The stage is set for the final match of the India vs England Test series, which begins on Thursday, July 31 at The Oval.
With England leading the series 2-1, the result of this match will decide if the hosts seal the series or if India force a draw.
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Amidst all the cricketing chatter, former England captain Nasser Hussain has thrown light on a lesser-known angle, the working chemistry between skipper Ben Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer.
What does Nasser Hussain mean by ‘not your best friend’ about Stokes-Archer bond?
Nasser Hussain, speaking during a Sky Sports segment, pointed out that Ben Stokes knows exactly how to manage Archer, not by being overly friendly, but by finding the right balance between support and firm leadership.
“I like him. I like the fact that Ben knows what makes Jofra Archer tick. There’s a huge amount of respect between the two of them and I said to you in the other game. At Lord’s, exactly the same happened,” Hussain said on Sky Sports.
Hussain said that while Stokes is always there to “look after” Archer, he’s not someone who’ll sugarcoat things if the pacer is off his rhythm.
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This approach, according to Hussain, brings out the best in Archer. He shared that Stokes often gives a quiet word of advice, not in an aggressive way, but with the kind of tone that keeps Archer engaged without making him uncomfortable.
“Stokes has that mentality ‘I am your friend and I’ll look after you but I am not your best friend’. If you don’t quite get it right, I will have a word with you. Even here, you see, he is having a word with him but in a nice way," said Nasser.
The point Hussain drove home is that every bowler ticks differently, just like past skippers knew how to handle the likes of Anderson and Broad, Stokes seems to have figured out how to get the best out of Archer, especially when things heat up.
"I think you know your premier fast bowlers, you know your cricketers. You know what makes them tick. You’d have had Anderson and Broad. You’ll know what to do with Anderson and you might have to do something different to Broad. You play one off against the other,"
"He’ll know what will make Archer tick an I think Archer is actually a better bowler when he is a little fired up and his legs start pumping a little bit,” he added.
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How has Jofra Archer performed since his Test comeback?
Jofra Archer made his Test return after more than four years during the third Test of this series at Lord’s, where he picked up five wickets.
It was a strong statement from the fast bowler, who had been out of red-ball action since early 2021, due to long-standing elbow injuries.
He continued that good form in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, grabbing four wickets across both innings, and helping England push India to the brink before the match ended in a draw.
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With the series finale approaching at The Oval, Archer is likely to play a key role, and so is Stokes' man-management.