Jofra Archer Confident Of England Winning The Series Against India; Says Pink-Ball Test Vital To Their Chances

Ahead of England’s pink-ball Test against India in Ahmedabad starting Wednesday, England’s paceman Jofra Archer spoke about their chances in the series. England and India have won one Test each in the ongoing four-match rubber and the day-night Test would form a crucial subplot in the series. Despite losing the second Test comprehensively, Jofra Archer believes that England can win the pink-ball game and subsequently the series.

England will square off in their third day and night Test away from home, with the first two being in Australia and New Zealand – losing it. A victory for England in the third Test would mean that they are nearly guaranteed to take part in the ICC World Test Championship final and will need to draw the fourth Test merely. The hosts have the same task on their hand to reach the WTC final.

Jofra Archer feels that the third Test would be crucial since if England take the lead, they can always draw the fourth one. While the Barbadian admits that every team plays to win, a victory in the pink-ball Test puts them ahead, enabling the visitors to control the final one.

“Oh yes. I think that’s why this next Test is important. If we do go ahead we can always draw (fourth Test). We always play to win but this next one puts us in the driver’s seat, I think we control the last game if we win this one,” Archer said as quoted by India Today.

It feels like a normal pink ball, to be honest: Jofra Archer

While there is plenty of hype surrounding the SG pink ball, which the English team haven’t used yet, Jofra Archer does not find too much difference between those and the Kookaburra and the Dukes. The 25-year old, who missed the second Test, underlined that the SG pink ball stays the same throughout, scruffing a little bit and doing a lot more when the lights come on. Hence, the right-arm speedster is looking forward to feature in the third Test and making England win.

“It feels like a normal pink ball, to be honest. Used the pink ball a couple of times, it’s pretty much the same, it scruffs a little bit, a little bit hard to shine but usually stays a little bit harder. And when the lights come on it does a little bit more than it does during the day so you know it’s pretty consistent I would say. It’s a bit different now because when playing in England it’s still late at 10 o’clock, I think that defeats the purpose of doing it, but it’s going to be new for me,” he added.

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