WATCH | Archer returns to scene of crime at Lord's after leaving Smith scarred in iconic 2019 battle

Jofra Archer returned to Test cricket after four long years against India on Thursday after being picked in the starting XI for the third Test at Lord's. Despite being touted as a generational talent and forcing changes in the England Cricket Board's onboarding processes for immigrant players just to accomodate him into the team as quickly as possible, Archer's struggle with injuries mean he has played only 13 Tests since his debut in the Ashes in 2019. However, the sheer quality of the quick was there for all to see as soon as he wore the England whites, epitomised by a spell for the ages against Steve Smith in what thus far was his only appearance at Lord's.

On a tough deck with plenty of seam and bounce, Smith was busy re-establishing himself as an all-time great upon his return from a one-year ban as he grinded out 122 balls for 55 runs by Lunch on Day 2 to keep his team in the contest. The only bowler that seemed to troubled him in the morning was Archer, and the right-arm quick unsurprisingly returned immediately after the break to try and prize the veteran's wicket. In a 10-over spell that saw Archer bowl 16 deliveries to Smith, the fiery pacer made the Dukes talk to strike Smith on his thighs, elbow, and the forearm on separate instances while also extracting thick outside edges a couple of times. Archer made sure to drive home his dominance with a slew of stares in his follow-up and the occasional word from a place of authority.

The telling blow came in the 77th over, when Smith slouched on his knees to avoid an Archer bumper only to be struck square on the neck and fall down on the ground in a heap. After extensive medical attention, a visibly dazed Smith had to walk off and even though he returned for a brief stay later in the innings, the veteran was eventually diagnosed with concussion and replaced by Marnus Labuschagne. Only time will tell whether Archer can repeat those heroics when Gill's men walk into bat in the ongoing Test.