Head Coach Brendon McCullum has raised questions about Jofra Archer‘s availability for England’s second Test against New Zealand. Archer was not included in the squad for the first match of the home season after playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 Indian Premier League.
During his IPL season, Archer performed well, taking 25 wickets in 16 matches, finishing third in the Purple Cap standings. After the tournament ended, he returned to Barbados for a short break.
McCullum mentioned that the team will allow Archer to recover and focus on his training while in Barbados. Once he returns to England, the coaching staff will evaluate his fitness to determine if he can participate in the second Test at the Oval, which starts on June 17.
“We need to assess Jofra. He’s on a break at the moment. We know he can manage his training on his own and stick to the plan we’ve set. When he returns, we’ll see where he stands and if he can play in the second Test. If not, we’ll consider the third Test,” McCullum told BBC Sport.
While Archer is away, England has selected a relatively new bowling lineup, featuring Sussex captain Ollie Robinson and newcomer Sonny Baker, who is yet to debut in Test Cricket. Both players are part of the 12-man squad for the first Test at Lord’s.
Archer’s last appearance in five-day cricket was during the Ashes series in Australia, where England faced a 4-1 defeat. The 31-year-old struggled during that series, taking nine wickets in three matches at an average of 27.11. He did manage to achieve a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the third Test in Adelaide.