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England v West Indies

‘He wasn’t as rapid as he is now’ – When Archer got the better of Chase in a Sussex club game

Archer
by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

Roston Chase, the West Indies all-rounder, has recalled the time he last locked horns with Jofra Archer during a club game in Sussex five years ago, during which he’d fallen to the speedster for a golden duck.

Chase, part of the West Indies touring part that is visiting England for a three-Test series, will be hoping for a better showing against Archer, who dismissed him for a first-ball duck while playing for Middleton-on-Sea against Cuckfield in the Sussex Premier League in 2015.

“I do remember the game we played against Jofra,” Chase said.”This was before he even played for Sussex or anything like that.”

Opening the bowling, Archer displayed early signs of his new-ball brilliance by running through the Cuckfield top order, reducing them to 8-3. Chase, at No.5, became Archer’s fourth victim soon after, falling leg-before as Cuckfield lost their next two wickets with the total still on 8.

Chase, who is set to face Archer for the first time in international cricket when the series commences with the first Test on July 8, got the first taste of Archer’s now-famous brisk, skiddy pace, although not as potent as it is now.

“He always had some pace, but he wasn’t as rapid as he is now,” Chase remarked. “He actually got five wickets, he got me out as well. He pulled up after he got the five wickets and batting became a lot easier for us.”

Buoyed by Archer’s truncated spell, which paused at 6-1-15-5, Cuckfield’s lower order staged a remarkable recovery, managing 265-8. In response, none of Archer’s teammates could capitalise on their starts, folding for 165 in response.

Now a key component of the West Indies Test team, Chase is looking to add to his tally of five Test centuries in the upcoming series, against Archer & Co.

“Once you do well in England, I think your stock as a cricketer goes up on the international scene,” Chase said. “I’ve always wanted to score a century in England. I scored a century against England in the Caribbean, but I would love to get one in England.”

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