LONDON (UK) – Former West Indies Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite said England pace bowler Jofra Archer has the ‘X-factor’ as every successful team needs a special talent.
Archer was dropped from the second test match against West Indies for breaching the COVID-19 bio-security protocols. However, the Barbados born 25-year-old could return for the test starting on Friday.
“There’s the traditional English way of doing it by the book, but all good teams need the X-factor. I think he brings that X-factor… Kevin Pietersen brought that X-factor,” Brathwaite said.
“While you’re hoping that the majority of the team are 75% consistent and they do everything by the book — they are always early, they eat right, they do this and they do that — you do need that rogue.
“I’m not saying that he is that, but every team needs that rogue, that X-factor, that doesn’t play by the rules of the book and ‘do it my way’ type of character.”
The ex-skipper said Archer had the potential to become a leader like Ben Stokes, who was the captain in the opening game against the West Indies in the absence of Joe Root.
Stokes himself missed the 2017 Ashes series against Australia when he injured his hand in a brawl outside a nightclub in Bristol.
“If you think about it, Stokes not so long ago, was seen as that type of character. Now he’s seen as a leader,” Brathwaite added.
“If England can find a way to transform Jofra into the leader that Stokes has become, while keeping his X-factor on-field performance, then they are two serious cricketers to be contending with for the next five to 10 years.”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field