How Jofra Archer can bring death bowling back to life… England's fiery paceman is the man to deliver on the business front

The answer to England's death bowling question has been in plain sight in recent days: Jofra Archer's half-hour net session at the Kensington Oval, a reminder that their best finisher with the ball is still in the books.

Either side of Archer's return to training alongside his international teammates, England lost matches, partly due to an inability to wrap things up.

Firstly, Sam Curran was sent to the wind so often in Antigua that he recorded the worst figures in 53 years of one-day internationals by an Englishman.

Then, late on Saturday evening, Gus Atkinson was reintroduced into the attack, with the West Indies needing 33 off 24 deliveries, relinquishing that position of strength as 24 runs flowed from an over in which he struggled to contain both the muscular attacks of Romario Shepherd and counteract the effects of the attack. dew on the ball.

World-class deathbowlers are a rare breed. Besides Australia's World Cup winner Mitchell Starc, Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, India's Jasprit Bumrah and New Zealand's Trent Boult, few people come to mind.

But with Archer, England undoubtedly possesses one of its own. Which, combined with recent displays from others, shows why they took a gamble on awarding a two-year contract to a player with such a checkered injury history. The first target is that in six months he will be around his best of 2019 for the Twenty20 world title defense here in the Caribbean.

Earlier this year he provided evidence of his business skills in the final bouts of one-day internationals, finishing 2.1-1-5-3 in an England win over South Africa in Kimberley, followed by 3-0-7-2 to restrict Bangladesh in Mirpur and then take three wickets in 10 balls in the series final.

Archer has all the qualities you need at the end of a limited overs match. Fast bowlers blessed with a speed of 90mph become even more dangerous when their repertoire includes a series of slower balls, as batters cannot position themselves.

He also has a dangerous bouncer that keeps them from rocking forward, and the ability to hit the block gap at will.

In his absence, England has turned to alternatives with varying degrees of success. Curran flourished during last year's T20 World Cup success despite his lack of physical attributes. Instead, he acted on his mental attributes and cunningly allowed opponents to reach Australia's long square boundaries.

But despite the Windies' rope-clearing ability and the strong crosswinds here, he looked anything but player-of-the-tournament material.

However, England coach Matthew Mott denied that England have a 'death problem' and suggested that the recent practitioners will be given further opportunities in the future.

“We have some very good options there,” he said after the 2-1 defeat. “Look at the guys who are getting a chance, they haven't had many chances in this format yet but I think they will be better for the experience.

'If you put yourself in such situations often enough, every now and then you can't get away from them. (Sam) hasn't missed the death that much for us, more likely in T20. But he is the type of bowler who wants the ball in his hand at the back. And if you have guys who want that, they're going to come out on top more often than they miss.”

The fast bowler has taken part in half-hour net sessions at the Kensington Oval

England awarded Archer a two-year contract despite his injury problems in recent years

England have left behind 35-year-old Chris Jordan, their second-highest T20 wicket-taker, but there has been a recall for Tymal Mills for a five-match series that will familiarize them with the conditions they will face in June are confronted.

Reece Topley, another left-armer, is an alternative for the next fortnight, although he tarnished an otherwise excellent form in Barbados last year when he conceded a combined 32 on overs 17 and 19 in the decider of a series in which a record of 96 sixes were achieved. It could be another case of damage control in a clash between the only two teams to become two-time T20 world champions.

Despite their recent white-ball demise, including the ignominy of failing to qualify for the 50-over World Cup, the West Indies have defeated England and India on home soil since early 2022, either side of a series win in South Africa, and welcome backs a string of franchise stars like Nicholas Pooran, Jason Holder, Andre Russell and Rovman Powell.

Meanwhile, England are buoyed by the arrivals of senior men Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Chris Woakes ahead of tomorrow's opening match.