On a sun-drenched afternoon at Lord’s, as the mercury soared and a raucous crowd roared his name, Jofra Archer reminded the cricketing world of his raw pace and menace in whites. Returning to Test cricket after more than four years, the England pacer unleashed a ferocious post-lunch spell on Day 3 of the third Test against India — one that left both Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy visibly rattled.
Archer’s four-over burst in the afternoon session was nothing short of electric. Averaging 145.3 kmph — his second-fastest spell in nine home Tests — the 29-year-old tore in with long follow-throughs, bouncers aimed at the helmet, and hostility that reignited memories of his early days in international cricket.
His fastest over of the series came in the 71st of the innings, where he averaged a staggering 148.18 kmph — the quickest single over bowled by any pacer this series.
If there was a ball that truly underlined his return to full throttle, it came in the final delivery of the 69th over — a brute of a short ball clocking 150 kmph that thudded into Reddy’s helmet, prompting an immediate concussion check. That 68.6th delivery is now officially the fastest ball of the series.
Notably, Archer’s pace spree also included the second and third-fastest overs of the series: the 73rd clocking 147.94 kmph and the 69th averaging 145.77 kmph. Only his spell with the new ball on Day 2, where he averaged 144.49 kmph, comes close in comparison — and that too is the second-fastest in this series.
