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England’s Archer out of second India Test as Broad return ‘excites’ Root
LONDON, Feb 12, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Jofra Archer may have been ruled out of
the second Test against India in Chennai but England captain Joe Root
believes a “fit and firing” Stuart Broad is “ready to go.”
Archer had an injection in his elbow after experiencing discomfort during
the tourists’ 227-run win in the first Test at the same venue.
The 25-year-old, who did not take part in training on Thursday, previously
had elbow problems during last winter’s tour of South Africa, though medical
staff believe the issues are unrelated and expect the fast bowler to be fit
for the third Test of the four-match series in Ahmedabad.
Veteran seamer Broad, who has 517 Test wickets to his credit, was in line
to come in for record wicket-taker James Anderson regardless, having played
one Test in Sri Lanka before making way for his longstanding new-all
colleague.
But England could now opt to play both Broad and Anderson rather than
continue to rotate the duo, although they do have alternative pace options in
Olly Stone and Chris Woakes.
“It’s great he is fit, firing and ready to go ahead of the last three
games” said Root of Broad during a conference call with reporters.
“It will be exciting to see him back out there. Stuart will play and we
expect him to do exactly what he has done in the recent past in the England
shirt.”
Archer’s setback is the second to hit the England camp since they arrived
in India after Zak Crawley slipped on a marble floor and damaged his wrist
ahead of the first Test.
Crawley is set to miss out once again but the top-order batsman has made a
return to the nets. – ‘Proud Kohli’ –
England, however, are still on an ongoing streak of six successive away
Test wins, with Root’s commanding 218 the cornerstone of their victory in
Chennai.
“There is no reason why it can’t continue, in my eyes,” said Root of the
winning run.
“The whole point is that we keep gathering this momentum, keep looking to
get better, keep challenging ourselves.
“When you get your opportunity, when you get to 60, 70, 80 not out, go and
get two hundred. When you have the ball in hand, you have three or four overs
to make a real impact; go and change the game just like Jimmy Anderson did in
that spell on the last day (in Chennai).”
England will have to contend with a crowd for the first time in a year
after local authorities said up to 15,000 fans a day would be allowed into
the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium as well as a fresh pitch and an India side
looking to square the series under fiery captain Virat Kohli.
“He is a proud guy with an unbelievable record in his own conditions as
captain and a batter,” said Root of Kohli.
“He will want to come to the fore in this series sooner rather than later.”
As for the prospect of playing in front of spectators, Root added: “Our
guys will be excited about having crowds back.
“When you come to India they are very passionate about the sport and to get
that interaction with fans is going to be brilliant.
“If anything it will add to the occasion and I’m sure the guys will have
some atmosphere to fall back on and work with in the stadium.
“I’m really looking forward to that side of things. It does not change
anything and actually it will be really beneficial for us as a team to have
that side of international cricket back again.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/1007 hrs