Why Jofra Archer is being smashed around the park, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH after England star bowled the most expensive spell in IPL history
Jofra Archer allowed himself a wry grin as a top-edged pull from Ishan Kishan during Sunday’s IPL clash in Hyderabad sailed over the wicketkeeper’s head. Next ball, Ishan lifted him over extra cover for six more, leaving Archer’s expression to tell a different story.
His first over had already gone for 23, thanks to Australia’s Travis Head. And before long Archer would be nursing figures of 4–0–76–0, the most expensive in the competition’s 18-year history. The pitch was flat, the boundaries short, the batting merciless. Later in the same game, Australia’s Pat Cummins went for 60. But this was brutal.
It was a sobering return to action for Rajasthan Royals, the franchise Archer had last represented in 2020, when he signed off with a tidy 4–0–19–1 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Indeed, in ...