Jofra Archer made a mistake, so did we!

Stardom is a double-edged sword, isn’t it so? The glitz and glamour can be luring, luscious, and appealing to the naked eye from a distance. But isn’t it a picturesque and serene ocean with monstrous alligators, outrageously waiting to tear its prey apart, filling the water body with a pool of blood? Cricket might not be as horrid, but the repercussions can be murderous, ask Jofra Archer.

Fandom comes with conditions of hitting perfection every other time. It defies the concept that ‘mistakes are human’, rather mistakes are deemed ‘cardinal sins’, demanding scorning from every nook and corner. It’s then that the praises seem an illusion, a lie, though a beautiful one. It’s a tad over 20 matches that Archer has played for England and the limelight doesn’t seem to get off him.

What more could Archer have done?

Archer had played only three ODIs before the World Cup, but he enacted the role of a marauder for them. By the fag end of the mega event, he had garnered Eoin Morgan’s faith, so much so that he was entrusted to bowl the Super Over in a final. Barring the ball where James Neesham flicked him for a six over the leg side, the pacer was spot on, giving an insight into his character and calmness.

Archer knocked out Steve Smith in the Ashes. Mind you, Smith has eyes similar to a hawk, and has the power of pre-empting as he did to Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz in a T20 World Cup contest. Archer did it to Marnus Labuschagne, who somehow remained on his feet, as well. He was a brute force in the Tests series, having the best bowling average and strike-rate among the Three Lions’ bowlers.

In a space of four months from May to September, Archer had turned from ‘no one’ to more than just ‘someone’. But it was hard for him to foresee the beast he was about to face, the Satan, who was waiting with open arms to gobble him.

It’s not Jofra ‘Miracle’ Archer. Is it?

The New Zealand tour later that year may not be his best, but did that warrant him being ‘racially abused’? Though the fan, present in Mount Maunganui, was banned, does that eradicate the ungodly issue of discriminating people on the basis of colour and ethnicity? On humanitarian grounds, can mercilessly demeaning someone publicly, be a source of pleasure for anyone?

Even as the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement is running at full throttle, Archer has had to face racial abuses. The speedster going to his home in between the first and second Test, breaching the bio-security protocols, can be considered as an act of negligence. But is it anywhere close of committing a crime? Food for thought! There’s a difference between criticism and mindless blabbering. Isn’t it?

Archer is composed, going by his facial expressions. But the harsh words from all around has made him question his mental stability. Aren’t the fans supposed to be a bit more responsible? Aren’t they supposed to back their heroes when things aren’t falling in place for them? If cricketing criticism wasn’t enough, Archer now has had to counter severe humiliation, relating to him being black.

Let’s celebrate Jofra Archer

Archer hasn’t even played 10 Tests, but already has three fifers to his name. He managed to leave Alex Carey in bloodbath, smacking his chin during the 2019 World Cup semis. Albeit it wasn’t a pretty sight, the world got a glimpse of Archer’s bouncers. Roston Chase got a taste of his bumper in Southampton. Chase could do nothing, but taking a failed evasive action, leading to his dismissal.

Archer uses his brains to direct the bouncers, making full utilisation of the short-pitched deliveries. But then, the netzines questioned him for being predictable. Yes, Archer can be tedious at time, but one can’t expect something supernatural from someone, who is still busy finding his feet. Yes, bowling bouncers is one of Archer’s strengths, but he has also gotten wickets of full-length balls.

Coming up the ranks through Sussex, Archer has made a name for himself. Let’s not burden him with expectations and enjoy him running in with venom. Earlier, Michael Vaughan predicted Archer to get 400 Test wickets. Instead of looking into the future, let’s celebrate each and every wicket of Archer, sometimes his big-hitting too. Let’s enjoy Jofra Archer, or be it any cricketer, as a whole package.

As humans, aren’t we supposed to make the world a better place to live for each other?