England Head Coach Brendon McCullum has remained optimistic about Jofra Archer's availability ahead of their second Test match against New Zealand, which commences on June 17 at the Oval.
The Three Lions won the first Test match by 115 runs without needing Archer, who is on a break in Barbados following a hectic stint in the Indian Premier League. Ben Stokes' side relied on the likes of Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue for the wickets, and they duly delivered. Both Robinson and Atkinson took
five wickets in an innings, while Tongue also chipped in with crucial wickets.
Despite not majorly missing Archer, McCullum is still hopeful that the fast bowler will be available for selection for the Oval Test. The former New Zealand skipper fully trusts the 31-year-old to come fully prepared and follow the plans sent to him by the team management.
“In the next couple of days we’ll probably drill down on that but we’re hopeful he will be available for the second Test, then we’ll work out conditions-wise where we’re at. He’s following a plan (in Barbados). He’s bowling. We completely trust Jof and he’s shown us in the past what he does, which is get himself ready based on the plans we get together and come up with. He’s always turned up in the condition we wanted from him," Brendon McCullum was quoted as saying by the Independent.
Should Archer return to the country in time for the second Test, it will provide England with a huge selection dilemma. Following the success of the three aforementioned fast bowlers, it will be unfair to drop any of them with momentum on their side. However, if the conditions are similar to those seen at Lord's, the Three Lions could go in with four fast bowlers, with Archer replacing spinner Shoaib Bashir, who did not bowl a single over in the opening Test of the series, with Joe Root still providing the team with a spin option if needs must.
Despite Tongue, Robinson and Atkinson's success at Lord's, McCullum still wants Archer to return to the team to give them more options to choose from based on the conditions on offer.
“I hope so, because we need a huge array of fast bowlers based on the conditions you feel you’re going to be confronted with. You’re not always going to get this right, but you’re trying to pick horses for courses based on conditions to give yourself the best chance of winning. We’re lucky…the three seamers were brilliant," McCullum added.
