BSS
  17 May 2024, 18:58

England captain Buttler buoyed by return of 'superstar' Archer

LONDON, May 17, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - England white-ball captain Jos Buttler is
glad to see "proper superstar" Jofra Archer back in action following the fast
bowler's wicket-taking return to action for Sussex's 2nd XI.

Injuries have blighted Archer's international career and he has not played
top-level cricket for the past year.

England, however, have recalled Archer for the defence of their T20 World Cup
title in the United States and the West Indies next month, with the paceman
also selected for the upcoming warm-up series against Pakistan.

Archer continued his build-up to the four-game series against Pakistan by
turning out for Sussex's second string on Friday.

He was parachuted into the match on day four, taking the new ball and
returning figures of 1-11 in six sharp overs in Kent's second innings at
Beckenham.

The 29-year-old, previously playing domestic cricket in his native Barbados,
hit home opener Ekansh Singh on the helmet and then had him caught in the
slips.

Archer will join the England squad in Leeds ahead of the first Twenty20
international against Pakistan at Headingley on Wednesday.

Buttler, who returned early from the Indian Premier League to oversee
England's World Cup preparations, told Britain's Press Association news
agency: "It's a huge encouragement for him to be back and see him ready to
play.

"Everyone knows what he is capable of and the attitude he possesses. As a
captain he is someone you can always turn to in a game because he always has
a trick up his sleeve.

"It's great to be able to call on him but it's important to manage
expectations. He has been out of it for a while now so we will need to look
after him and realise that it might just take him a little while to be the
Jofra of 2019."

Dynamic batsman Buttler added: "He is a proper superstar but we do have to be
smart with him. It's a jump in intensity from what he's doing now to
international cricket and you can't really replicate it."