Archer Could Become England's Greatest Ever Bowler, Says ECB Chief Key OR Rob Key: Archer Poised to Become One of England's All-Time Greats OR ECB's Key Predicts Archer's Rise to Bowling Greatness Amidst India Test Series

Rob Key, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) director, has expressed confidence in Jofra Archer's potential, stating that he could become one of the best bowlers England has ever produced. Key addressed concerns about Archer's readiness for Test cricket, explaining that the decision to ease him back into the longest format was deliberate.

Jofra Archer (Getty Images)

His statement comes despite advice from former England captain Michael Vaughan and Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace, who cautioned against rushing Archer into the second Test against India at Edgbaston. Archer, who last played a Test in 2021, was included in the squad after playing a County match for Sussex.

Key emphasized that the ECB has taken a measured approach with Archer's return. "I think we've gone slower than we could have done," Key told The Guardian. "Jofra has been in a long period where he's been building up and building up (in white-ball cricket). The temptation could have been to rush him back sooner. But actually we've gone down this road to make sure that we're in this position now where we're thinking about playing him."

England secured a victory in the first Test at Headingley, but their pace attack's potency was questioned. Archer, known for his impressive performance in the recent IPL season, could provide the much-needed sharpness to England's bowling attack, assuming he makes the cut for the final XI.

"He could be one of the best bowlers we have had. And you only do that by doing it in Test cricket. Hopefully for the next few years we'll be fortunate enough to see Jofra have the chance to stake that claim," Key added.

The ECB director also highlighted that England captain Ben Stokes is adept at managing Archer's workload, considering his history of injuries. "These are impact players. You don't want them doing other roles. That's where you need complementary skills, so you can share a bit more of the work. The temptation at times with Jofra is that he can do a bit of everything. But you've got to use him when he can impact the game and Ben (Stokes) is one of the best at that. You have got to be smart with how you use them so they can help you win a game," Key explained.

Regarding Mark Wood, who has been sidelined due to knee surgery, Key expressed optimism about his return but refrained from giving a specific timeline. Reports suggest that Wood might be available for the fifth and final Test against India in late July.

"Wood is someone who could turn up after bowling a bit in the nets, like he did (in 2023), and it's 96mph, swinging the ball and hitting a length. We're very fortunate he has the ability to hit his straps pretty much from the start."

Key concluded by drawing parallels between Archer and Wood, describing them as "pure talents." "Jofra is close to the Mark Wood end of the scale: a pretty pure talent, not a lot of moving parts to his action. He knows exactly what he is doing and what he is about," Key said.