Jofra Archer has warned Australia that red-ball cricket is his preferred form of the game, but the Ashes holders are confident of dealing with the tearaway England fast bowler.
With veteran seamer James Anderson ruled out with a calf injury, Archer is in line to make his Test debut at Lord's on Wednesday – just weeks after helping England to World Cup glory in the one-day international format.
The 24-year-old proved his fitness playing for Sussex in a 2nd XI match against Gloucestershire during which he took 6-27 in the first innings and then scored 108. He said the Australians, who lead the five-match series 1-0, would be fooling themselves if they thought he would offer rich pickings.
"I've played a lot more red-ball cricket and it's my preferred format," Archer said ahead of the second Test. "If you don't have a good 10 overs [in white-ball cricket] that's it. You've got to wait to the next game, but you've ample chances in Test cricket.
"I'm more ready than I've ever been. I bowled 50 overs in one game for Sussex and am the one usually bowling at the end. Test cricket is pretty much the same as first-class, know what your strengths are and stick to them."
Anderson show at Lord's last year
We were on 🔥 with the ball in our Lord's Test against India last year! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/yjsfWg7p6B
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 12, 2019
Archer, who says he has fully recovered from a side strain that kept him out of first Test contention, concedes it would be special to make his debut at Lord's.
"The first one is always special, and at Lord's where we had recent success will be comforting as well," he said. "It's a good ground to come back to, and hopefully keep our winning ways here."
Much will be asked of Archer, but he does not expect things to come easy. "What I would say firstly is don't expect any miracles!" he said.
"I can't work miracles – I'll try to but I don't think that's how it might pan out. I'll try my best and I can only give my best."
Australia coach Justin Langer reckons his batsmen are confident of handling the England new boy. The former opening batsman reflected on the rigours of five-day cricket and says he will be an interested onlooker as Archer seeks to prove his credentials.
"We've seen what a good cricketer he is, we respect him. But like everyone I'm really curious to see how he goes in red-ball cricket," the Australian said. "Hopefully our guys have got the answers whatever he [Archer] dishes up for us.
"Most of our guys have seen him in white-ball cricket. It's up to the individuals, not so much our game plan against him.
"Our batters will be organised in their minds how they are going to face him, and the rest of England's attack.
"It's the same for everyone in Test cricket, get them into their second, third and fourth spells."
Langer said England were handicapped by the loss of Anderson in the first Test, which Australia won by 251 runs at Edgbaston, with the home team's record Test wicket-taker only bowling four overs before suffering the recurrence of a calf strain.
"We're very aware England played without James Anderson, one of their best players, and we got lucky with him bowling only four overs in the match," Langer said. "So we know it's different conditions, different pressures and we've got to be right for this Test match.
"We were really pleased to win the first Test, but we've come here to win the Ashes."
