'Get out there': Former Aussie skipper clips Archer's preparation

Former Australian captain Kim Hughes has questioned the preparation of Jofra Archer as England prepares for the first Ashes Test.

Archer comes into The Ashes after a long injury run when in July he played his first Test match since 2021. He had a reoccurring elbow injury and a stress fracture in his back.

The fast bowler claimed nine wickets across two Tests against India to assure selectors he would be fit to travel to Australia.

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However, according to the Western Australian based Hughes, before the tour match against the England Lions, Archer didn't bowl until the eighth day after he arrived in Perth.

Hughes believes that's a recipe for disaster. 

"One of the staggering things I've found is that Jofra Archer has played two Test matches in four years. He's been over here in Perth for 10 days, he didn't hit the nets until about two days ago and I thought what was he doing for the previous week?," he told 2GB's Wide World of Sports Radio.

"There's got to be doubts about him.

"He got off the plane 10 days ago with more gold around his neck than you can shake a stick at ... the gold necklace was unbelievable.

"Ian Botham has said in the paper and Dennis Lillee, you don't get fit in the gym for fast bowling, you've got to get out there and it's a tough gig, there's all your running, in the gym you don't want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, you've got to have good muscle balance ... it will be interesting to see what happens."

Archer has always had considerable swagger and will bring plenty of flair to the series.

On day one against the Lions, Archer bowled 12.3 overs and claimed 1-49.

Hughes thinks it will be him, Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood against Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood that will make the difference in the series.

"Bowling with the new ball is the key, that's where you get wickets and I'll be interested to see how the English batsmen go because batting on our wickets compared to English wickets, the ball comes down differently," he said.

"I just think whoever gets two or three early wickets will go a long way to winning the game."

While Hughes had questioned England's preparation with its prime fast bowler, the Western Australian did offer special praise for many of the dressing room's key men.

"Brendon McCullum has done a fantastic thing for English cricket with so called Bazball, it has been exciting," he said.

"England have been getting out there with (Harry) Brooks and others scoring 300, 400, 500 in a day in Test cricket. They've got Joe Root who is as good as any batsman there's been for the last 15 or 20 years together with (Kane) Williamson and Steve Smith.

"He's the key, the openers and No.3 are your specialist positions but they won't be driving them like they do in England ... the game will be won or loss with the new ball bowlers."

Hughes predicted Australia will win 3-0.https://omny.fm/shows/wide-world-of-sports/wide-world-of-sports-full-show-13th-november-1/embed