- Jofra Archer made his red-ball comeback for Sussex against Durham
- Coach Paul Farbrace says England should resist temptation to call him up
- He believes Brendan McCullum and Co would be better using Archer in third Test
England should resist the temptation to fast track Jofra Archer for the Second Test at Edgbaston next week.
That is the advice they have been given by Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace after his red-ball comeback game at Durham.
Farbrace believes that while Archer has impressed in his first County Championship appearance in four years, he needs more time in the middle before he is unleashed on India.
‘The conversation we’ve had was that he would come and play in this game and then he’d be assessed at the end of this game,’ said Farbrace, formerly England’s assistant coach.
‘When I’m asked – and I haven’t been yet – all I’ll report back is that he looks in great rhythm, he bowled very nicely, it’s their decision whether they pick him or not.
‘If I was in their situation my honest answer would be that I wouldn’t pick Jofra for the next Test match. I would save him for the Third Test match.
‘I’d pick the same team for the next game and bring Jofra back into the third game of the series. That’s how I would manage him but I’m no longer involved in that. If they choose to ask my opinion that would be my view.’
‘I think you have to be careful that he’s only bowled 18 overs of red-ball cricket.’
Archer picked up 1-32 in the first innings at the Riverside and had Durham’s batters ducking and weaving on a slow pitch.
But the former England assistant coach says there is no need to rush his return.
‘I would be definitely sticking with Chris Woakes for Edgbaston because he knows the pitch inside out. Why change the team? They’ve just the Test match at Headingley. They’ve set themselves up nicely for the series,’ said Farbrace.
‘The whole point of this was that he got some red-ball overs, he bowled with good pace, he bowled with good accuracy and his body’s in good shape which is fantastic.
‘We’d all love to see Jofra playing for England because England having Jofra available makes England a much better team and gives us a much better chance of winning the big series.
‘So let’s look after him and be careful with him but it is fantastic to have him back.’
