Jofra Archer warned Australia of his red-ball exploits two days ahead of facing them in the second Ashes Test of 2019 at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. The Barbados born pacer, who bowled England to a maiden World Cup glory, is expected to make his much-awaited Test debut with James Anderson ruled out with injury. Archer took to social media to make a bold wish and if his recent tweets and predictions are an example to go by, then Australia might be sniffing danger. From his series of successful CWC 2019 predictions to Prithvi Shaw’s dope ban or Matthew Wade bowling, the faster bowler has already shown the world his astonishing prophetic skills. Jofra Archer’s Prophetic Tweet on Article 370 Is Fake; Don’t Fall for English Bowler’s Morphed Post Going Viral.
Archer was named in England’s Ashes squad for the opening two Test matches but was left out of the playing XI for the opening game which England lost by 251 runs at Edgbaston. But with Anderson ruled out of the second Ashes Test, Archer is expected to make his Test debut.
Anderson, who skipped the one-off Ireland Test to fully recover and be ready for the Ashes lasted just four overs in the opening hour of play on the first day before limping off the ground with a suspected calf injury. It was later confirmed that the veteran England pace spearhead had aggravated the tear in his right calf, which had kept him out some matches in the English county.
Jofra Archer's Lord's Wish
Would love to get on the honours board 👀
— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) August 12, 2019
England’s World Cup hero, Archer, is therefore expected to take his place in the playing XI for the second Ashes Test and the 24-year-old immediately let his intentions be known. “Would love to get on the honours board,” tweeted Archer on Monday, two days before England face Australia in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. It might look like just some other wish by a young aspiring cricketer but with Archer it’s different. He has already shown the world that every tweet of his carry a link to things that have occurred in the past or is happening in the present or may happen in the future.
Australia, therefore, will aim to be ready to tackle England’s new lethal pace weapon. Many Aussie batsmen, including centurion Steve Smith from the opening game, was seen practising hard to tackle the 24-year-old pacer. Archer also proved his fitness to the England medical staff and gave them signs that he was ready with 6/27 figures for Sussex in a 2nd XI game against Gloucestershire before hitting a century in the same game to prove that not just a bowler, England will have an additional batsman if he is picked.
Meanwhile, Australia currently leads the five-match Ashes Test series 1-0 having thrashed hosts England by 251 runs in the opening game at Birmingham. The second Test match will be played at Lord’s and is scheduled to begin on August 14, 2019 (Wednesday). Both teams will also face each other in three more games at Leeds, Manchester and at The Oval in London.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 12, 2019 09:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).