Sawt Falasteen - India expect England's Archer to pose 'challenge'

The 30-year-old is poised to end four years of injury-induced exile in the third Test starting Thursday, after India levelled the five-match series at 1-1 after thrashing England by 336 runs at Edgbaston.

England could refresh their pace attack at Lord's by recalling both Archer and Gus Atkinson, with Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue possibly making way.

Archer burst onto the international scene in 2019 but played the last of his 13 Tests in February 2021 and this season has bowled just 18 first-class overs for county side Sussex.

"It will be a challenge, Jofra coming in," India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told reporters.

"There might be a couple of bowling changes in the England team, but that we don't know."

England captain Ben Stokes said the pitch at Edgbaston was more of a sub-continental than typically English surface, with the hosts making it clear they would like the rest of the series played on pitches with more pace and bounce.

Two days out from the game, a green pitch at Lord's offered the promise of assistance for pacemen on both sides, with India recalling Jasprit Bumrah after resting him in Birmingham.

"The wicket also will be a little more challenging, it seems," said Kotak. "And after the last two games, if as a host, England think that they want a little bit more challenging wicket, it is fair enough...

"You bat well, it is fine. If you don't bat well, any wicket can be challenging.

"It looks as if there's a little green in the wicket... But, tomorrow (Wednesday), when they will do the final cut (of the pitch), after that we can say."

India's batsmen have posted seven hundreds so far this series, with captain Shubman Gill already having three to his credit after scoring 269 and 161 at Edgbaston.

England's opening bowlers, Carse and Chris Woakes, have toiled so far, taking a combined 9-605 across the opening two matches.

R.Halabi--SF-PST