Jofra Archer Returns for Lord’s Showdown: Can England Stop India’s Surge?

July 9, 2025: Jofra Archer is back in England’s playing XI for the third Test against India at Lord’s, replacing Josh Tongue in the only change from the side that lost at Edgbaston. This marks Archer’s first appearance in a Test match since February 2021, as confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Known for his searing pace and match-turning spells, the 30-year-old recently made his red-ball comeback for Sussex before rejoining the national squad for the Birmingham Test. With the five-match series currently tied 1-1, Archer’s return could provide England’s bowling attack with much-needed firepower.

Also Read: ICC Test Rankings Shuffled: Here Are the Top 5 Batters

The rest of the squad remains unchanged, with Ben Stokes leading a unit that includes experienced names like Joe Root, Chris Woakes, and rising stars such as Jamie Smith and Shoaib Bashir.

England’s XI for 3rd Test:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir

Recap of 2nd Test:

India dominated the second Test at Edgbaston, sealing a crushing 336-run victory.

• India’s First Innings:
  After early losses, a fighting 80-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) and Karun Nair (31) set the tone. But it was Shubman Gill (269), with powerful stands alongside Ravindra Jadeja (89) and Washington Sundar (42), who powered India to a massive 587.
• England’s Response:
  Reeling at 84/5, England bounced back with a record 303-run partnership between Harry Brook (158) and *Jamie Smith (184)**. Still, Mohammed Siraj (6/70) and Akash Deep (4/88) ensured a 180-run lead for India by wrapping England for 407.
• India’s Second Innings:
  A quickfire 50-run opening, followed by dominant knocks from Rishabh Pant (65), Gill (161), and *Jadeja (69)**, helped India post 427/6 declared, setting England a target of 608.
• England’s Collapse:
  Chasing a mountain, England crumbled to 271, with Akash Deep (6/99) delivering a ten-wicket match haul. Only Jamie Smith’s 88 stood out in the second innings.