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Stuart Broad suggests resting Jofra Archer for the fifth Test against India, proposing Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue as replacements. Nasser Hussain supports Atkinson’s inclusion.
Jofra Archer at Old Trafford. (AP Photo)
Former England pacer Stuart Broad has advised England to consider resting Jofra Archer from the fifth Test against India in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He feels the team needs to avoid running the speedster to the ground, while also proposing Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue as possible replacements.
Archer started the third Test against India after dealing with injuries of various severity for over four years. He picked up nine games across the matches, bowling almost 90 overs in all. Though he didn’t pick up any injuries nor look excessively tired (unlike his Indian opponents), it needs to be seen if England wants to push him for one more. His probable replacements, Atkinson, is coming off a hamstring injury, and Tongue has previously played in the series, but looked quite one-dimensional.
“I think Gus Atkinson has to play,” Broad said on Sky Sports. “I know he has not had any workload, but we need to see him. He hasn’t been really challenged against top-level opposition in Test cricket yet. [Brydon] Carse looked knackered in the fourth Test. He has been a trier and given absolutely everything, but looks like his legs have left him for this series, so Atkinson gets the nod.”
“[Josh] Tongue started the series, and I know he mainly got lower-order players out, but you probably have a natural replacement for Archer. We can’t not have Archer for four years, bring him back and then bowl him into the ground and not see him for another four years,” he added.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain also backed Atkinson to replace Archer.
“I don’t think you can have Archer playing three on the bounce coming back after four years. Gus Atkinson coming back after a long time, and then Stokes with a niggle as three of your four seamers – but I would definitely play Atkinson on his home ground if fit,” Hussain said.
If Atkinson and Tongue both come in, England would have a completely different-looking attack again in the series. They’ll have to support skipper Ben Stokes, who’s the highest wicket-taker of the series so far, but looked to be dealing with multiple small injuries in his body at Old Trafford.
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