England head coach Brendon McCullum has provided an important update regarding Jofra Archer’s availability ahead of the second Test against New Zealand. The right-arm fast bowler was not included in England’s squad for the opening Test at Lord’s after spending the last six months playing continuous cricket, including a demanding stint with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2026.
Archer enjoyed a brilliant season in the IPL, emerging as one of the tournament’s standout fast bowlers. Representing Rajasthan Royals, the speedster claimed 25 wickets in 16 matches and finished third in the Purple Cap standings. The right-arm pacer was not included in England’s squad for the opening Test against New Zealand, with the team management continuing to monitor his progress ahead of the remainder of the series.
Brendon McCullum provides update on Jofra Archer’s return
Speaking ahead of the first Test, McCullum revealed that England are yet to make a final decision on Archer’s participation in the second Test against New Zealand, which begins on June 17 at The Oval. According to the England head coach, the team management is allowing Archer time to recover and continue working on a pre-planned fitness program before assessing his readiness upon his return. Following the conclusion of the IPL, Archer returned to Barbados for a short break before potentially rejoining the England setup later this month.
“Jofra we need to assess. He’s having a little bit of a break at the moment. We’ve seen in the past we can leave Jof to his own devices, work on his game and follow a plan that has been set. He turns up having followed that plan to a tee. When we see him we’ll work out where he sits and if he’s available for the second Test. If not, we’ll look at the third Test,” McCullum told BBC Sport.
The update suggests that Archer remains a doubt for the second Test, with England unwilling to rush one of their premier fast bowlers back into action after an extended period of cricket across formats and competitions.
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With Archer unavailable for the series opener, England have opted for a relatively fresh-looking bowling unit for the first Test at Lord’s. The squad includes returning seamer Ollie Robinson, who is set to make his first Test appearance since February 2024, while uncapped Hampshire quick Sonny Baker has also been included in the playing XII.
England are also without Brydon Carse, who remains sidelined with a wrist injury sustained during the IPL. As a result, greater responsibility will fall on captain Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Robinson to lead the attack against New Zealand. Archer’s absence is particularly significant given England’s desire to bounce back after a disappointing Ashes campaign in Australia, where they suffered a 4-1 series defeat. The New Zealand series is viewed as an important opportunity for Stokes and his side to rebuild momentum in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle.
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. However, injuries once again interrupted his campaign, forcing him to miss the final two Tests of the series. For now, England will continue to monitor Archer’s progress closely, with a final decision on his availability expected once he returns from Barbados ahead of the second Test.
