LONDON: Jofra Archer will make his long-awaited return to Test cricket at Lord’s on Thursday after more than four years of injury-induced exile.Archer was included in the England side named on Wednesday for the third Test against India, returning in place of fellow fast bowler Josh Tongue in the only change to the team that suffered a 336-run thrashing by India at Edgbaston as the tourists levelled a five-match series at 1-1.

Lord’s holds happy memories for the 30-year-old Archer, who bowled the World Cup-winning ‘Super Over’ there in 2019 before returning later that season to make a stunning Test debut against Australia.

He floored Australia star batsman Steve Smith with a 92mph bouncer that led to Marnus Labuschagne becoming Test cricket’s first concussion substitute.

Archer has played just one County Championship match for Sussex this season, in which he bowled 18 overs and took one wicket.

But a week of training with the England squad in Birmingham has convinced team management he is now ready to add to his 13 Test caps in the Lord’s Test.

“Really exciting. I think it’s great for English fans but also for Jof,” England captain Ben Stokes, speaking at a pre-match press conference at Lord’s, said on Wednesday.

“It’s been a long time coming for him... Jof can be pretty proud of himself that he’s managed to get himself back here after two pretty big injury scares.”

England will hope he can give their faltering attack a much-needed cutting edge.

Tongue drops out despite being the top wicket-taker in the series with 11, but fellow pacemen Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes keep their places despite toiling for a combined 9-605 across the opening two Tests.

Stokes added: “We’ve had two tough games, lots of time in the field and got through some overs as a bowling unit. Back-to-back Test matches, you feel it’s the right time to get fresh legs in.”

Asked if Archer could get back to his best following such a lengthy absence from Test cricket, Stokes replied: “I don’t think there’s any reason we can’t see Jofra Archer operating at a level that we saw here at Lord’s on his debut.

“If we did not think he was ready, he would not be selected.”

It is two years since Stokes made his last Test-match hundred, against Australia at Lord’s. Since then the 34-year-old has been dismissed for scores of 15 or fewer 17 times in 33 Test innings.

“It’s two years ago so I’m pretty over it now,” said Stokes when asked about his blistering 155 in a 2023 Ashes clash.

“Hopefully, a score is around the corner.” And having seen India bounce back from defeat in the series opener, Stokes insisted England could do the same at Lord’s.

“The results were always going to ebb and flow because it’s two very good teams going at it,” he said. “We respect our opposition whoever they may be... We’ll be coming out this week and trying to hit them hard and come out with a win.”

DUKES BALLS ‘IRRITATING’

Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant said the Dukes balls being used in the current Test series against England are losing their shape very quickly and cannot be good for the game.

India captain Shubman Gill was the first to criticise the balls after his team levelled the five-match series at Edgbaston.

“I feel it’s a big problem because the ball is getting out of shape,” Pant told reporters.

“When you see the ball, you can see it’s de-shaped but the rules are such ... it’s not up to the players.”

India, despite having rested pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, took 20 wickets at Edgbaston where they racked up 587 in the first innings and declared their second on 427-6.

Pant could not recall another series where the ball lost its shape so quickly.

“It’s definitely irritating for the players because every ball plays differently,” said the 27-year-old.

“When it becomes softer it’s not doing much but as soon as they change the ball it starts to do enough.

“As a batsman, you keep adjusting to it but at the same time, I feel it’s not good for cricket eventually.”

India will take a late decision on whether to play left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav at Lord’s but Bumrah’s return is a major boost for the tourists.

Asked for his view on what made Bumrah, arguably the best all-format bowler of his generation, so special, Pant said, “I think everything -- how accurate he is and the way his mind works. He’s just amazing.”

While batting against Bumrah is a tricky task, keeping to him is not a cakewalk either, Pant said.“I think it’s more difficult for the wicketkeeper behind the wicket than for a batsman, especially in England,” Pant said.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2025