Stokes sends Australia Archer warning
Ben Stokes has warned Australia that Jofra Archer is preparing to deliver another bouncer barrage in the
third Ashes Test at Headingley. The wicked 92mph delivery which smashed Steve Smith in the neck and
ultimately forced him out of the match with concussion proved to be the pivotal point of the game, but it
was far from an isolated incident.
Archer had earlier thumped Smith’s left forearm, a painful blow which required X-rays and ice compression,
touched a peak of 96.1mph and even floored Test cricket’s first concussion replacement, Marnus
Labuschagne, with another rocket.
“It’s part of the game and a big part of Jofra’s game, being aggressive, not letting batsmen settle,” said
Stokes. “When someone takes a nasty blow no bowler is going to say ‘I’m not going to bowl that again
because I don’t want to hit them again’.
“The concern is always there when someone takes it but next ball, when you get back to the mark, it’s ‘I’m
going to keep doing it’. Everything is so rhythmical with Jofra it is tough to see when that bouncer is
coming. There’s no ‘tell’. He bowled a lot of them, but they don’t seem to pick it up.”
Zouma relishing second chance at Chelsea
Kurt Zouma is relishing his second chance at Chelsea and is determined to help Frank Lampard’s reign be
successful. The 24-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan at Stoke and Everton respectively, but is
back in the picture at Stamford Bridge under Lampard, who has picked him in his first three games in
charge. Zouma spent much of the summer being linked with a return to Goodison Park, but his focus is now
on cementing his place in Lampard’s team.
“I am here. Everything is done now,” he said. “I have to do my job here and I am happy to be here. I just
want to work hard and play. That’s what I’m trying to do and the most important thing is the team. We need
to start winning games. I’m not surprised [to be in the team] because that’s what I wanted. I came here and
wanted to play.
“It has been a very, very long journey. I don’t want to talk about that now because that is the past but I
fought very hard. People don’t know, people don’t see but I was in the shadow, working hard to get back
because I had a very, very bad injury. I was off for one year but people forget that and don’t see. But me, I
always believed in myself. My family was always there behind me, supporting me and now I am back.”
Bolton postpone match due to youth welfare concerns
Bolton Wanderers’ game with Doncaster Rovers has been postponed due to concerns over the “impact on
the welfare” of their players. The League One club have been in administration since May and could only
field three senior outfield players [Luke Murphy, Jason Lowe and James Weir] in Saturday’s 5-0 loss to
Tranmere Rovers.
A statement read: “It is with real regret and a deepening sense of frustration that we have been forced to
postpone tomorrow’s fixture against Doncaster Rovers. Whilst the threat of further EFL sanctions is
obvious, nothing can be allowed to impact on the welfare of such a young group of players. With so many
senior players injured or unavailable, the squad has performed heroically and deserves so much credit.