Jofra Archer makes stylish return as England beat Pakistan in second T20 | EUROtoday

Let’s strive that one once more. Wednesday’s first T20 worldwide between England and Pakistan was a whole washout, however the prospects are an entire lot higher in the present day. Although there’s an opportunity of a bathe between 3pm and 4pm – I’m not speaking about England right here – we are going to nearly definitely get a full recreation.

That means a cocktail of anticipation and trepidation for England followers. Not due to the consequence, however as a result of Jofra Archer ought to make his return to worldwide cricket. His age – 29 – doesn’t look proper, as a result of he’s been frozen in time because the magical summer season of 2019. But he has already mentioned that one other setback could possibly be his final.

The Headingley washout means this recreation is successfully the primary of a three-match collection, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it warm-up to the T20 World Cup. It’s exhausting to price England’s possibilities. On the one hand they’re the holders; on the opposite, their squad contains numerous gamers who endured a determined 50-over World Cup final yr.

England have made just a few modifications off the sphere, together with the canny recruitment of Kieron Pollard as a marketing consultant. They have additionally signed the psychologist David Young, who performed a key half within the 2019 World Cup win, on mortgage from Manchester City.

“Having David back is really exciting,” mentioned the England head coach Matthew Mott. “He’s previously been with the team and he’s already been a great ally in messages back to me, making sure my messages are clear. It’s always good to have someone who’s a little bit removed from the squad to make sure you’re landing your messages.

“In India all of us were guilty of being a bit insular and trying to problem solve ourselves. We’ve made a commitment to open up and be a bit more vulnerable as a group so that we’re helping each other. We feel like it’s time to get the mojo back and go out and really express ourselves as a team.”

The match begins at 2.30pmwith the toss at 2pm.