"Jofra Archer versus Steve Smith in 2019 is already Ashes folklore. The atmosphere at Lord's that afternoon was charged in all senses, a huge slab of cloud bringing darkness to the day. Fresh off a match-winning World Cup final, Archer marked his Test debut with what was then the fastest spell recorded for England. Smith was in the middle of a Bradman-hued streak of 774 runs in seven innings."
"All that could pause him was a short-pitched attack of building ferocity, one that finally dropped Smith with a bouncer to the neck. It was a pure duel, the kind that cause spectators genuine fear. In the immediate aftermath, and again as Archer took six-fers in wins at Headingley and the Oval, one principal idea came up in every discussion: imagine, what might he be able to do in Australia?"
"Imagine him on a fast and bouncy track in Perth or Brisbane. It was: I can't wait to get you to the Gabba, but born of admiration rather than antagonism. The show, we all imagined, might be a spectacle. That took six and a half years, but Archer got to Perth a fortnight ago. His opening burst lived up to expectation, removing both openers for 11 runs, before being ambushed in the second innings like the rest of his team."
Jofra Archer's 2019 duel with Steve Smith at Lord's created a charged atmosphere as a storm darkened the day. Archer debuted with what was then England's fastest recorded spell while Smith compiled a Bradman-hued 774 runs across seven innings. A rising short-pitched barrage culminated in a bouncer to Smith's neck, producing a raw, fearful spectacle. Archer later took six-fers at Headingley and the Oval, fuelling anticipation about his impact on fast Australian pitches. Archer reached Perth six and a half years later, removing both openers for 11 before England collapsed. At the Gabba, night conditions, pink ball and crowd reactions continued the Smith–Archer narrative.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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