Jofra Archer can handle anything after that super over

The Sussex paceman has been told by England skipper Joe Root he will feature in the Ashes series at some stage, despite omission from the first match.

Archer is not involved as the series gets under way at Edgbaston.

A Test debut at Lord’s, scene of his World Cup glory and a T20 hat-trick for Sussex last season, looks more likely.

When the big moment comes, he will take it in his stride.

Just as he did the super over which brought the World Cup to England.

Archer made that much clear as he spoke to reporters after his run out for Sussex in their Vitality Blast tie against Surrey last Friday.

As a backdrop, recordings of the interview had the sound of children chanting for their hero as they stood out in pouring rain hoping to meet him.

That wish was granted when the drenched youngsters were invited on to the players’ balcony.

Archer has come a long way in a short period of time and nothing is quite as it was before the World Cup.

That was clear from the reception he received on his return to the 1st Central County Ground.

Asked whether he felt he could now handle anything, Archer said: “Well, kind of, because I had already made my mind up in that super over that, if you lose, you lose.

“No one is going to die. It’s not the end of the world.

“It’s just cricket at the end of the day and you are going to get another chance to be on the winning side.

“It has been weird since. You’ve got people coming to shake your hand and saying ‘Well done’.

“I’ve had kids in the rain right now.

“It means a lot to England and not just us, the players.”

Archer got through the World Cup on painkillers and said he was unable to get the week’s rest he needed to ease the side problem due to the tournament schedule.

That was put right when he had a break in Barbados after the final.

It was there he realised how much the tournament had taken out of him, both physically and mentally.

He told The Argus: “It was probably six weeks’ work and I was just glad to get away at the end of it.

“Coming back now, it is just time to build up and hopefully push for selection.

“It was really good to get away from cricket.

“Obviously there was still a bit of that side of it back home.

“But I don’t think it was as intense there and I could always go home and hide away if I wanted to.”

Archer took 2-21 in his four overs for the Sharks, looked sharp in the field and said he felt ready for the demands of a Test match.

As it is, he will have to wait, but he said: “All of my debuts have been really important.

“I’m just ready to go out there and show the guys what I can do with my red ball.

“I think my red ball record is better than the white as well “I just can’t wait to get an opportunity.”

As with his England colleagues, the challenge for Archer will be to lift himself again after a once-in-a-lifetime moment in the 50-overs competition.

It is one of which he will surely have vivid memories for a long time to come.

But, as of last Friday night, he said he had not yet watched the super over in which he defended 15 runs against Zealand.

He said: “I haven’t got to it yet “I have started watching the final over again but I haven’t got to the super overs yet.

“It’s like eight hours of cricket, you know? It’s so long.

“I’m not going to sit on the couch watching all of it. I take it in parts and I’ll get there when I get there.”

The same looks like being true in the Ashes.