Jofra Archer has insisted he is fit enough to play in both the last two Tests against India after helping England to a stunning victory at Lord’s – and has set his sights on the winter tour of Australia.
Archer had impressive match figures of 39.2–7–107–5 in his first Test for four and a half years, taking the key wickets of Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (twice) and Rishabh Pant. And he is raring to go, both at Old Trafford next week and for the series finale at The Oval.
‘I can play the other two if they let me,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to lose this series. I told Keysy [Rob Key] I wanted to play the Test summer and I wanted to play the Ashes.
‘And I think one tick is already there and I will do everything possible in my power to be on the plane in November.’
Meanwhile, England have called up Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson for Manchester, after Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the remaining two Tests with a broken finger.
Dawson played the last of his three Tests in 2017, but has taken 124 championship wickets with his left-arm spin since the start of 2023, as well as scoring seven centuries.
Jofra Archer has urged he is raring to go ahead of England’s crucial third Test at Old Trafford
England narrowly beat India by 22 runs in the second Test after a nail-biting final day at Lord’s
Liam Dawson has been called up to replace Shoaib Bashir, who is ruled out with a broken finger
Hampshire’s left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder took 4-20 in his first international for three years as he helped England’s T20 side to a 21-run victory over West Indies in June.
His superb performance prompted Mail Sport columnist Nasser Hussain to argue that Dawson is a ‘must pick’ for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
‘There has been a lot of people asking for him to come back into the side for a number of years,’ Hussain told Sky Sports in June. ‘He’s done it for Hampshire, for franchises around the world.
‘He thinks like a batter, because he is one. He goes quick, quick with his variations and then lobs one up right on a length. He has that sense of when a batter is coming at him.
‘I thought it was a masterclass of left-arm spin bowling. It’s great to have him back in the side. And with the [2026] T20 World Cup coming up in India and Sri Lanka, he’s got to play.’
