Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has criticised England fast bowler Jofra Archer after he was seen arriving for the third day of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba carrying a pillow, calling it a “shocking look.”
Archer, who had a pillow tucked under his arm before play, faced scrutiny as England sought four wickets to end Australia’s first innings and keep their Ashes hopes alive. Instead, Australia frustrated the visitors throughout the entire morning session, moving from 378-6 to 450-8 at lunch, extending their lead to 116 runs.
Hayden told Channel 7 that, as a batsman, seeing a bowler arriving with a pillow would only motivate him further, adding: “You are never going to sleep on that.”
Archer bowled five wicketless overs with the second new ball, conceding 13 runs, as England struggled to break the ninth-wicket stand between Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, who added 34 runs in 16 overs.
The extended Australian innings means England will bat under the Gabba floodlights later on Saturday, facing a newer ball—an advantage for the hosts. England’s difficult morning followed a mistake-ridden second day in which they dropped five catches, prompting former captain Michael Vaughan to question their preparation and describe the team as “jaded.”
Archer’s workload has drawn attention as he continues his return to Test cricket after a four-year injury absence. By the first interval on day three, he had bowled 25 overs—his second-highest total in a Test innings since 2019.
