LONDON, England (CMC) – Sussex skipper Chris Nash has hailed seamer Jofra Archer as among the best in the country at present, following the Barbadian’s outstanding maiden 10-wicket haul against Leicestershire in the English County Championship on Sunday.
Archer snatched six for 70 as the hosts were dismissed for 175 in their second innings at Grace Road, leaving Sussex with a target of 232 for victory.
Luke Wells then struck an unbeaten 90 yesterday as the visitors got home by five wickets to register their second straight win in Division Two.
However, the foundation was laid by the 22-year-old Archer who ended the contest with match figures of 11 for 137 following his five-wicket haul in Leicestershire’s first innings.
“From looking at what we’ve seen over the last two months, he’s one of the best you’re seeing,” Nash beamed.
“I think the way he does it is one of the really interesting bits. He bowled 50 overs in the game and didn’t even sweat.”
He continued: “He’s a top man. The way he’s playing at the moment is as good as anyone in the country. The pace he bowls and how he keeps coming back and back and back is great.
“It’s really refreshing to see someone come in and play with that enthusiasm and just enjoy going out there bowling and he just wants to keep bowling.”
Archer was a revelation last season after he broke into Sussex’ first team towards the end of the season, claiming 23 wickets in six outings.
Rewarded with a full contract for the new season, the right-armer has not disappointed and has so far picked up 35 wickets from six games at an average of 23.
Nash said despite Archer’s success, they were focusing on managing the young talent who had already shouldered much of the Sussex attack this season.
“I’m always worried about (over-bowling him) because we don’t want to bowl him into the ground so we have to be careful,” Nash explained.
“The last two games have probably highlighted (that concern). We bowled twice in a row in the last game against Worcestershire and we came here (Grace Road) and bowled first. You add to that when (Steve) Magoffin went down in the last game and Vernon (Philander) and David Wiese in this game with injuries so he did have to bowl his overs.
“We are very aware of that and we will manage him very effectively over the next two weeks to make sure he does get a bit of recovery time because he’s put in a heavy stint for us.”
As an aggressive right-hander, Archer has shown his quality with 251 runs at an average of 35 this season, including two half-centuries.
Archer was again superb on Sunday, bowling with hostility and guile, to wreck Leicestershire’s innings.
Without Philander who limped off with an ankle injury, Archer assumed the role as leader of the attack and excelled.
He got the breakthrough when he had Paul Horton caught at the wicket off a nasty lifter for 16 before trapping Ned Eckersley (1) lbw with a quick full-length delivery, to leave Leicestershire on 72 for four.
After lunch, Archer bowled Marl Pettini with a yorker for four and then got the key wicket of top-scorer Harry Dearden for 36, caught at the wicket off another rapid bouncer, as he ran through the lower order.