Archer proves he's no one-trick pony

It was a different method but the same result as Jofra Archer ripped through Australia for the second straight Ashes Test.

Archer collected 6-45 from 17.1 overs to record his maiden Test five-wicket haul after starring in his Test debut at Lord's last week.

At St John's Wood, the 24-year-old terrorized Australia's batting unit with a bouncer barrage so fierce it left Steve Smith concussed and bruised multiple body parts, and egos. 

But at Headingley, under cloudy skies, armed with a new ball and fresh pitch to bowl on, Archer peeled back his pace, pitched the ball up and challenged the technique and temperament of the Australians.

Four of his six dismissals were brilliant deliveries that took the outside edge, while his other two were bowled and lbw and as he targeted the stumps.

The right-armer barely needed to bowl a short ball but still pulled it out as a reminder when the tourists started to creep on the front foot. 

"I bowled a few (bouncers) to let the batter know they're still there ... but this wasn't a short-ball wicket," Archer said after play.

"It wasn't as hard as Lord's, so just get it full, knee-roll length and you get results."

It would be a frightening feeling for opposition batsmen to know Archer is not a one-dimensional bowler.

While he might be relaxed, enjoys playing Fortnite and does not feel the need to warm-up, Archer is certainly a thinking man's fast bowler. 

He summed up the conditions in an instant, eased off the accelerator and proved he is not a one-trick pony that has to bowls lighting bouncers to shake up and dismiss batsmen.

"I don't need to run in and bowl 90(mph) every spell to get wickets, it showed today," he said.

"There will be times in Test matches when you're going to just have to focus on hitting your length. 

"There will be times to ramp it up as well – pitch, conditions provided – but you don't have to go to it (express pace) every single innings."

One of the aspects of Archer which is so puzzling is how he generates such fierce pace – he hit 96.1mph (155kph) at Lord's– from ambling in off a dozen paces.

While he was not required to bowl that fast at Headingley on Thursday, he still hit speeds of 88mph (142kph) in second gear.

Express fast bowlers in the past have seemingly charged in from the fence, such as Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar and Australia's Brett Lee, but Archer is race car of a newer model.

David Warner faced his fair share of Archer on day one until he was dismissed – caught behind from a ball that speared in from round the wicket, pitched around off-stump, nipped away and took the outside edge – after scoring 61 in dogged fashion. 

 

He said after play facing a fast bowler who glides to the crease off a short run takes some adjusting to and likened the England quick to two modern speedsters. 

"You look at (India's Jasprit) Bumra, he's a great example, they are all energy at the crease," Warner said."Mitchell Johnson was the same, he had a slow run up and then thunderbolts. 

"These guys, it takes getting used to, it's a rhythm thing. 

"Early on it's going to be challenging and then once you get used to it it becomes OK. 

"Bowling 90mph, you have to be on, but with the ball moving as well, it has it's challenges. 

"He hit the right length, and when you hit the right length it's very hard, you have to play at them all."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia beat England by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval