Archer's return. "He bowled with good pace, good accuracy and his body's in good shape which is fantastic," Farbrace said of Archer's efforts against Durham. "We would all love to see Jofra playing for England because he makes England a much better team, and he would give them a much better chance of winning the big series. "But let's look after him, let's be careful with him. The conversation we'd had (with England) was that he would play in this game, and then we'd reassess. "All I will report back to them is that he bowled nicely, he looks like he's in good rhythm, he's bowled 18 overs and it's up to them whether they pick him." The second Test between England and India commences in Birmingham from July 2.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
England told 'don't rush Jofra Archer back' - as Sussex boss Paul Farbrace pinpoints when lethal bowler should play in India series
England should resist the temptation to fast track Jofra Archer for the Second Test at Edgbaston next week. That is the advice they have been given by Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace after his red-ball comeback game at Durham. Farbrace believes that while Archer has impressed in his first County Championship appearance in four years, he needs more time in the middle before he is unleashed on India. 'The conversation we've had was that he would come and play in this game and then he'd be assessed at the end of this game,' said Farbrace, formerly England's assistant coach. 'When I'm asked - and I haven't been yet - all I'll report back is that he looks in great rhythm, he bowled very nicely, it's their decision whether they pick him or not. 'If I was in their situation my honest answer would be that I wouldn't pick Jofra for the next Test match. I would save him for the Third Test match. 'I'd pick the same team for the next game and bring Jofra back into the third game of the series. That's how I would manage him but I'm no longer involved in that. If they choose to ask my opinion that would be my view.' 'I think you have to be careful that he's only bowled 18 overs of red-ball cricket.' Archer picked up 1-32 in the first innings at the Riverside and had Durham's batters ducking and weaving on a slow pitch. But the former England assistant coach says there is no need to rush his return. 'I would be definitely sticking with Chris Woakes for Edgbaston because he knows the pitch inside out. Why change the team? They've just the Test match at Headingley. They've set themselves up nicely for the series,' said Farbrace. 'The whole point of this was that he got some red-ball overs, he bowled with good pace, he bowled with good accuracy and his body's in good shape which is fantastic. 'We'd all love to see Jofra playing for England because England having Jofra available makes England a much better team and gives us a much better chance of winning the big series. 'So let's look after him and be careful with him but it is fantastic to have him back.'
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
England should be ‘careful' and save Archer for third India Test, says Farbrace
The Sussex head coach, Paul Farbrace, says he 'wouldn't pick' Jofra Archer for next week's second Test against India, warning that just 18 overs of bowling with the red ball for the first time in four years may not be enough preparation. 'I would be definitely sticking with Chris Woakes for Edgbaston because he knows the pitch inside out,' the former England assistant coach Farbrace 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. I think you have to be careful that he's only bowled 18 overs of red-ball cricket.' Whether or not England decide they need to boost their firepower before Edgbaston will depend somewhat on their assessment of Archer at the end of the championship game. 'When I'm asked,' said Farbrace, 'I'll report back that he looks in great rhythm, he bowled very nicely.' Archer returned to first-class cricket for the first time in four years on Sunday, in Sussex's County Championship game against Durham at Chester-le-Street – though curious spectators had to wait as captain John Simpson didn't throw him the new ball. He looked in tip-top shape and after a precautionary first spell sent down a fiery second set of six overs, including the wicket of Emilio Gay and some sharp short stuff. There was also a decidedly nippy four overs on Tuesday morning. Neil Killeen, the England bowling coach, watched on from the balcony approvingly and Archer finished the innings with figures of 18 overs, one for 32 – though like all fast bowlers in these midsummer rounds of championship cricket, he was handicapped by the soon-to-go-soggy Kookaburra ball, as well as a placid Durham pitch. 'The whole point of this was that he got some red-ball overs. He bowled with good pace, he bowled with good accuracy, his body is in good shape, which is fantastic, and we'd all love to see Jofra playing for England, because England having Jofra available makes England a much better team, and gives us a much better chance of winning the big series,' said Farbrace. 'So let's look after him and be careful with him. But it is fantastic to have him back.' Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion The coach caused something of a stir last weekend when he chose not to announce Archer's presence in the Sussex squad. 'What I failed to understand is quite the significant media interest there is. Rob Key rang me on Saturday when we were driving here to practise … and said: 'Where's Jof?' I said: 'He's sitting here behind me on the bus.' He said: 'Why's he not in your squad?' And I said: 'I was trying to be clever and look after him.' And then I had half a dozen of the top reporters from the national newspapers ringing me and texting me … Obviously I misjudged that.'
