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England have to play a three-match Test series against New Zealand from June 4 and there is doubt over the availability of Joffra Archer. Archer played the entire IPL 2026 season for Rajasthan Royals, and then, after the season, it was reported that the England fast bowler would miss the first Test at Lord’s, and may also miss the second Test.
Jofra Arches’ absence leaves former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull angry and disappointed all at once. When he was speaking with former England captain Nasser Hussain, Doull expressed his dissatisfaction with Jofra Archer as he prioritized franchise leagues over national duties.
How are you paying Jofra Archer up to a million pounds? Simon Doull raised the question
Simon Doull says it is ridiculous that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is spending millions of pounds on Jofra Archer in a single year, and not getting any significant returns in return.
“It’s ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. How are you paying this guy up to a million pounds a year, and he’s not available for your first Test match? It’s absolutely ridiculous,” the former New Zealand cricketer said while speaking with Nasser Hussain for a Sky Sports segment.
In turn, the former England cricketer asks what does the New Zealand Cricket Board do if one of their players does this, as there are many star Kiwi players who are part of the Indian Premier League.
What would New Zealand do if they faced a similar situation?
In response, Doull mentioned that despite a busy schedule and multiple commitments, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Matt Henry prepared with the red ball in between games.
The former Kiwi cricketer said, “Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Matt Henry were all practicing with the red ball in between games in the IPL and doing overs so that when they came they were ready to go. I think they arrived five days before the first Test after the IPL on the last tour.”
Dole also pointed finger at ECB
Doull stressed that Jofra Archer had enough time to prepare himself for the Test series. He also questions the ECB’s intentions as well as the board’s duty to keep its key players ready for the upcoming tasks.
“And then why is the ECB not sending anyone there or discussing with Kumar Sangakkara when the team is saying, we need to do this. We need to be ready for the Test match; we have allowed him to come to you for this period. In the days in between, he needs to bowl five overs, six overs, seven overs with the red ball so that he is ready to go,” said Simon Doull.
Simon Doull says Jofra Archer being unavailable for England’s first New Zealand Test after joining the IPL is “completely wrong”. pic.twitter.com/TjWdKzhR7c
– Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 3, 2026
“And there is enough time, if you are doing that in between games, to come back here for a week and get ready for the Test match. There is no problem with that. So I think it is completely wrong,” he concluded.
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