England fast bowler Jofra Archer has hit back at Michael Vaughan’s comments after the former captain questioned Archer’s determination to perform at Test level in a recent column.
Writing for the Telegraph, Vaughan suggested that Archer might not be as committed to Test cricket as he is to the shorter formats.
Vaughan said the modern game provides new challenges for a national team where certain players prefer to player in specific formats.
But, in his own column for the Daily Mail, Archer lashed out at anyone who thinks he doesn’t have the desire for Test cricket.
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‘Let me be clear about something: I’ve never changed my attitude towards playing for England. I’ve always wanted to play all three formats. That hasn’t changed, and never will as far as I’m concerned.
‘I always dreamed of playing Test cricket and don’t feel I’ve had a bad game so far — yet unless I am taking four or five wickets in an innings, I am placed under scrutiny and some people start trying to decipher what’s going on.
‘Comments like “He’s not committed” or “He’s not good enough” appear as soon as you are not 110 per cent. I find it quite annoying how people read into stuff and form their own opinions,’ Archer wrote.
He then took specific aim on Vaughan’s narrative, saying it’s unfair to have such opinions if people aren’t aware of his situation.
‘I saw one article from Michael Vaughan in which he said: “If Jofra doesn’t love Test cricket, England need to find out why.” We’ve never had a conversation about cricket, so I found it a bit odd. He doesn’t know what makes me tick. He doesn’t know what’s driving me.
‘Everyone must start somewhere, and I am still relatively new to Test cricket. I am making my way, much the same as the two great bowlers in this England set-up, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, once did. And I am happy with a bowling average of 31 so far because I can get better,’ Archer added.