After a gruelling two-year hiatus plagued by injuries, Jofra Archer has made a triumphant return to cricket, enhancing England’s prospects at the T20 World Cup. His remarkable performance has been a major uplift for the team, irrespective of how far they advance in the tournament.
Just days after narrowly avoiding elimination from the World Cup in Antigua due to a rain delay, England are now on the cusp of securing a semi-final spot. A win against South Africa in St Lucia on Friday would solidify their place and offer redemption from one of their most significant World Cup defeats.
It was South Africa who dealt England a crushing blow in Mumbai last October during the 50-over World Cup, a defeat that sent the reigning champions into a downward spiral. On a sweltering day filled with smog and temperatures over 30°C, England’s decision to bowl first backfired spectacularly. They conceded their highest-ever white-ball score of 399 and crumbled to 170 all out in just 22 overs, marking their largest defeat by runs in an ODI. This result cast significant doubts over the leadership of head coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler.
On that fateful day in Mumbai, Archer was en route back home after another setback in his recovery from elbow and back issues. Without his presence, England’s bowling attack struggled to contain South Africa, and Heinrich Klaasen’s rapid century added to their woes. Buttler was left powerless to stem the flow of runs, yearning for a bowler of Archer’s caliber.
Fast forward to Wednesday night in St Lucia, Archer demonstrated his prowess by delivering the finest over by an English bowler in the tournament. In the pivotal 16th over against the West Indies, Archer extinguished their momentum. With Nicholas Pooran, who had recently scored 98 runs, poised to accelerate at 32 off 27 balls, and with Liam Livingstone conceding 20 runs in the previous over, the West Indies were set for a strong finish at 137 for two.
However, Pooran was unable to connect with Archer’s deliveries, managing only a solitary unconvincing boundary before edging the last ball to Buttler. Archer’s versatility in pace and skilful variations, ranging from slower balls to searing speeds up to 93mph, proved to be Buttler’s trump card. The West Indies managed only 43 runs in the final five overs, failing to recover from Archer’s onslaught. Reflecting on his performance, Archer said he was relieved to execute the game plan perfectly and acknowledged the pivotal nature of that over.
Archer concluded the match with figures of one for 34 on a pitch that allowed little room for error. He was the sole pace bowler to complete his full quota of overs and stands as England’s leading bowler in the tournament, with six wickets at an average of 16 and an economy rate of a run per ball.
Recognised globally for his skill, Archer's return is crucial as England plans a phased reintroduction to Test cricket, aiming to have him fit for the home series against India next summer. Known for his versatility in T20 cricket, Archer can effectively deliver critical overs throughout the innings, utilising his pace variations to great effect.
Archer’s decisive 16th over not only stifled the West Indies’ innings but also kept their total under 200 on a favourable pitch. This allowed England to control the chase smoothly, with Jonny Bairstow and Phil Salt steering the innings with precision, boosting their net run rate ahead of a potential rain-affected match against the USA in Barbados.
As this World Cup is proving to be one for the bowlers, Archer’s reliability in delivering crucial overs is invaluable. Mark Wood, despite being expensive against the West Indies, was preferred over Chris Jordan for his bold and aggressive approach. The unexpected rain in Antigua against Namibia forced England to rethink their XI, inadvertently clarifying their best lineup, with Bairstow and Harry Brook moving up and Will Jacks being dropped. Sam Curran’s inclusion has provided Buttler with additional bowling options, a comforting factor for the captain.
Salt credited assistant coach Kieron Pollard for imparting clarity on pacing a run chase, a strategy Pollard mastered during his playing days. Pollard emphasised breaking down the chase into manageable segments, aiming for eights per over initially and then targeting twelves, to achieve a score of 200. Salt found this approach practical, even during periods when he wasn't striking the ball well, knowing he could capitalise later with calculated risks against the seamers.
South Africa’s unbeaten record in the tournament conceals some narrow escapes against Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Nepal. Their batting has yet to fully click, partly due to challenging pitches in New York, but their bowling lineup remains formidable. With Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Marco Jansen in their ranks, they present a significant challenge. However, Buttler is now equipped to counter with the firepower of Archer and a bolstered English side.