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Brathwaite compares Archer to Pietersen

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Last updated on: July 24, 2020 15:56 IST

'I am not saying that he (Archer) is that, but every team needs that rogue, that X-Factor, that doesn't play by the rules of the book and 'do it my way' type of character.'

Carlos Brathwaite sees a leader in Jofra Archer and wants England to support him in discovering his leadership qualities so that he can serve English cricket for a long time. 

IMAGE: Carlos Brathwaite sees a leader in Jofra Archer and wants England to support him in discovering his leadership qualities so that he can serve English cricket for a long time. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images via Reuters

Former West Indies T20 skipper Carlos Brathwaite feels England pacer Jofra Archer is the "do-it-my-way" type of player which every team needs and also has the potential to be a future leader of the side.

 

The 25-year-old Archer was included in the England team for the third Test after being dropped from the second game for breaching the side's COVID-19 bio-secure protocol. He apologised for his action of visiting his home while the team was in a bio-secure environment.

"There is the traditional English way of doing it by the book, but all good teams need the X-Factor. I think he (Archer) brings that X-Factor and I thought Kevin Pietersen brought that X-Factor," Brathwaite told BBC Sport.

"While you're hoping that the majority of the team are 75 per cent consistent and they do everything by the book -- they are always early, they eat right, they do this and they do that -- you do need that rogue.

"I am not saying that he (Archer) is that, but every team needs that rogue, that X-Factor, that doesn't play by the rules of the book and 'do it my way' type of character."

Brathwaite cited the example of star all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has courted trouble in the past but emerged as one of the most consistent performers for England in the last two years. He also led the England team in the first Test in the absence of Joe Root.

Brathwaite sees a leader in Archer and wants England to support him in discovering his leadership qualities so that he can serve English cricket for a long time.

"If you think about it, Stokes not so long ago, was seen as that type of character. Now he's seen as a leader," Brathwaite said.

"If England can find a way to transform Jofra into the leader that Stokes has become, while keeping his X-factor on-field performance, then they are two serious cricketers to be contending with for the next five to 10 years."

Stokes had suffered a hand injury in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in 2017. He was later cleared of affray but it cost him the Ashes Series.

Archer should forget about "outside noise" and focus on becoming a great fast bowler: Holding

West Indies pace legend Michael Holding feels Jofra Archer has the potential to become a great fast bowler and the England speedster should ignore the "outside noise" and focus on his bowling.

Archer has been included in England's 14-member squad for the series deciding third Test against West Indies beginning on Friday. The 25-year-old had earlier admitted that he was subjected to racist abuse on social media for breaking the bio-bubble protocol after the series opener.

"To be honest, I don't think it should be that difficult. The environment in which he is, he's in a team that has just won the last Test match," Holding said on 'Sky Sports'.

"He's amongst friends in the England team; he has Ben Stokes, who he is very close to, who is a personable person and also a positive person.

"So he should just make sure that he gets involved with the team, forgets about all the outside noise and just do what he can do. He is potentially a great bowler so he should just concentrate on that," Holding added.

Holding, who picked up 391 wickets in 60 Tests and 102 ODIs for West Indies between 1975-87, admitted it is not easy to brush off abuse of any form.

"It's not easy. When people are starting to abuse you because of your ethnicity, the colour of your skin, your religion or anything that is physical about you -- even if people try to bully you because you are overweight, it's not easy to get over.

"But it's all a matter of concentrating on what your job is. Social media is difficult to deal with. That's why I've never had any sort of account. If you are going to be dealing with things like that you've got to be mentally strong.

"Archer is a very good bowler; he's playing for England, he's playing for a very good team."

The 66-year-old said the England side needs to be supportive of Archer which will help the Barbados-born speedster.

"I don't know exactly what is happening within the England team but I do know that in successful teams people stick together and support each other. I think that is what he needs to concentrate his mind on and forget about everything else."

"Just go out there and mix with the team, get involved with the cricket and once he gets a wicket I'm absolutely sure he'll just blend back into everything and everything will be fine," Holding added.

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