Former Latest Zealand player Simon Doull criticised veteran England pace bowler Jofra Archer for missing the opening Test between the teams, starting at Lord’s on Thursday, June 4. Archer, who played in IPL 2026, remained along with his franchise, Rajasthan Royals (RR), through the playoffs as well.
While talking about Jofra Archer’s absence from the England opening Test squad, Doull told Sky Sports: “It’s ludicrous. Absolutely ludicrous. How are you paying this guy as much as £ 1 million per 12 months, and he’s not available in your first Test match? It is completely ludicrous. The last time that Latest Zealand got here here, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Matt Henry were all practicing in between games within the IPL with a red ball and getting through overs and overs and overs in order that they were able to go once they arrived.”
“I feel they arrived five days before the primary Test after the IPL. There is no such thing as a reason that Archer couldn’t have been bowling six, seven overs each in between days. The indisputable fact that he’s not doing that tells me he has little interest in playing Test cricket,” he again shared.
“I totally understand people’s frustrations across the situation” – Ben Stokes backs Jofra Archer
Nevertheless, England captain Ben Stokes backed Jofra Archer from the criticisms about his absence from the primary Latest Zealand Test as well. In an injury-ridden profession, Archer has played only 18 Tests to date for England despite debuting in 2019 as well.
“I totally understand people’s frustrations across the situation. But there may be also one other side of it. Plenty of it has to do with the landscape of cricket and where it’s for the time being. Plenty of the points people have been making around Jof and that situation I feel are to do with the landscape back once they were playing. It is totally different now,” said Stokes (via Independent.co.UK).
“There are opportunities for cricketers now that there weren’t 10, 15, 20 years ago. Yes, in an excellent situation, it will be unbelievably great to have everyone who you wish available at each opportunity. But that shouldn’t be the best way of cricket for the time being. There’s so way more on the market for players,” he concluded.
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