England head coach Brendon McCullum provided an important update on Jofra Archer’s vs. availability before the second Test New Zealand. The right-arm fast bowler was left out of England’s squad for the opening Test at Lord’s after spending the last six months playing steady cricket. Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2026.
Archer had a brilliant season in the IPL and emerged as one of the fast bowlers of the tournament. Representing Rajasthan Royals, the speedster has scored 25 wickets in 16 matches and is third in the Purple Cap standings. The right-arm pacer was left out of England’s squad for the opening Test against New Zealand, with the team management continuing to monitor his progress for the rest of the series.
Brendon McCullum gives an update on Jofra Archer’s return
Speaking ahead of the first Test, McCullum revealed that England have yet to make a final decision on Archer’s inclusion in the second Test against New Zealand, which starts on June 17 at The Oval. According to the England manager, the team management is giving Archer time to recover and continue working on his pre-planned fitness program before assessing his fitness upon his return. After the IPL ended, Archer returned to Barbados for a short break before rejoining the England set-up later this month.
“We have to assess Jofra. He’s taking a bit of a break at the moment. We’ve seen in the past that we can leave Jofra to his own devices, work on his game and stick to a set plan. He’s coming out by following that plan. When we see him, we’ll know where he sits and if he’s ready for the second Test. If not, we’ll try a third time.” McCullum told BBC Sport.
The update suggests that Archer remains a doubt for the second Test, with England reluctant to move one of their premier fast bowlers after a long spell of cricket between formats and competitions.
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With Archer unavailable for the series opener, England opted for a relatively fresh-looking bowling unit for the first Test at Lord’s. The squad includes a returning sailor Ollie RobinsonLooking to make his first Test appearance since February 2024, the Hampshire quick Sonny Baker also included in game XII.
Neither did England Brydon CarseHe was sidelined with a wrist injury during the IPL. As a result, greater responsibility will fall on the captain Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson, Josh Dil and Robinson led the charge against New Zealand. Archer’s absence is particularly significant given England’s bid to bounce back from a disappointing Ashes campaign in which they suffered a 4-1 series defeat in Australia. The New Zealand series is seen as an important opportunity for Stokes and his side to regain the momentum that has been going on. World Test Championship period.
The 31-year-old last played Test cricket during the Ashes and showed glimpses of his best form, notably claiming a five-wicket haul in Adelaide. But injuries cut short his campaign once again, forcing him to miss the final two Tests of the series. For now, England will continue to monitor Archer’s progress closely and a final decision on his availability is expected to be made after he returns from Barbados ahead of the second Test.
