Archer on his body and the duress it can take saying he is confident and that he’s ready for Test comeback.
According to Jofra Archer, the psychological strain of playing four-day cricket again after a four-year break has been more difficult than the physical strain. If he is called up later this summer, he is certain that his body will be prepared for Test cricket.
After dismissing Emilio Gay leg before wicket for his first first-class wicket in 1,501 days on the second day of play, Archer told Sussex Cricket at Chester-le-Street that the experience had been “mentally tough” on a surface that provided the bowlers with very little lateral movement.
“I’m glad to just finish a day of four-day cricket,” he said. “Last time I played [against Kent at Hove in May 2021], I just made it to tea, so I’m glad to go all the way today.
“When the scoreboard got to 50 overs, I was, like, ‘Jesus, time to come off now!'” he joked. “But it wasn’t too bad. Doing it session-by-session was okay, but the pitch didn’t do much.
“Today could have been the longest day I’ve ever had, and not because it’s red-ball cricket,” he added. “I’ve been in the field for two-and-a-half days before, and it still didn’t feel as long as today. When the ball is moving, and you’re getting something off the pitch, it feels a bit more exciting.”
Crucially for Archer’s aspirations to rejoin the Test team, for which he last played during the 2020–21 tour of India, his body has not yet responded to the extra strain of red-ball cricket.
“It felt all right today,” he said. “I’ve been playing for a year, and bowling for two years, including the build-up, so everything is fine.
“There have been no restrictions on this game,” he added, when asked if the ECB had requested that he limit his workload. “Whatever I did, I did. Obviously there can’t be a limit if you’re looking at a Test match. They were in the field for a day-and-a-half [in the first Test at Headingley].
“You can’t have restrictions if you’re potentially going to go in. You put your body through as much pressure, safely, as possible, to put yourself in the best position.”