London – James Anderson has called on England to include Jofra Archer in their playing XI for the third Test against India at Lord’s, describing the match as “too crucial” to leave out the express pacer.
Archer, 30, has not featured in a Test match for more than four years, with a string of injuries keeping him away from the red-ball format since his last appearance in Ahmedabad in 2021. However, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker believes the time has come for his return.
“You could keep trying to build his overs up and play him later in the series, but it could be too late by then,” Anderson said on the Tailenders podcast. “I think he will play. He’s played one game for Sussex, he was around the team at Edgbaston and bowled a bit. I just feel like you’ve got to play him.”
Archer has spent the majority of his comeback journey in white-ball cricket and only recently returned to first-class action, bowling 18 overs for Sussex against Durham in the County Championship.
Despite his limited red-ball exposure in recent months, Anderson is confident that Archer can make an immediate impact in the high-stakes encounter at Lord’s, set to begin on Thursday.
The series is currently tied at 1-1, with India bouncing back emphatically to win the second Test at Edgbaston by 336 runs. That result has raised the stakes significantly ahead of the third Test, and England are under pressure to respond.
Anderson, 42, who recently retired from Test cricket and has joined the England coaching setup as a fast-bowling consultant, said Archer’s presence could give England the edge. “It’s too crucial a game not to [play him],” he emphasised.
Archer was named in England’s squad for the second Test but was not selected in the final XI. His inclusion for the third Test now looks increasingly likely, especially with Anderson’s strong endorsement and growing concerns over the effectiveness of England’s pace attack in the previous game.
England’s selectors face a difficult decision, balancing Archer’s recent workload with the urgent need to regain momentum in the series. Should Archer be included, it would mark a significant milestone in his return to the longest format of the game, offering a potential boost to England’s hopes at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
With Archer’s express pace and ability to trouble India’s top order, his selection could be the turning point England need to take control of the series.
