Smooth, persistent, quick: Jofra Archer's promising Test entrance will excite England

SIMON HUGHES AT LORD'S: Joe Root set a field reminiscent of the great West Indian attacks of the 1990s – three slips, two short legs and barely anyone in front of the wicket

Jofra Archer’s Test debut must be the most anticipated since Graeme Hick’s almost 30 years ago. Hick, you may remember, had around 17,000 first class runs and a highest score of 405 not out when he finally qualified for England.

Archer has little in the way of substantial statistics, though batting and bowling averages of 31 and 23 suggest a fair level of talent with bat and ball.

It is more an impression with Archer that he could be a special Test player after his impact in the World Cup – 20 wickets, one delivery topping 95mph, helmets clanged, techniques exposed and his nerve held in that epic Super Over.

The headlines all week have proclaimed Archer as the Test team’s potential saviour. ‘Archer will terrify Australia’ said one paper with classic hyperbole.

He spoke with calm self-assurance when he did his press conference two days out from the match. “I think I’m a better red ball bowler than white,” he said, not in a bragging way. He sounded quietly confident.

He looked it too when England took the field towards the end of play after being bowled out. 6.15pm, with the floodlights on, was not a bad time to have your first bowl in a Test match, either. The clouds hovered encouragingly above.

After Stuart Broad’s first over, Archer had Cameron Bancroft in his sights. There was a buzz of expectation in the crowd. He was bowling, however, from his less favoured Nursery End. (Line bowlers, of which Archer is one, are generally more effective from the Pavilion End.)

^{Jofra Archer went wicketless in his opening burst as an England Test bowler}

After an exploratory first ball to Bancroft outside off-stump, which the batsman left alone, the next one had him groping as it pitched on an ideal length and zipped back off the seam just missing of stump and ending up swinging out of Jonny Bairstow’s grasps for four byes.

That ball alone excited onlookers. He followed it up with a quick bouncer and then another ball that went the other way and beat the edge.

Bancroft got off the mark with a poke into the legside but it was a nerveless start by Archer. In his second over he whistled one past David Warner’s tentative prod from round the wicket. The pace was just above 90mph. He gave the batsmen nothing.

Although he went wicketless in his first four-over spell, and perhaps could have made the right hander play a touch more, his presence undoubtedly spurred Broad on as an opening partner who can make the batsmen hop about usually does. Broad’s zest and skill got a ball through Warner’s laboured defence. Australia were 11 for one.

Broad was rested after five overs and Archer had a go from the Nursery End. Joe Root set a field reminiscent of the great West Indian attacks of the 1990s – three slips, two short legs and barely anyone in front of the wicket.

He cranked the speed up to 92mph, but Bancroft handled his bouncer well. The pitched-up delivery was more dangerous. One from off stump whistled past his edge and flew to Bairstow who took it in front of first slip. Archer’s follow-through took him almost to hand-shaking distance from the batsman.

It was an unproductive first six overs, but his smooth action, superb wrist release – seam bolt upright – persistent line and slippery pace are going to produce results. Even if, initially, it’s just for the bloke at the other end.

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