- July 10, 2025
It has been a long, arduous journey back. But Jofra Archer is ready to put the whites back on, and where better to start than the Home of Cricket—Lord’s. The paceman is back in England’s Test XI after four and a half years as a player in and out of the Test, only confirmed just one day before the flashpoint Test against India, with the series at 1-1, and emotions bubbling over following a punishing defeat at Edgbaston. You cannot beat a kind of story in Test cricket like Archer’s return. This is not just a piece of selection news; this is a statement.
The Comeback That Hits Different
We’ve witnessed comebacks before, but there is something strangely ‘cinematic’ about Jofra Archer’s return. The man who tormented batters in the 2019 Ashes with searing pace and pinpoint hostility has fought through injury after injury since. From elbow surgeries to unexpected setbacks in the IPL, Archer’s return to red-ball cricket has been far from straightforward.
And now England are handing him the ball at the beginning of a tied series against one of the hottest Test teams in the world. A gutsy move—though arguably, a well-justified one. The pace battery England had at Edgbaston looked toothless as Shubman Gill took the mickey out of them. The advent of Archer’s raw pace, bounce, and ability to unsettle any batting order brings back an edge that the home team desperately needed.
Out Goes Tongue, In Comes Firepower
The only alteration to England’s XI sees Jofra arrive in for Josh Tongue—a selection decision that has caused a few raised eyebrows. After all, Tongue is the leading wicket-taker in the series, with 11 wickets to his name. But cricket selection is more than statistics; it is about moments, situations, and the psychological effects a bowler like Archer brings into play.
India’s top order has been increasingly comfortable against England’s right-arm medium-fast options. Bringing in Archer means England have a player who can race towards the 90mph mark, break partnerships with brute force, and exploit the slope at Lord’s with his natural angle. In just 13 Tests, Archer has made his mark with three five-wicket hauls. He knows how to perform on big stages.
Pressure Cooker at Lord’s—And Archer’s Timing is Immaculate
This is not your typical Test match; this is a potential series-defining match. Under Ben Stokes, boldness and bravery have become defining traits of England’s play. But boldness requires balance, and that is exactly what Jofra adds. His mix of unpredictability and variety to an otherwise workmanlike attack is so valuable.
Throw in Woakes’ swing, Carse’s straight-line threat, and Bashir’s spin, and this England XI suddenly feels a lot more dangerous, though what that means now is up for debate. The more significant impact is that Archer’s return could stir an emotional charge in the dressing room. He is not just a weapon with the ball, but a source of energy and belief off of it.
So here we are – Lord’s, a drawn series, and Jofra Archer charging in with the red ball again. It’s almost fairy-tale cricket. Whether we see him ignite the ground in the way we saw him doing to Smith in 2019, or he plays a quiet, yet important role, what we do know is England are betting big on their X-factor. And for fans, that is a bet worth watching.
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