Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has praised Jofra Archer’s bowling strategy against India’s teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the England pacer has exposed the youngster with well-executed short-pitched deliveries during the ongoing T20I series.
Archer has dismissed the 15-year-old batter twice in the last three matches, gaining the upper hand in a contest that has attracted considerable attention. Interestingly, both players were teammates at Rajasthan Royals during the Indian Premier League (IPL).
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
In the third T20I, Sooryavanshi gloved a short delivery to the wicketkeeper, while in the fourth T20I in Bristol, he top-edged another short ball, resulting in a catch. Archer’s consistent use of the short-ball tactic has proved effective against the young opener.
Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, Moeen said he admired Archer’s approach and noted that success in IPL practice sessions does not necessarily translate to the international stage.
“I loved the way Archer was bowling at Sooryavanshi. During the IPL, I saw Rajasthan Royals’ social media saying that Archer was smashed a few times in the nets by Sooryavanshi. It was a great bouncer by Jofra to get rid of Vaibhav. He is a fantastic batter and I’m not trying to undermine his abilities. But things are different in international cricket,” Moeen said.
Moeen acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s immense talent but emphasised that international cricket presents a far greater challenge, especially for young batters still adapting to the highest level of the game.
Sooryavanshi was drafted into the Indian side after Sanju Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament at this year’s T20 World Cup, endured a lean run with the bat, failing to score in three consecutive matches. However, the teenage prodigy has also struggled to make a significant impact in the opportunities he has received so far.
Archer’s success against Sooryavanshi has added an intriguing subplot to the T20I series, with the England fast bowler demonstrating his experience and ability to exploit the weaknesses of even the most highly-rated young talents on the international stage.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
