"Desperate to get back in a Test shirt for England" - Ben Stokes on Jofra Archer
England Test captain Ben Stokes has stated Jofra Archer's unbridled desire to wear the white jersey again for the national team. However, he understands the need not to risk the pacer at this stage.
Archer had a sensational debut Test series, taking 22 scalps in four matches during the 2019 Ashes. However, the right-arm speedster hasn't played in the format since 2021 and returned to international cricket this year after a lengthy hiatus due to injuries.
Ahead of the second Test against the West Indies, Stokes said he was glad to see Archer back in action in the recent T20 World Cup. However, he doesn't want to be 'giddy' and rush the fast bowler back in the longest format.
Stokes was quoted as saying by The Telegraph:
"I know that Jofra is desperate to get back in a Test shirt for England. He’s very passionate about playing for England and he’s still got a lot of passion to play Test cricket. But he’s been through a very, very tough few years. Watching him to play in the World Cup was obviously great. But I’m very close with Jofra, and it was just great to see him back out on the field."
"It’s about not getting too giddy with it. If we don’t have him for a year, let’s say, but it prolongs his career for another two or three years, that’s what we are looking to do. We’re not looking to rush Jof back," he added.
Archer was decent in the 2024 T20 World Cup, taking eight wickets in eight matches at an average of 19 and an economy rate of 7.22.
"Gus and Woakesy will take the new ball" - Ben Stokes
With James Anderson and Stuart Broad retiring, Ben Stokes claimed that Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes will take the new ball in Nottingham against the West Indies.
The skipper lauded Atkinson for generating appreciable seam movement off the surface.
"Gus and Woakesy will take the new ball. I first saw Gus live in the World Cup in India. He just had all the attributes of a very, very good bowler. A lot of it is to do with the Dukes ball, how it has behaved. There has not actually been that much movement in the air with the new ball. It’s generally been off the surface, hitting the seam and Gus is a very good exponent of that," Stokes said in the same interaction.
Atkinson enjoyed the perfect Test debut at Lord's as he took 12 wickets to fashion England's innings win against the Windies.