“I just feel like you've got to play him” - James Anderson backs Jofra Archer’s inclusion for Lord’s Test

Former England pacer and analyst James Anderson has vouched for Jofra Archer’s selection in the playing XI for the upcoming Lord’s Test, scheduled to take place from Thursday, July 10. Notably, the series is levelled at 1-1 at the moment.

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It’s important to note that Archer hasn’t played a Test since February 2021 due to a series of injuries. Interestingly, he made his first-class return for Sussex after a gap of four years and later he was included in the Test squad vs India.

"You could keep trying to build his overs up and play him later in the series, but it could be too late by then," Anderson told the Tailenders podcast.

"I think he will play. He's played one game for Sussex, he was around the team at Edgbaston and bowled a bit. I just feel like you've got to play him. It's too crucial a game not to,” he added.

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Furthermore, England head coach Brendon McCullum has also stated that Archer is fit enough and available for selection for the third Test. Interestingly, England have also added pacer Gus Atkinson to their squad after he recovered from a hamstring injury.

"Jofra is looking fit, he's looking strong, he's looking ready to go, and he'll come into calculations. It's hugely exciting. He's buzzing as well. He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket,” McCullum said after the second Test.

"We all know what he's capable of achieving in Test cricket and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and also improve on what he's been able to do already in that form of the game,” he added.

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England squad for third Test vs India: Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson.

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