Jofra Archer, the 26-year-old cricketer known for his lethal fast bowling, has had a tumultuous year. From being hailed as the savior of English cricket to suffering a series of injuries that put his career in jeopardy, Archer has seen it all. But despite the setbacks, he is determined to make a comeback and set his sights on a new goal – emulating the great West Indian fast bowler, Malcolm Marshall.
Archer’s love for cricket began at a young age when he moved to England from Barbados. In an interview with Sky Sports, he cited his father as his inspiration for taking up the sport. Archer’s fast bowling skills quickly gained recognition, and he made his debut in the English domestic tournament for Sussex in 2016. His performances caught the attention of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, and in 2018, he was signed by the Rajasthan Royals.
It was during the IPL that Archer made a name for himself as a fast bowler who could trouble the best in the business. His ability to generate pace, swing, and bounce made him a nightmare for batsmen, and soon he was being touted as the future of English cricket. In May 2019, Archer was picked for the England squad for the World Cup, and he played a crucial role in the team’s triumph, picking up 20 wickets in the tournament, including some crucial scalps in the final against New Zealand.
It was after the World Cup that Archer’s career began to take a different turn. He was picked for the Ashes series against Australia, but before the start of the tournament, he complained of a sore side. Despite the injury, Archer was still picked for the first Test, and he went on to take six wickets in the match. However, the injury flared up again, and he was ruled out of the second Test. Archer returned for the third Test but was clearly struggling, and he was ultimately ruled out of the rest of the series due to a stress fracture in his right elbow.
The injury was a severe blow for Archer, who had already established himself as England’s premier fast bowler. He was forced to undergo surgery and missed the home series against West Indies and Pakistan. In his absence, England struggled, and there were calls for the team management to handle Archer’s workload better. However, Archer was determined to come back stronger and set a new goal.
In an interview with The Independent, Archer revealed that he had been inspired by the late Malcolm Marshall, the legendary West Indian fast bowler. Marshall, who passed away in 1999, was known for his sheer pace and his ability to cause havoc with the ball. Archer, who had been watching old footage of Marshall’s bowling, said that he wanted to emulate the great bowler’s style and become a more complete fast bowler.
“I’ve been watching a lot of footage of Malcolm Marshall, and I’ve been really impressed with the way he bowled. He had pace, swing, bounce, everything you need to be a great fast bowler. I want to be like him, and I want to become a more complete bowler,” Archer said.
Archer’s words were music to the ears of England fans, who had been waiting eagerly for their star fast bowler to return to action. Archer did make a comeback in early 2021, but his return was short-lived as he suffered yet another injury, this time to his right hand, during the tours of India and South Africa. Archer had surgery in March and has been undergoing rehabilitation since.
However, Archer has remained upbeat about his recovery and recently shared a video on social media, showing him running and bowling in the nets. He is expected to return to action in the latter half of the English summer, and there are high hopes that he will be able to fulfill his goal of becoming England’s answer to Marshall.
Archer’s talent as a fast bowler is undoubted, but his ability to bounce back from setbacks is what makes him a special player. Despite the numerous injuries he has suffered in the past year, he has remained positive and focused on his goals. If he can stay fit and healthy, there is no doubt that he has the potential to become one of the great fast bowlers of his generation.