Stuart Broad tempers Jofra Archer expectation after another T20 masterclass: "He’s a very talented cricketer but he’s not superhuman"

The Barbados seamer collected his best 20-over international figures in the victory over India in Ahmedabad

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Jofra Archer cannot be expected to roll-out matchwinning performances every time he steps onto a cricket field, according to England teammate Stuart Broad.

Broad's comments came after his 25-year-old Test teammate claim his best T20 international figures of 3-23 against India in Ahmedabad.

Archer's inspired spells bookended an underwhelming effort from the hosts, who set just 125 to win the first T20 after being overwhelmed by a polished England display.

After dismissing KL Rahul via just his second delivery he picked up Hardik Pandya and Shadul Thakur to complete his haul.

Despite having only played alongside Archer a handful of times at Test level, Broad is already well-aware of his teammate's talent and has urged onlookers to be realistic.

"He is certainly aware of using the crease more. I talked to him in the last Test match about using the crease to create different angles in red-ball cricket, which will transfer into white-ball cricket as well. 

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"He’s got so many attributes to make him a matchwinner and his confidence is building through the experience of international cricket," he told Sky Sports after England's eight-wicket win.

"Everyone has to be careful of not expecting him to do it in every format every day. He’s a very talented cricketer but he’s not superhuman. He’s someone who deals with confidence, how his body feels in a day, how his rhythm feels. 

"He’s still really young and learning. The experience of playing in India and the IPL in pressure scenarios is only going to make him a better cricketer."

The Sussex and Rajasthan Royals seamer used his column in The Daily Mail this week to hit back at comments made by former England captain Michael Vaughan that he doesn't like playing Test cricket.

That followed accusations that he does not always bowl at full tilt with the red-ball and scrutiny over his body language.

"Jofra does read a lot and is aware of what has been said about him, whether that is positive or negative," Broad added.

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Stuart Broad was part of Sky Sports' coverage of the first T20

"Gone are the days of the Andy Flower-era when we banned newspapers from the changing room. It was quite easy to ban a newspaper because you don’t buy it in the morning, but it is difficult to ban social media because it is there on your phone.

"He is someone who is aware. I’ve not seen that knock his confidence particularly. He’s got that sort of character which you’d argue you need at international level to want to prove people wrong. 

"If someone criticises him he is aware of it and will make it his mission to prove that person wrong. I don’t see that as a, particularly negative thing as long as he takes wickets. 

"It is one thing to feel confident but when you go through a little period which everyone can go through in international cricket of not scoring the runs you want or not taking the wickets you want.

"That’s when it is important not to get too down about what people say about you."

Archer's performance was all the more impressive given he is currently nursing an elbow injury which forced him to miss the fourth India Test.

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Michael Vaughan's comments had provoked a reaction from Archer

Given an exhausting schedule during the rest of 2021 which includes the Indian Premier League, the home India Test series, the T20 World Cup and the Ashes in Australia, it remains to be seen how Archer's fitness will be managed.

"The way I can liken it is it is like going to work with a headache almost," explained Broad, a former England T20 captain who took 65 scalps in 56 games. "You know it is there, you can crack on and do your job, but there is something that stops you from being 100 per cent. 

"He’ll be very aware, especially at a young age, he’ll want to sort that elbow out. He won’t want to play his whole career with strapping and tapping.

"As a player, you go through all the cricket that I am sure has been talked a lot of, if you had to choose to miss something I don’t know what you’d choose. 

"You want to play in India in the India Test series, you want to play IPL because it can make you a better cricketer heading into the T20 World Cup, you want to play India in England in Test match cricket. 

"It might mean missing a few 50-over games in the summer to make sure that elbow is settled for a T20 World Cup and an Ashes series."

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