NEW DELHI: Speaking for the England team, Sam Curran expressed their excitement about Jofra Archer returning to play against Pakistan in the five-T20I series which starts on May 22.
Archer, a pacer specializing mainly in fast bowling has been injured at back and elbow continuously over a year now.
In spite of this long break from international competitive cricket, Curran is optimistic that Archer’s inclusion will strike fear into the heart of opponents.
The forthcoming series against Pakistan will be an important opportunity for Archer to find his touch ahead of the eagerly awaited T20 World Cup next month.
On the other hand, he has only played 15 T20 games for England since making his debut in the game half a decade ago but he was named last week in their squad for a four-match home series versus Pakistan starting tomorrow as well as the World Cup itself.
For instance, last week he took one wicket for Sussex’s second XI having played several club cricket matches in Barbados so as to improve his fitness levels.
Curran added that it was extremely exciting to have such a player and said that fans of English cricket were happy to have him back. They got all excited just like every member of England’s supporters’ group must be feeling right now due to this news about Jofra Archer joining them again.
“Certainly that extra bit of pace and intimidation factor which we can bring as bowlers,” says Curran. “We’re all hoping his injury problems are behind him now.”
He has had two difficult years, however. Hopefully he can return and do what he does best for England and put up with it when we need him most.
As they prepare for another tournament campaign (the twenty-twenty championship) in West Indies and US after their terrible defense during last year’s fifty over world cup held in India where both teams hit totals each exceeding 400 runs once, current champions England are desperate for form.
Curran is among eight members of the Indian Premier League squad who have returned early to prepare for the Pakistan series.
They barely spent any time together before their 50-over title defense in India last year.
“We want to play as a team and sort out our roles, so it’s going to be really important as we’ve been away from each other for a while,” he said. “There’s a lot of energy about the group at the moment and everyone seems really excited that this trophy could maybe come back.”
The first match in the 4-match T20 series against Pakistan is scheduled for Wednesday at Headingley.
