2019 World Cup: Is Jofra Archer England's biggest weapon?
The pace sensation Jofra Archer is all set to start for England against South Africa in the ICC World Cup 2019 opener at the Oval on Thursday. The right-arm pacer, who made his England debut earlier this month against Ireland, could lift England further in the World Cup. Is Archer England's biggest weapon, this term? We decode.
Archer adds more depth and quality in bowling
England have played extremely well in ODIs since the 2015 World Cup, as they enter the tournament as clear favorites. However, till now, their bowling lacked the cutting edge. On several occasions, the pacers leaked runs. The side managed to win games mainly due to their batting. Now with Archer in the mix, England's bowling looks sharper. He is a lethal asset for them.
A look at his journey till now
The 24-year-old witnessed a stunning rise through England's domestic ranks. Notably, he was lucky after the English board changed the residency rules for players from seven years to only three in 2018. He performed well and won hearts with his performance in the Indian Premier League for Rajasthan Royals. The Sussex player finally made his debut against Ireland in an ODI this month.
Here's what others have said about him
English players are excited regarding Archer. "He makes things happen, which is a brilliant quality to have. It is exciting to see another option to add to what is a growing bowling group," said Joe Root. "He is very young with a lot of cricket ahead and if he continues to improve throughout his career he is a very exciting prospect," said Eoin Morgan.
A look at Archer's pace and variations
Archer is capable of clocking impressive speeds, as he constantly clocks over 145 km/h. Further, he is a smart bowler who is good at containing batsmen during the middle phase of the game. His variations include slower balls, cutters, yorkers with a nagging line and length. Meanwhile, the player is also decent with the bat down the order. Overall, he is a complete package.
What will Archer bring for England?
Archer doesn't buckle under pressure and is brilliant in reading situations. He is the modern day bowler who has many attributes up his sleeves. Archer is likely to share the ball with pacers Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood. England are a close-knit group and although there will be pressure on him, one expects the talented cricketer to rise and perform at the biggest stage.
