England are already over-reliant on Jofra Archer after just one test, claims Aussie legend Mitchell Johnson
ENGLAND are already over-reliant on Jofra Archer, according to another expert in bowling bullets, Mitchell Johnson.
Archer took five wickets in a stand-out debut at Lord’s and caused Steve Smith to suffer a concussion which could rule him out of Thursday’s Third Test.
The Barbados-born star’s 90mph-plus thunderbolts brought back memories of Aussie Johnson’s frightening and series-defining spells in the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash.
But the retired speed merchant reckons England captain Joe Root is asking too much from Archer, who got through 44 overs in the Second Test, almost ten more than the next busiest bowler, Stuart Broad.
Johnson, 37, said: “It was good to see him in his first Test and do what he did.
“The only concern I have with him is that they seem to rely quite heavily on him.
“Whether it was the pitch conditions or if it’s just the bowling attack in general.
“But it was really nice to see him on his debut play the way he did.”
Johnson also believes the momentum in the series is still with Australia, who will reclaim the urn if they win at Headingley following their draw at Lord’s.
He told ESPNcricinfo: “Australia will be slightly more confident.
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“England will think they have the momentum and the firepower now.
“But they would have been thinking, ‘No Steve Smith, we can roll through Australia’.
“I think that’s why they were disappointed at the end of the game and why we saw Joe Root a little bit annoyed.”
