'You've Got To Play Him' - Former England bowler urges inclusion of Jofra Archer for Lord's Test

England’s legendary pacer James Anderson has backed the idea of playing Jofra Archer in the upcoming third Test against India at Lord’s, calling it a crucial moment in the five-match series. With the contest currently level at 1–1 following England's heavy 336-run defeat at Edgbaston, Anderson believes Archer’s inclusion could turn the tide in favor of the hosts. Despite Archer’s long absence from the format, Anderson feels the time is right to unleash the speedster.

"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," Anderson told the ICC. "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."

Archer has not played a Test match since early 2021 but has recently resumed red-ball cricket for Sussex and was with the England squad in Birmingham. The 29-year-old has struggled with injuries for the last few years, but the team's excitement at his involvement and return to fitness has been palpable.

McCullum Optimistic but Non-Committal on Archer Return

While Anderson made a strong case, England head coach Brendon McCullum remained cautious. He confirmed Archer was fit and available but didn’t confirm his selection. “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,” McCullum said.

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McCullum added that the team was hopeful Archer could make a strong comeback. “He's obviously 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, he's able to recapture and also improve on what he's been able to do already in that form of the game.”

Meanwhile, England has named a 16-member squad for the Lord's Test, adding Gus Atkinson to their pace options alongside Jofra Archer. The squad includes Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, and Chris Woakes.