James Anderson, a veteran of England, has endorsed Jofra Archer's comeback and urged the selectors to use the speed ace in the crucial third Test match against India at Lord's. Archer, 29, has suffered several injuries, including elbow issues and stress fractures, and has not participated in a Test match since February 2021.

He just returned to playing first-class cricket, though, with Sussex, and he was included in the England team for the second Test match at Edgbaston. Anderson thinks it is now or never to bring back Archer after England lost badly by 336 runs in that game, allowing India to tie the series 1-1.

"You could keep trying to build his overs up and play him later in the series, but it could be too late by then. I think he will play. He's played one game for Sussex, he was around the team at Edgbaston and bowled a bit. I just feel like you've got to play him. It's too crucial a game not to," Anderson was quoted as saying by India Today.

Although he did not explicitly confirm Archer's selection, England head coach Brendon McCullum gave a positive evaluation of the pacer's mental and physical preparedness. Archer looks poised to return to the Test arena after years of disappointment.

"Jofra is looking fit, he's looking strong, he's looking ready to go, and he'll come into calculations. It's hugely exciting. He's buzzing as well. He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket. We all know what he's capable of achieving in Test cricket and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and also improve on what he's been able to do already in that form of the game," McCullum said.

Ahead of the third Test, which starts Thursday at Lord's, there is a wider selection debate surrounding Archer's possible return. Following his recovery from a hamstring injury he suffered during the May one-off Test match against Zimbabwe, fast bowler Gus Atkinson is back in the running. All-round batter Jacob Bethell is also being considered, although head coach Brendon McCullum has stated that the 22-year-old will not be taking Shoaib Bashir's place as the starting spinner.

"He's a batting option. He's the next one in if something happens. He wants to keep improving his bowling so that he can obviously impact the game across both the bat and ball. It's not something we'd look at from a tactical point of view to do," McCullum said on Bethell.

There is a mix of youth and experience in England's third Test lineup, but everyone will be watching to see if the selectors follow Anderson's suggestion and unleash Jofra Archer at the "Home of Cricket" in what might be a series-deciding game.

England squad for third Test vs India at Lord's: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.