England's Jofra Archer warns Australia after 'world-class' six-wicket Ashes haul

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Standard Sport22 August 2019

Jofra Archer believes he can get even better after a dream six-wicket haul at Headingley saw England bowl Australia out for 179 on a rain-affected first day of the third Ashes Test.

Archer whipped up a frenzy of excitement with a thrilling debut performance in last week's draw at Lord's but was even more effective under murky skies in Leeds, claiming six for 45 as the tourists lost their last eight wickets for 43 in a transformative evening session.

Only 52.1 overs were possible as the weather wrecked the first half of the day but with David Warner's dicey 61 and Marnus Labuschagne's battling 74 the only knocks of any note, that was enough for Archer.

His first performance in England whites saw him crank the speed gun up past 96.1mph and clatter three different batsmen on the head but this was a subtler showing of cerebral seam bowling.

Not once breaching the 90mph barrier and using the short ball sparingly, he instead probed away in more traditional areas, harvesting four outside edges and a deflection into the stumps to toast a maiden five-wicket haul.

Action Images via Reuters

Returning to send down the final over of the day and Australia nine down, he capped a thrilling performance by pinning last man Nathan Lyon lbw.

After his marathon effort in the second Test and his six-wicket haul at Headingley, Archer was looking forward to putting his feet up.

"Firstly, it means I get to rest. We've been in the field all day, it was stop-start all day, which is really annoying," he told BBC's Test Match Special.

"You start to bowl well and then you have to go off and start again. I'm over the moon to get six wickets but equally happy just to get off.

"The ball just started swinging randomly from the over before the Warner wicket. It got a bit more overcast and then from then on the ball was really good.

"We thought it was going to be a repeat of Lord's and losing the first day. But we got a large portion of the bad weather out of the way today."

Even after his impressive effort in finishing off Australia, Archer admitted he could still have been better.

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"I didn't do too much differently from Lord's, the slope there just makes the balls a lot harder to play," he added.

"It was a bit bowler-friendly today, at times it did go flat and the ball stopped swinging but it started again.

"There were a few threes and no sweepers, I'll more than take six for 45 but I can be tidier in the future.

Action Images via Reuters

"It's been really good so far, from the moment I've put the badge on, it's been the happiest day of cricket so far and hopefully plenty more ahead.

"They've got some good bowlers as well so we've got to bat really well tomorrow."

Warner also paid tribute to Archer, who made the difference late in the day.

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"Jofra Archer's record with the red ball is very good. He's got pace and skill," he added.

"I look at him like Dale Steyn, searching for swing and movement early on but then ramping up their speed later.

"That is world-class bowling and England have a great prospect.

"It's always about hitting the right lengths and finding good areas. With the weather forecast it might dry up the wicket so every run is crucial.

"We'd like to dismiss them for under 200 if possible."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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