Archer displays his new-found durability ... even if Pakistan have not

Fast bowler is on course to feature in his 35th professional fixture this season, having overcome years of injury

By the end of September, Jofra Archer is likely to have played more matches in an English season that at any point of his career.

England are likely to go unchanged for the third and final Test against Pakistan, despite having the series in the bag after the first two Tests. It means Archer is set to make his 35th appearance of the summer, across formats and continents.

At the conclusion of this match, there will still be three T20Is and three ODIs to come against Sri Lanka, meaning the 31-year old should better the 37 fixtures he managed in 2018 - the summer before he qualified for England. Both started with IPL stints with Rajasthan Royals.

The eight years since have been far from straightforward. But the past 18 months have brought consistency to Archer, following years of stress fractures and setbacks.

At the end of his 23rd Test cap, he will celebrate just his fourth series win out of 10. It will be his first since 2020, and a first outright in which he has played every match.

A lot of time, effort and money has been put in to getting Archer to this point, and not just during the last Ashes. As much as the focus is now on South Africa in the winter, ahead of next summer's meeting with Australia, the present is good a time as any for the ECB to take stock.

One of the few lasting successes under men's managing director Rob Key has been the emergence of a potent bowling attack. Archer, along with Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson have brought the pace in their own unique ways, while Ollie Robinson leads the line with his relentless skill and accuracy. Naturally, comparisons have been made to 2005's Ashes winning foursome of Andrew Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard.Archer has claimed eight wickets at 21.87 in the series so far•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

All can - and have - taken the new ball, and have previous operating with the old one, even if Pakistan's meek batting has yet to keep them in the field for more than 51 overs. Robinson, however, has earned the accolade of spearhead on a technicality. His return to the fold was ultimately down to a dispiriting winter rather than ingenious planning, and, as far as Archer is concerned, he has the more discernible responsibility.

"It seems to be Ollie," Archer says of the attack leader, based on Robinson's 16 dismissals at 7.18, compared to his eight at 21.87. Robinson also gets to choose the ball that England use in their bowling innings.

"It's the same as everyone's role," Archer says of his duty. "You come in and you try to make an impact. If the guy at the other end is going well, you complement him, and if he's not you try to take it up and be the aggressor. That's it, everyone just push-and-pulls.

"It's still early days, but we've been going all right so far. This wicket [Edgbaston] usually goes five days, so we'll see how we go if we have the opportunity to be out there a bit longer than the past two games. But, regardless, everyone is very relentless. Gus and Tonguey are due for another big haul. Hopefully it can come in this game."

After the series-clinching victory at Lord's, Robinson identified that the beauty of this pace quartet was how each member could focus on being themselves. That suits Archer and his tunnel vision when he steps onto the field. He admits to being unaware how the other quicks prepare and even claimed to be unaware Pakistan have spiralled into further disarray since Lord's.

That sole focus is, ultimately, something Archer has had to get used to. The nature of his injury rehabilitation set him apart from countless England squads, across the red- and white-ball formats. For the longest time, even under the ECB's auspices, and supervision from physiotherapists and strength-and-conditioning coaches, he was very much on his own.RelatedEngland pace pack arrives as stuff of Pakistani nightmares

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He admits that those periods away from the game blurred into one. But they did afford him time at home, in Barbados. Having left the island full-time at the age of 19 to go all-in on his professional career, starting with Sussex, sacrifices were made that Archer has been able to make up with these extended lay-offs.

"With my rehab… I'd be lying if I didn't say I had a good time away from everything. Now, the present, and everything is really nice. My body is in a good place, the team is in a good place and everyone is in a good place. I just want to play cricket.

"Nobody likes missing cricket. That was the most frustrating part for me. [But] I got to spend some time at home, because, moving over, I never really got more than couple of weeks.

"You get to catch up with your friends and family, that you would have grown apart from. I came over when I was 19 or 20. For four years, it was all about cricket.

"To get a few months back it made me feel really nice, really grounded. At some point cricket is going to end, so then what are you going to do after that?

"It was really nice to see family, friends and people you don't really get to see. Again, you don't get to see many birthdays. My mum's birthday is in March - you know what, I don't think I've been home for a single family birthday [since moving]. It's just simple things like that. I don't get to see mum on Mother's Day.

"There's so much you miss out on when you're playing that you don't realise until you actually get to do it."

Life has moved on in his dressing-room, too. Of the teammates Archer debuted with during the 2019 Ashes, only skipper Joe Root remains following Ben Stokes' international retirement three months ago.

Nevertheless, new memories are there to be made. Starting with capping off a series win with a flawless scoreline.

It has been a far-from-challenging series so far, with two Tests sewn up inside seven days. It's a contrast to last summer's India series in which all five Tests went into the fifth day. As such, questions remain about the durability of this attack, both over time and against tougher opponents. For now, this is a chance to be ruthless, and close out a red-ball season that began with a disastrous 2-1 defeat to New Zealand.

"As long as we get the job done - usually here it goes five days - all the boys are ready," Archer said. "We've been fortunate with two early finishes, but I think we're ready. Last year every game went all five days. That is as good a prep you will ever get. The boys are definitely ready if it does go for five days."