In the change of innings, Archer loosened up then stripped to the waist to change his shirt. It is hard to think of Fred Trueman doing the same on the Lord’s outfield, though Trueman did not have a body like Archer’s.
His time came at 14:43. Second over, after Yashasvi Jaiswal had taken 13 runs off Chris Woakes’ first.
The crowd cheered as Archer marked out his run. He rubbed his hands in the dirt as his name was announced and the cheers grew louder. The Pavilion End from where he roasted Steve Smith in 2019.
Same cruise to the crease, almost hiding behind the umpire. Loose limbs and gold chain. Snap into a smooth action. Then fireworks.
Movement away from left-hander Jaiswal at 87.5mph. Play and miss. A frisson through the stands.
Jaiswal, baby face and flashing blade, has tormented Stokes’ side with runs from Vizag to Headingley. Only Don Bradman averages more against England. Archer needed just three deliveries to see him off.
More pace, 90mph of it. More movement. A poke and an edge. Time stood still until the ball came to rest in the hands of Harry Brook.
Archer wheeled away like Marco Tardelli in the 1982 World Cup final, roaring to the sky to release 1,596 days of frustration. Mobbed by his team-mates, he pointed to the England dressing room and his mum Joelle in the crowd.
Genuine life-affirming joy.
Karun Nair was greeted by three slips, a gully, a short leg and a leg gully, the most popular man in north London.
Every ball Archer sent down was an event, each delivery pregnant with danger. The overs of Woakes, the man with an unmatched record on this ground, were an irrelevance. Like two different sports being played at once.
Archer conceded only four runs from his first 21 deliveries before Nair got him through mid-off and to fine leg. Words exchanged. Theatre.
Stokes moved towards Archer at the end of his fourth over. The paceman held up a finger to demand one more. Stokes knew not to argue.
