Jofra Archer Shines at Lord’s with a Powerful Comeback Performance

Some things are just meant to be, and for Jofra Archer, there is an undeniable bond with Lord’s. Known as the home of cricket, Lord’s was where Archer showcased his best performances — from his thrilling World Cup super over to his unforgettable Ashes spell against Steve Smith in 2019.

On Friday, Archer made his highly anticipated return to Lord’s, delivering a timely reminder of his immense talent. This marked his first appearance at the iconic ground since that second Ashes Test, and he made the most of the opportunity by taking two wickets in England’s dominating 186-run victory in the fourth one-day international, setting the stage for Sunday’s series decider.

“There’s no better place to do it than here,” said the 29-year-old Archer. His third over was his fastest since September 2020, reaching a top speed of 92.9 mph and an average speed of 88.7 mph — his quickest performance across any format when bowling five or more overs in an innings. These raw numbers were certainly encouraging, but even more impressive was the delivery that claimed his first wicket.

Against Mitchell Marsh, Archer produced a full-length, probing delivery that moved away just enough off the Lord’s slope to beat the bat, crashing into the stumps, leaving the Australian captain stunned and wide-eyed. It was a brilliant moment that reminded everyone of why Archer is so highly regarded.

“I’ve been back to this rhythm for a little while now,” Archer said. “I felt it in the World Cup, and I’ve just been taking it series by series.”

The past few years have been anything but easy for Jofra Archer. His promising career was derailed by a series of injuries, the most serious being recurring stress fractures in his back and elbow. Adding to his woes was an unusual cut to his hand sustained while cleaning his fish tank. These injuries forced him to miss the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, as well as last year’s 50-over edition. He hasn’t played a Test since February 2021.

However, Archer’s comeback has been steady. His latest return came in time for the T20 World Cup in June, where he put in a decent, albeit not spectacular, performance compared to his previous high standards. He took 10 wickets in the Caribbean, more than any other England bowler, with an economy rate of 7.21 — the second-best among England’s pace attack.

In the eight T20 internationals he played this year, Archer’s threat with the new ball seemed to have dipped, with just four wickets in eight powerplays. Yet, he remains one of the best bowlers in the world at the death, conceding only 7.62 runs per over in those critical overs. More importantly, Archer played in all eight matches during the World Cup, an important milestone in his recovery journey.

Archer followed that with a full run for Southern Brave in The Hundred, and this month, he has featured in four of England’s six completed white-ball matches against Australia. He began with two wickets in the first T20 at Southampton, then grabbed two more in each of the ODIs at Chester-le-Street and Lord’s.

Lord’s was undoubtedly the high point of his comeback, but his return was not without its challenges. In the first ODI in Nottingham, Archer had a tough outing, conceding 53 runs in six overs, looking understandably rusty. Even at Chester-le-Street, where he started well with figures of 2-36 in his first eight overs, he conceded 31 runs in his final two overs. These were Archer’s first two professional matches where he bowled more than four overs in over 18 months, and some rustiness was to be expected.

“I’m still on the park, and we’re almost approaching the end of the summer,” Archer said after the victory at Lord’s. “So for me, that’s a take. I wanted to play a summer, and then I want to play a year, and then I want to play a few years. So everything is going to plan.”

The sight of Jofra Archer succeeding against Australia was a thrilling reminder of what he is capable of. He even hit Marnus Labuschagne with a bouncer, reminiscent of his fiery spell in 2019. The hope now is that his carefully planned comeback will lead to a Test return and perhaps an appearance in the Ashes series in Australia in the winter of 2025/26.

Archer himself confirmed his desire to wear the England whites again but was non-committal about when that might happen. “You’ve got to speak to Craig [England physio Craig de Weymarn] or Keysy [managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key], to be honest. I’m just going series by series.”

The next chapter of Archer’s comeback will likely take place during England’s white-ball tour of the West Indies in November, which will be sandwiched between the Test team’s tours of Pakistan and New Zealand. It will be another opportunity for Archer to continue his journey of building his form and fitness.

“The World Cup was a good check mark,” said Archer. “This [fourth ODI] was a good check mark. The Caribbean will be another good check mark. I know I’ve been out, it’s been a while, but I am playing cricket again, and I’m just happy.”

For Archer and England fans alike, seeing the fast bowler back in action, delivering at speeds over 90 mph and taking key wickets, is an incredibly encouraging sign. His return is not just about numbers; it’s about witnessing the rebirth of one of cricket’s most exciting talents.

Archer’s performance at Lord’s against Australia showcased his potential to still be one of the world’s most impactful bowlers. The road to full recovery might be long, and there may be more challenges ahead, but Jofra Archer is certainly on the right path. With more opportunities and careful management, the cricketing world can expect to see Archer at his best once again — terrorizing batsmen with his pace and skill, just as he did in 2019.

The next steps in his journey, from the white-ball tour of the West Indies to potentially returning for the Ashes in 2025/26, are exciting prospects for England cricket. For now, fans can rejoice in the fact that Jofra Archer is back, and he looks ready to make an impact on the world stage once again.