IND vs ENG: Former England pacer Stuart Broad has advised England to consider resting the speedster Jofra Archer for the upcoming fifth and final Test against India at the Kia Oval, issuing a warning to the injury-prone fast bowler.
Archer, after dealing with injuries of various severity for over four years, made a triumphant return to Test cricket at Lord’s Test, taking five wickets across both innings, following up with his key role in the Manchester match, where India mounted a gritty rearguard to secure a draw.
Since being reinforced into the Test fold, the 30-year-old tearaway with his scorching pace has picked up nine wickets across the matches, bowling almost 90 overs in all.
The fourth gruelling Test ended with India and England sharing the honour, courtesy of centuries by Shubman Gill (103), Ravindra Jadeja (107 not out), and Washington Sundar (101 not out) as the visitors frustrated hosts with their batting through on the final day of the contest despite being 311 runs behind.
Broad has issued a warning against overworking Archer, who has a lengthy injury history, and asked the team not to pushed too hard after back-to-back his appearances.
“I think Gus Atkinson has to play. I know he has not had any workload, but we need to see him. He hasn’t been really challenged against top-level opposition in Test cricket yet. [Brydon] Carse looked knackered in the fourth Test. He has been a trier and given absolutely everything, but looks like his legs have left him for this series, so Atkinson gets the nod,” Broad said on Sky Sports.
“[Josh] Tongue started the series, and I know he mainly got lower-order players out, but you probably have a natural replacement for Archer. We can’t not have Archer for four years, bring him back and then bowl him into the ground and not see him for another four years,” he added.
England are caught between a rock and a hard place ahead of the fifth Test against India, torn between going all-out for a series win and protecting its pace artillery with the Ashes in Australia just four months away.