England hoping Jofra Archer is available for 2nd Test vs NZ, says Brendon McCullum

In Archer’s absence, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue combined to take 19 wickets in England’s low-scoring win at Lord’s on Sunday, and McCullum indicated Archer would not be guaranteed a place even if fit for the second test starting on June 17.

Archer last played Test cricket against Australia in Adelaide in December, where he claimed six wickets, and has been in impressive form since his return last year, taking 18 wickets in five matches after a four-year absence from the format.

Over the past two and a half months, Archer was a leading figure in Rajasthan Royals’ run to the IPL’s Qualifier 2, although, his performances and nearly everything else this season was overshadowed by the exploits of his 15-year-old teammate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Archer was the third highest wicket-taker of the season, taking 25 scalps in 16 matches at an economy of 9.31 and average of 22.36.

Simon Doull, who is part of the commentary team for the three-match series, said that Archer missing the first Test due to the IPL was “absolutely ludicrous.”

How are you paying this guy up to a million pound a year and he’s not available for your first Test match? It’s absolutely ludicrous,” Doull said on Sky Sports.

“The last time New Zealand came here, we go back to that last Bazball series. Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Matt Henry were all practicing in between games in the IPL with the red ball and getting through over and overs and overs so they were ready to go when they arrived. I think they arrived 5 days before the first Test after the IPL on that previous tour. Ok, it didn’t work out, NZ lost the series 3-0 but there is no reason that Jofra Archer couldn’t have been bowling six or seven overs each in between day. The fact that he is not doing that tells me he has no interest in playing Test cricket,” Doull said.