"I don't know what it is, he literally cannot get out": Steve Smith rivalry frustrates Jofra Archer

SAM MORSHEAD AT THE OVAL: In the end, Archer did not manage to dislodge Smith on this occasion, but he did play a major part in England taking the upper hand on day two of the fifth Test

archer13090101

Four matches into his Test career and Jofra Archer has already claimed 22 wickets, a pair of six-fors and has developed an engrossing personal battle with the world’s best batsman.

Archer versus Smith was the standout story from the second game of this Ashes series at Lord’s last month and the rivalry continued just down the road at The Oval on Friday as England’s spearhead quick locked horns with Australia’s freescoring run machine once again.

In the end, Archer did not manage to dislodge Smith, but he did play a major part in England taking the upper hand on day two of the fifth Test.

Both he and Sam Curran bowled with discipline and incision to dismiss the visitors for 225 and help open up a 78-run lead by the close.

Archer took six wickets of his own but not the prized scalp of Smith, who was trapped lbw by Chris Woakes for 80 - an innings which was not quite as dominant as several of his other knocks in this series.

smith130904

Steve Smith made 80 against England at The Oval

“It’s weird, you know. Every time he bats, I don’t know what it is, he literally cannot get out,” Archer said at stumps.

“The ball just lands… if he plays a bad shot, the ball lands in No Man’s Land. For the whole series.

“Obviously he’s a good batter, he’s got a good temperament, but I don’t know what it is: the ball never ever goes to hand.”

Smith said that he was batting with flu on Friday, but he still made it to his 10th consecutive score of 50 or more against England in Tests.

To England’s credit, though, the home side troubled the Australian - especially Curran, whose left-arm angle gave Smith a new problem to compute.

“He actually swing a couple back and hit him on the leg,” Archer said of his teammate’s excellent spell from the Pavilion End in the second session.

“To be honest, he (Smith) didn’t look himself today - it might just be my perception of it but he didn’t look as nailed on as he usually is. I guess we did probably did bowl well today, then. He didn’t seem the same.

VISIT THE ASHES HUB

“We know he’s going to miss one, and today just proves it. Funnily enough, the last person he missed one off was Chris Woakes again. We always felt we had a chance today, it just goes to show when you’re consistent.”

England’s opening pair - Rory Burns and Joe Denly - will return to the crease on Saturday with the scoreboard showing 9 without loss. It is a fine platform from which to push on and tie the series, even if Australia have already retained the urn.

“I’m happy that we didn’t lose a wicket tonight. We have to take that momentum from today, bowling and batting, into tomorrow and hopefully build on the lead,” said Archer.

“It (victory) would mean a lot for the team. There’s still a lot to play for - there’s the Test Championship and even our personal game. Although the Ashes is lost, we’ve still got a lot to play for.”

Comments

No comments received yet - Be the first!

LATEST NEWS

STAY UP TO DATE Sign up to our newsletter...
SIGN UP

Thank You! Thank you for subscribing!

Units 7-8, 35-37 High St, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough, LE128PY

website@thecricketer.com

Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.