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England pacer Jofra Archer recalled at iconic moment at the Lord’s. It was not the time he helped win their first ever ODI World Cup in 2019, but when a bare-chested Sourav Ganguly waved his shirt on the Lord's balcony after winning the NatWest series in 2002. That unlikely flashback became fuel for Archer’s game-changing spell against India in the third Test.
Archer finds fire in Ganguly's legacy
Despite being miles apart in context, Archer found motivation in Ganguly’s iconic NatWest final celebration. England captain Ben Stokes revealed how the image of that defiant act helped light a fire in Archer ahead of the crunch morning session.
“I just said to him this morning, You know what today is, don’t you? You know that highlight package of India knocking off 300-odd back in the day with Ganguly? He thought that was the World Cup final. He thought that was six years today,” Stokes said after England’s energy-sapping victory.
A mix up with memories
Interestingly, while the day marked six years since England’s dramatic 2019 World Cup win, Archer had Ganguly’s balcony celebration, from 17 years earlier, on his mind instead.
“I was like, no that World Cup that we won? He was like, ‘Oh, that one.’ He’s an absolute beauty, that boy, I just had the feeling today and that Rishabh Pant wicket was massive in a low run chase,” Stokes stated.
Breakthroughs that changed the game
Archer’s fiery burst included a peach of a delivery to dismiss Pant and a sharp return catch to remove Washington Sundar critical blows that turned the match as India fell short by 22 runs.
“We knew that turning up this morning was genuinely the reason why we went with me and Jof (Archer). It felt right in my tummy that Jof was going to do something this morning to break the game open,” Stokes added.
Trusting his gut paid-off
“Gut feel doesn’t always work but those two wickets he got this morning obviously swung the game massively in our favour,” he mentioned.
On-field chemistry between the duo also played a part, with a humorous Stokes recalling a tactical moment.
“So he wanted me to come to mid-on and (Brydon Carse) Carsey to go to leg slip so he could talk to me. But I didn’t trust Carsey at leg slip, to be honest,” Stokes said with a chuckle.
Stokes, who bowled 19.2 overs in the match despite coming back from injury, led from the front and was named 'Player of the Match'. Looking ahead to the fourth Test in Manchester, he seemed unfazed.
Ready for Manchester Test
“Oh, yeah. I’ll be absolutely sound for Manchester. It’s a big break. Obviously, I was pretty tired after Headingley. But, yeah, after we walked off the field there, sort of a whole new level of tiredness hit,” he answered.
“I’ve been in games like that before, not as a captain, where I’ve been given the ball to run in and try to bowl the team to victory. But then now, adding on the decision making around bowling changes, field placings, how I feel we’re going to get this win. Obviously, there’s a physical element of bowling in the fourth innings, but then it shouldn’t be underestimated how the emotional and mental tiredness does also get you as well,” said the all-rounder.
From Ganguly’s wild balcony celebration to Archer’s inspired brilliance, Lord’s once again witnessed a piece of cricketing poetry written under pressure. The next Test is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, July 23 at The Old Trafford, Manchester.
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