In the 32nd game of The Hundred 2025, Southern Brave met Welsh Fire at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Welsh Fire captain Tom Abell won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping the pitch would get better later. Southern Brave made three changes, bringing in Toby Albert, Danny Briggs and Tymal Mills. Hilton Cartwright, Jofra Archer and Reece Topley missed out, while Welsh Fire kept the same team.

Brave lost both openers early, but Jason Roy turned the innings around with a brilliant 70 from 39 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes. Leus de Plooy added 30 from 21 balls, and in the end, J Thompson (16 runs off 8) and Craig Overton (18 runs off 11) put on a quick stand of 38 runs to take Brave to 167/7.

The chase started badly for Welsh Fire as they lost three wickets for just 13 runs. Captain Tom Abell scored 20 from 15 balls, while Ben Kellaway fought with 33 off 20. Tom Kohler-Cadmore played a stunning knock of 84 from 39 balls, hitting seven sixes, but could not finish the job. Welsh Fire ended on 163/7, losing by just 4 runs.
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Southern Brave and Birmingham Phoenix met in the seventh match of The Hundred 2025 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. The Brave got a big boost with the return of star pacer Jofra Archer, who missed the last game. Birmingham, even after a poor batting show in their first match, stuck with the same playing XI. Brave captain James Vince won the toss and chose to bowl first, expecting the pitch to get better for batting later on.

Birmingham’s batting never really got going. The opening pair of Bn Duckett and Will Smeed failed to build a stand, with Duckett battling against Archer’s short balls before getting out for 20 from 21 balls. Joe Clarke scored 36 from 27, but no one else could lift the run rate. Michael Bracewell bowled brilliantly, taking 3 wickets for just 10 runs, while Archer picked up 2/16 with 14 dot balls. Chris Jordan and James Coles got one wicket each.

Chasing 109, the Brave openers made it look easy. Leus du Plooy stayed unbeaten on 48 from 29 balls, hitting five fours and a six. Skipper James Vince scored 41 from 30 balls with four boundaries. Jason Roy added 18 not out as Brave crossed the target with 19 balls left, winning comfortably by 9 wickets.

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There was a moment during the first hour of the third day between England and India in the fifth Test at the Kennington Oval when the camera found a new player who looked like Jofra Archer. Suddenly, questions popped up among the fans about the individual’s name. Many don’t know the youngster, but he has helped the Indian side at the Gabba during last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. 

It was Nathan Barnwell from Surrey. The 22-year-old is a right-handed all-rounder who has played only one first-class game for Surrey against Middlesex three years ago. His recent fixture was against the Somerset side in the 2nd XI encounter, as he smashed 46 runs and picked up five wickets with the ball.

See Also: [WATCH] Akash Deep celebrates maiden Test half-century during ENG vs IND 5th Test

Barnwell was in Queensland last year when the bowling coach of the Indian side, Morne Morkel, invited him to their net session. He bowled a few deliveries to then number three batter, Shubman Gill, before earning praise from the former Protea pacer. Barnwell idolizes Michael Holding and Jofra Archer.

Jofra Archer lookalike Nathan Barnwell aims to play for England and in the IPL

The connection between Barnwell and Morkel was established when the lanky South Africa-born went on to play for the club in 2022. ‘I wasn’t signed then, but I was in the academy when he was there in his last year. So, I got to learn about him back then, and it was good to catch up. That’s the first time I’ve seen him since then. So, good to catch up with him. I wasn’t talking too much about bowling, just about what I’m doing out here, my plans, stuff like that.’ He said to RevSportz.

Barnwell’s parents re from Guyana, but he was born in South London. He had already picked tips from Gus Atkinson and Chris Jordan to aim for the future. He found a good pace and bounce off the surface, which pushed Ryan Ten Doeschate to inquire about his availability for the future nets of the Indian side.

‘You don’t often get to do it. To have a good spell against someone who’s at the top of their game, at the top of the world, is very fun. I’m working on a few things, so it’s good to try them out against him. But he’s a great player, and I want to keep watching.’ Barnwell said, who has ambitions of playing for England and featuring in the IPL.

England will be without their regular Test captain, Ben Stokes, for the fifth and final Test of the summer against India at the Kennington Oval in South London. The series stands at 2-1 ahead for the home side. Ollie Pope replaces Stokes with the leadership duties after the all-rounder got ruled out with a biceps tendon injury. Apart from this, they have decided to rest Jofra Archer.

Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse will take a break after their heavy workloads with the bat, while Liam Dawson has been left out. Jacob Bethell and Joe Root will be the two spin-bowling options on a surface known to help them. Chris Waokes is retained to lead an inexperienced pace bowling attack.

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The two Surrey players, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton, make their way back into the side along with Josh Tongue. Stokes, who bowlers 11 overs on the final day with a hamstring and shoulder injury, explained that he was struggling with a biceps tendon injury in his right upper arm. It’s later understood to be a grade three tea which ruled him out of the decider.

England rest Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer for ENG vs IND 5th Test against India

Ben’s injury will be a massive blow for the Three Lions given that the right-arm pacer is the leading wicket-taker of the series with 17 scalps besides scoring his first century in two years in Manchester. But it’s also a concern as the Ashes 2025/26 trip down under is getting near this winter.

The 27-year-old Atkinson, who picked up a hamstring injury during the one-off Zimbabwe Test, has returned to the eleven after playing for Surrey’s second XI side. In 12 Tests, he has bagged 55 wickets at an average of 22.30 and has drilled 352 runs at a strike rate of nearly 80 with a century at Lord’s.

The pitch is expected to be a seam-friendly. Moreover, Surrey have not fielded any frontline spinner in most of their County games in the last couple of seasons. That shows the reason to leave Dawson and get Bethell in the eleven.

England’s playing XI for fifth Test against India

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Chris Woakes, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue.

Workload management has become one of the major talking points of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar trophy. Due to the issue, Jasprit Bumrah's availability is under doubt for the England vs India 5th Test of the 5-match series.

The match is crucial for both teams. England, with a 2-1 lead, currently has the upper hand to claim the trophy. On the other end, if India loses, then they will have to go home with another Test series defeat. Like Jasprit Bumrah, another star pacer's workload is now under the scanner. Former England international Stuart Broad aired his concerns about Jofra Archer, who made his Test comeback after 4 years, through the ongoing series.

The England legend said that the team management should protect Archer from any further injury. Back-to-back matches can increase injury threats. "We can't not have Archer for four years, bring him back, and then bowl him into the ground and not see him for another four years." If England puts him out of the playing eleven, then who will take his place? Team England bolstered their squad by including the pace bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton. Along with Archer, Chris Woakes, Captain Ben Stokes, and Brydon Carse have been playing relentlessly.

Read More: 'If Jasprit Bumrah plays...', Former India opener shapes India playing XI for 5th Test

According to Broad, "Carse looked knackered in the fourth test. He's been a trier and given absolutely everything, but it looks like his legs have gone. So Atkinson gets the nod."

Will Gus Atkinson get an opportunity to shine?

The former cricketer shouted for Gus Atkinson. He felt that the fast bowler had yet to prove himself against the big teams. The Oval Test can be the perfect stage for him to showcase his talent. 

"I think Gus Atkinson has to play. I know he has not had any workload, but we need to see him. He hasn't been really challenged against top-level opposition in Test cricket yet," Broad said.

Shubman Gill soaked up the applause and celebrated his fourth century of the five-match series against England during the fourth fixture at Old Trafford in Manchester. But India would have loved to see their captain be at the crease for a longer period, at least for another hour till the second new ball gets old.

In most cases, a celebration of any landmark or the period where the breaks come, players tend to lose concentration. This series has become a routine. Whether it’s the Tea break or lunch, India have lost wickets out of nowhere, and it continues in Manchester as Gill got an outside edge to Jofra Archer into the hands of the wicket-keeper.

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Earlier, the Punjab-born had already got one chance when an uppish drive to Ben Stokes was nearly caught by Ollie Pope, who timed his jump rightly, but the speed of the delivery burst through the soft fingers of the Surrey batter. Later, a nothing ball, short and wide, got the outside edge of Gill, who went back to the shades for 103 runs in 238 balls.

Watch: Jofra Archer dismisses Shubman Gill during ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

It could have been a disaster for the visitors who had nearly lost Ravindra Jadeja on the very next delivery. The southpaw got an outside edge into the slip region, as fortunately, Joe Root dropped the catch after three juggles on his hand. It was nearly a replica of the fourth day when they lost both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan on successive balls.

Jofra Archer gets the BIG wicket of Shubman Gill 👊

India four down!

🇮🇳 2️⃣2️⃣3️⃣-4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/EmmbbQT0JP

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 27, 2025

India lost KL Rahul early in the morning session. The ball from Ben Stokes didn’t bounce as the batter expected and was hit on his knee. The fast bowler went for cerebral while Rahul didn’t even bother thinking of a review, which could have been dead, hitting the middle of middle stump.

India would look to take a lead in the third innings and take some time out of the contest. They are still not in the driver’s seat, but if they can show resilience and grit with the bat in the two sessions, they can keep the fifth Kennington Oval Test in South London alive.  

Jofra Archer's banger ended Rishabh Pant's fightback. The vice-captain of Team India came to bat on Day 2 with an injured foot and scored an essential half century. He was in full swing against the England bowlers.

Pant came back to the field to bat on Day 2, after retiring hurt on Day 1. Before Pant's arrival, BCCI on social media had already formed the opinion that he will not be able to keep because of the injury on his right foot. The southpaw departed after a well-made 75-ball, 54-run innings.

In the meantime, he equalized a record of former international Virendra Sehwag. Pant got his 90th test over the boundary and leveled the record made by the former India opener. He smashed Archer for a huge 6. Later, Archer took revenge by claiming the aggressive batter's scalp. The delivery, which cost Rushabh's wicket, was a good length delivery, with the seam pointed towards the left-handed.

Read More: [WATCH] ENG vs IND 4th Test: Ben Duckett's quick sharp catch at gully dismissed Shardul Thakur

Off stump went for a walk

Rishabh went to defend it with a straight bat but was defeated by the pace and probably by a little bit of low bounce. The off stump went for a walk, and Rishabh Pant was bowled out. He was the ninth batter of India's first innings, and by then, the score was 349, with only one wicket in hand. The visiting side concluded their first innings with 358 runs on the board, definitely a fightable total. 

No better ASMR in cricket 🔊

Jofra Archer has Rishabh Pant's poles flying ✈️

🇮🇳 3️⃣4️⃣9️⃣-9️⃣ pic.twitter.com/ja65MyYP6k

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025

The wicket of Old Trafford still has something to offer for the bowlers. Shubman Gill and his boys now have to fight back through their bowling. It is a must-win match for them. As England won the Lord's Test, they are leading the 5-match series by 2-1, and the ongoing game could prove decisive to confirm the fate of the series. 

England pacer Jofra Archer made his Test comeback at Lord’s after four years. Due to several serious back and elbow injuries over the last few years, the 30-year-old couldn’t play in the longest format of the game. It took him some time, but Archer is now ready to be a regular member of the Test squad. He played an important role in the close 22-run win that gave England a 2-1 lead in the series. In the third Test against India, he took five wickets and later said that he wants to play in the last two matches in Manchester and at The Oval.

The 30-year-old took a wicket with the third ball of his comeback, then picked up three more in India’s second innings as England defended a target of 192. He bowled 39.2 overs in total and kept a high pace throughout – his average speed never dropped below 87mph, and he bowled 41 balls over 90mph.

However, it is not clear if the team management will let Archer play both matches. The England team has been very careful with the pacer. It is likely that the Ben Stokes-led side will not play Archer in both Tests and will try to manage his workload.

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Meanwhile, the Barbados-born fast bowler also said that he wants to win the current series and will do everything possible to be on the flight to Australia for the Ashes later this year.

“I Will Do Everything to Be on the Plane to Australia” – Archer

“I can play the other two if they let me. I don't want to lose this series. I said I wanted to play the Test summer and I wanted to play the Ashes. One tick is already there, and I will do everything possible in my power to be on the plane to Australia in November,” Archer said, as quoted by the BBC.

Jofra Archer said, "I can play the other two Tests against India if they let me. I don't want to lose this series. Also I will do everything possible in my power to be on the plane in November for Ashes". pic.twitter.com/ZO1WnZWb7n

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 15, 2025

'The Mentality Suits Me,' Says Archer

The Lord’s Test was the first time Archer played a red-ball game under coach Brendon McCullum. Talking about it, the pacer said that the team has played an exciting brand of cricket lately, and the mindset really suits him.

Archer’s first game under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum went really well, and he is happy that the long rehab work paid off.

“Test cricket was always going to take the most time to come back to. I played 50-over and T20 cricket for the last one and a half to two years. You always just wondered… The guys have played some really exciting cricket since Baz [McCullum] took charge. I think the team’s mindset under Baz fits the way I like to play. So, I just couldn’t wait to get back and actually do it without needing any push.”

Just after their narrow 22-run victory against India during the third Test of the five-match series at Lord’s, the home captain, Ben Stokes, drops a bombshell on how his premier pacer, Jofra Archer, was confused on the fifth morning of the red-ball fixture around the dates of the 2019 World Cup final and the 2002 NatWest final, both taking place at the iconic venue. 

On the morning of July 14, the sixth anniversary of the 2019 50-over World Cup, Stokes asked Jofra Archer about his feelings on the date when he bowled the super over against New Zealand during their win by the barest of all margins. And the Barbados-born turned back to mix it up with Sourav Ganguly’s 2002 NatWest final.

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‘I just said to him this morning, I said ‘You know what today is?’ And there was that, you know, the highlight package, when India knocked off like 300 odd back in the day when Ganguly (signals waving his shirt), and he thought that was the World Cup final as well. He thought that was six years today, genuine, and I was like, ‘No, the World Cup that we won? And he went, ‘Oh that one!!’ Absolute beauty that boy.’ Stokes revealed the story.

Watch: Know how Jofra Archer confuses the 2019 World Cup win with the 2002 NatWest final

Jofra made a remarkable return to the red-ball format after nearly four years. In the first innings, he drew first blood with the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal to lift the London crowd on their feet. In the second innings, he clicked a few vital wickets in the form of Rishabh Pant before grabbing an absolute return catch of Washington Sundar.

Ben Stokes on Sourav Ganguly's tshirt celebration at Lord's Balcony.pic.twitter.com/FKd066BnyH

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) July 14, 2025

Archer was also on the firing line of bowling the super over of the 2019 World Cup. Even after going for a six in the early part of the over, he held his nerve to keep them in the hut. The last ball was fired up leg side on the legs, and Martin Guptill couldn’t make the double and felt short of inches from lifting the title.

In the case of the 2002 NatWest final at the same ground, India was not in the chase, losing five wickets before 50% completion of the target. That was when Mohammed Kaif and Yuvraj Singh put up a great partnership before the lower order carried them over the line as Ganguly made the famous shirt-waving in the balcony.

Emotions oozing out from the gallery of lords. Crowds took off from their seats, a flying Jofra Archer showing his brilliant bowling and great athleticism to eliminate India from the match. The England pacer took back-to-back wickets, first to dismiss Rishabh Pant and then Washington Sundar.

Sundar was in total disbelief to see what Jofra did in front of him. India's all-rounder's facial expression explained the pressure and the situation Team India has been experiencing from the beginning of Day 5. It could be an easy win match for the Shubman Gill-led side if England came on the field without Jofra Archer. But sometimes the reality can be so cruel to believe.

For more than four years, Jofra was out from Test cricket because of various injury reasons. He marked the ongoing Lord’s Test match to set the stage for his return in the whites. Bowling with pace and movement on a five-day-old surface is ever an easy task to do for a pace bowler. But Archer’s mettle is different; he wants to make his comeback remarkable in every aspect of the match.

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The wicket of Sundar 

Washington Sundar tried to guide the ball towards the leg side. But the delivery, which got some movement, got a leading edge. Archer, controlling his follow-through towards the path of the ball, dove to his right side to grab the ball with his right hand. Glorious bowling followed by an exciting fielding effort. Sundar departed for a duck, facing only 4 balls. Archer got his 3^rd wicket of the decisive innings of the match, and Team India lost their 7^th wicket.

watch the delivery here

JOFRA ARCHER WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL CAUGHT AND BOWLED. 🤯pic.twitter.com/9RFYSFMX9i

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 14, 2025

The wicket of Rishabh Pant:

On the 5^th delivery of the 24^th over, the pacer pitched a good length delivery on the line of the wicket; the seam position of the Duke ball hinted at a possible outswing to the left-handed batter. Pant, with a straight bat, tried to oppose the ball, but he was never in the line of the delivery. Archer’s seaming delivery went straight to take the off-stump for a walk.