England star Jofra Archer ‘over the moon’ after blowing away Australia in third Ashes Test

Jofra Archer admits he is ‘over the moon’ after taking his first five-wicket haul to help England take control of the third Ashes Test against Australia.

Fast bowler Archer claimed figures of 6-44 from 17.1 overs to help England dismiss the tourists for 179 on day one at Headingley.

The 24-year-old dismissed Australia openers Marcus Harris and David Warner and middle-order batsman Matthew Wade before skittling through the tail as the Ashes holders slipped from 136-2 to 179 all out.

Speaking to BBC Test Match Special at the close of play, Archer said: ‘Firstly, it means I get to rest!

‘We’ve been in the field all day, it was stop start all day, which is really annoying. You start to bowl well and then you have to go off and start again.

‘I’m over the moon to get six wickets but equally happy just to get off. The ball just started swinging randomly from the over before the Warner wicket.

‘It got a bit more overcast and then from then on the ball was really good. We thought it was going to be a repeat of Lord’s and losing the first day.

‘But we got a large portion of the bad weather out of the way today.’

Archer, who took 20 wickets during England’s triumphant World Cup campaign, added: ‘I didn’t do too much differently from Lord’s, the slope there just makes the balls a lot harder to play.

‘It was a bit bowler friendly today, at times it did go flat and the ball stopped swinging but it started again.

‘There were a few threes and no sweepers, I’ll more than take 6-45 but I can be tidier in the future.

‘It’s been really good so far, from the moment I’ve put the badge on, it’s been the happiest days of cricket so far and hopefully plenty more ahead.

‘They’ve got some good bowlers as well so we’ve got to bat really well tomorrow.’

Marnus Labuschagne, who starred as Steve Smith’s concussion substitute at Lord’s, scored 74 today and opener Warner also rediscovered his form with a half-century.

But the day belonged to England and Archer, and former captain Michael Vaughan feels the hosts are well positioned to go on and win the Test.

He said: ‘At 136-2 Joe Root would have had a real panic on. The ball was travelling to all parts of the ground. But the wicket of David Warner was the real key – all of a sudden England had an end to bowl at and the ball started to do a little bit.