Jofra Archer said he might play "until I'm 40" thanks to the benefits of being a member of England's new-look fast-bowling quartet. The ongoing three-Test series against Pakistan represents the first time Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson have all featured in the same England side.
Initial results have been impressive, with Pakistan dismissed for 171 and 135 in an innings defeat at Headingley last week before being skittled out for just 110 inside 38 overs on Friday's second day at Lord's, with England 261 runs ahead at stumps. Express quick Archer bowled with genuine hostility on Friday and arguably deserved a better return than 3-26 while seamer Robinson, his captain at county side Sussex, finished with the remarkable figures of 4-11 in 13 miserly overs.
"It's really nice having the extra seamers in the line-up. I could play until I'm 40 at this rate," said the 31-year-old Archer, whose career looked like it might be cut short by a succession of injuries. "Each day it will be someone else's turn. Everyone was relentless, everyone wants wickets, and it feels like no-one is ever going to be overworked because everyone shares the overs out."
Archer was clocked at 94mph (151kph) and averaged 90.7mph during a fearsome opening spell when he dismissed Shan Masood and troubled novice opener Azan Awais. Forecast heavy rain on Saturday could hamper England's efforts to extend their second innings 81-3, a total built on opener Emilio Gay's gritty 30 not out.