Michael Atherton has praised England fast bowler Jofra Archer for spearheading England’s superb performance as they beat Australia 326-8 on the opening day of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide.
Archer was criticized for bowling one of his fastest deliveries with the match almost over in the closing stages of England’s second Test defeat in Brisbane, but he increased his speed to nearly 90mph in the scorching heat to take 3-29 from 16 overs.
Archer took the first wicket of Jake Weatherald (18), added Marnus Labuschagne (19) on the first ball after lunch, and Cameron Green (0) two balls later to reduce Australia to 94-4.
“I thought Archer led the attack really well today,” Atherton said on Sky Sports Cricket’s latest Ashes Daily podcast.
“He received a lot of criticism from former Australian players at the Gabba, some of which I understand and I think some of which I don’t.
“Today he was quick in his first spell, I think he averaged 130.3mph. He took wickets in his second spell and bowled his third spell very economically.
“I think he led the offense really well.”
Jofra Archer takes 3 wickets on opening day of 3rd Ashes Test in Adelaide
Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain similarly praised Archer after the first day of the crucial third Test, with England trailing 2-0 in the five-match series.
“I thought the reaction in the last game was a little weird, really,” Hussein said.
“If you look at the history of the game, when fast bowlers know they are only going to bowl five or six overs, they come harder and bowl faster.
“That’s Jofra. He runs in and bowls like he always does. He put in the effort and earned it today. He bowled really well on a very flat surface.”
Was it a missed opportunity for Australia? ‘They blurred their lines’
Australia won the toss and chose to bat first with a ball similar to Adelaide’s. So the final score of 326-8, headlined by director Alex Carey’s debut film Ashes Hundred, meant something of a missed opportunity, according to Atherton.
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Alex Carey has given a cheeky response if he was a ‘pedestrian’ after being asked to sit out during the controversial third Ashes Test
“All the numbers suggest that Australia have only been bowled out for less than 400 once since 2000 when batting first in a day match here,” Atherton said.
“So if we take eight wickets, we will be quite happy with the result.
“And that was the way a couple of meek dismissals took place – Travis Head driving upwards, two to Archer, Labuschagne’s first ball after lunch and Green chipping aimlessly towards midwicket.
“They will think that on a flat pitch (35 degrees, scorching day) they almost had a chance to get past England.
“But they haven’t done that yet and from now on it’s all about England’s first innings.
“They have to fight for Australia and beyond so they don’t have too much to do at the end of the game.”
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Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain talks about how England were able to reignite their Ashes hopes despite Alex Carey’s stunning century on the opening day of the third Test in Adelaide.
Hussain also felt that Australia “fluffed the lines” with their batting on the first day in Adelaide.
“They fought back with a brilliant hundred from Alex Carey, but there were also some soft dismissals,” he said.
“Australia could have stopped this series and ended up 330-4 at the end of the first day.
“England continued to battle on a hot day on a very flat Adelaide pitch, so I think they will take that score home today.
“It could have been better, but we lost some important tosses, so they did pretty well.”
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