'I think he will...' - Former England legend predicts whether Jofra Archer will play or not at Lord's Test

After England’s two back-to-back poor bowling performances during the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, talks have started on whether their premier pacer, Jofra Archer, should play the third fixture of the series at Lord’s. The right-arm fast bowlers haven’t played the longest format in more than four years, before recently making a red-ball appearance for Sussex a couple of weeks ago. He picked up one wicket in an 18-over spell.

England’s former legendary pacer, James Anderson, reckoned that the Barbados-born must get a chance to turn up in the first London Test of the summer. With the series leveled at 1-1, the home side needs some extra pace in the unit, with none of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue looking lethal in the two games at Leeds and Edgbaston.

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“You could keep trying to build his overs up and play him later in the series, but it could be too late by then. 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.” The leading wicket-taker among the pacers urged during the Tailenders podcast.

James Anderson predicts Jofra Archer’s return for the Lord’s Test

In the last fixture, thanks to captain Shubman Gill’s incredible knocks of 269 and 161, India finished with 587 in the first innings and crossed the 400-run mark in the second. Along with Archer, the home camp is also considering the potential return of Gus Atkinson on the side, alongside Jacob Bethell, after Shoaib Bashir couldn’t handle the Asian side in Birmingham. 

“Jofra is looking fit; he's looking strong and ready to go, and he'll come into calculations. It's hugely exciting. He's buzzing as well. He's been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket. We all know what he's capable of achieving in Test cricket, and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him.” England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, who requested a spicy and bouncy surface, revealed.

The 30-year-old fast bowler has picked up 42 wickets in 24 Test innings at an average of 31.04, thanks to three five-wicket hauls with the best bowling figure of 6/45 in the Headingley Test of the Ashes 2019.