Jofra Archer’s stunning return to Test cricket ignited a wave of emotions as he picked up five wickets over both innings to help England beat India at the Lord’s on Monday.
The first emotion for the English pacer, himself, was perhaps relief.
“It’s been a long journey, and I can't tell you about the amount of keyboard warriors there have been over the past three years or so,” Archer told Sky Sports.
Back in England whites for the first time since February 2021, Archer returned to the scene of his iconic Ashes debut with a performance full of pace, control and character.
His match figures of 5/107 helped trigger a dramatic final-day collapse that saw India bowled out for 170 in a tense chase of 193.
“It was pretty hectic for a first game back,” Archer told the BBC. “I probably bowled a few more overs than I thought I would've, but every single one mattered, so I’m not too fussed about it.”
Among the standout moments was his searing 144kmph delivery to uproot Rishabh Pant’s off stump. “He came down the track a few balls before and that annoyed me a little bit,” Archer revealed. “So when the ball nipped down the slope, I was so grateful for that.”
Archer also produced a brilliant one-handed return catch to dismiss Washington Sundar for a duck, underlining his all-round impact on the field.
England captain Ben Stokes praised the lift Archer gave both the team and the crowd.
“You can just see what happens around the ground when he gets announced,” Stokes said. “The crowd lifts, the atmosphere changes, the batters feel it when he comes on.
“To back up spells like he has done is going to do him the world of good. To get through this game unscathed and bowl the way he did is massive for the mental side of what it takes to be a Test match bowler.”
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Former England captain Michael Vaughan was also generous with his praise.
“He bowled with that pace and X factor,” Vaughan told the BBC.
Archer had been in contention for the first two Tests of the series but was sidelined by a right thumb injury. He returned to first-class action with Sussex last month and was subsequently cleared to lead England’s pace attack at Lord’s.
Now, with Old Trafford and The Oval Tests to come, Alastair Cook believes Archer is central to England’s plans.
“He’ll settle into that bowling group England need. When you have bowlers of that pace, the impact for a captain, not only on the game but the crowd, is so important."
The 30-year-old fast bowler had shown glimpses of his rhythm earlier this year while turning out for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, where he finished as the team’s joint-highest wicket-taker with 11 scalps.
