Test cricket's intensity hinders pace, admits Jofra Archer

Shorter days, sporadic spells, and a change of format are key to the England seamer being able to bowl at full tilt on a regular basis

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Jofra Archer believes he will never be able to bowl consistently at 90mph during a Test match and believes his recent impressive England form in down to a change of setting having faced months in the bio-secure bubble.

The 25-year-old produced one of the finest displays of his short international career on Sunday, taking 3-34 to help beat Australia in the second one-day international at Emirates Old Trafford.

Ever since becoming eligible for England, Archer's speeds have been heavily scrutinised while his body language has come in for some unsolicited criticism from afar.

Limited to 10 overs in ODIs and four in T20s, the Barbados-born seamer admits it is easier to crank up the pace when his spells are shorter and time in the field doesn't stretch over a full day.

"I think the only thing fair is going to spend a lot less time bowling than in Test cricket," he said. "You can't run in the whole day. It is actually impossible to run in the whole day and bowl 90mph. 

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"If there is someone that does it then fair play to them but I've not seen any bowler that has bowled at 90mph and do it for a whole day.

As it happens, Archer is yet to fully understand why he is able to bowl at full tilt on some days, and not on others. He admits to liking a constant change of scenery and format and that tedium is a major challenge he faces.

"It could just be a change of scenery, change of personnel," he added. "You do sometimes feel like you hit a wall so you just need to relax or switch off for a few days. 

"I honestly don't know what it is but if you're in a great frame of mind then you'll probably bowl a bit better or a bit faster.

"Yesterday I didn't feel as though I bowled that fast. I have bowled faster than I did yesterday. As long as I feel ok I don't really care what speed I'm bowling at."

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Archer played two Tests in each series against West Indies and Pakistan and has been an ever-present for the Australia white-ball matches. He has spent more days in the bio-secure bubble than any fellow-England player. By the time the third ODI is complete, he will have spent 87 days without regular contact with the outside world.

The Sussex quick, who will depart for the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates after series concludes on Wednesday, explained: "We've been playing Test cricket for two months so to get a chance and see some fresh faces and a different challenge and the prospect of not being out there for the whole day. 

"We got a break and went into a different format so you don't go crazy in your mind doing the same thing day in, day out. The change was much welcome. 

"We've got two more days in the bubble. Some people have some time off and some go into another bubble (IPL) as well. This in itself is another change. It won't be as mentally draining."

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