Former England batter Mark Butcher has voiced confusion over Jofra Archer’s omission from England’s opening Test of the summer against New Zealand at Lord’s, arguing that a fast bowler of Archer’s importance should not be left out—especially after a strong IPL campaign and a home Test programme that offers limited opportunities.
Key takeaways
- Butcher questioned why Archer is unavailable for England’s first Test at Lord’s despite his recent impact in franchise cricket.
- He pointed to Archer’s 2026 IPL success with Rajasthan Royals, where he finished third in the Purple Cap race with 25 wickets from 16 matches.
- England’s summer consists of only six home Tests, and Butcher believes missing the first two reduces the remaining chances to just four.
- Butcher also criticised Ben Stokes’ choice to bat at number seven, suggesting a different batting slot could suit the team better.
- He proposed Stokes could take inspiration from Ian Botham’s historic role—batting higher while also leading the bowling duties.
Butcher’s concern over Archer’s Lord’s absence
Much of the selection talk around England has focused on Ben Stokes’ move down the batting order, but Butcher reserved his sharpest criticism for Archer’s non-inclusion in the squad for the first Test at Lord’s.
Archer enters the Test series after a standout IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. He played a key part in the franchise’s run to Qualifier 2, finishing third in the Purple Cap rankings. Across 16 matches, he took 25 wickets, and his performances marked him out as one of the tournament’s most prominent fast-bowling threats.
Despite that form, Archer will not take part in the opening Test at Lord’s. Butcher said he simply could not make sense of England’s decision, remarking that it is hard to understand why a team would pay heavily for a player and then not plan on having him available—at least as a member of the match squad.
He added that his bewilderment stems from the overall context of the summer schedule, particularly because England will play only a small number of Tests at home. In his view, if the first two matches are missed, there are only four Tests left to make use of the available window.
Importantly, Butcher made clear his frustration was not aimed at Archer personally. Instead, he directed his comments at the broader circumstances that have affected Archer’s availability.
Dates, series schedule, and the fast-bowling management question
England’s three-match Test series against New Zealand begins at Lord’s on Thursday. The second Test is scheduled for June 17 at The Oval, with the final match at Trent Bridge on June 25.
Butcher acknowledged that Archer’s absence was not entirely unexpected, given that he completed the entire Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 campaign, which ended in Qualifier 2. Even so, he believes England should have found a way to bring one of their leading pace options into the XI—especially with just six home Tests scheduled for the summer.
He also argued that Archer’s rhythm and fitness during the IPL should have made his selection more straightforward, insisting that a player showing that kind of form ought to be involved whenever possible.
Stokes batting at seven also draws criticism
Alongside his comments on Archer, Butcher questioned England captain Ben Stokes’ decision to bat at number seven. He said he could not understand why Stokes needs to drop that far down the order, and he suggested that the decision may be linked to a tactical idea—namely that Stokes could take the new ball and therefore justify a lower batting position.
Butcher rejected the logic of the move, arguing that taking the new ball could already be a reasonable and workable approach with the resources England have. Still, he suggested Stokes could adopt a more balanced role rather than simply drifting down the order.
To explain his thinking, Butcher looked back to an earlier era, referencing Ian Botham’s style. He said he was thinking of the late 1980s when Botham often batted around the top portion of the innings and also played a central part in the bowling attack—being constantly involved in the contest.
Butcher’s preference, for now, is that Stokes should bat at six and return to his best with the bat, while still allowing England to benefit from his leadership and pace-bowling impact.
For the moment, though, it is Archer’s non-participation that remains the main issue for Butcher—one he believes leaves England without a valuable asset despite Archer’s excellent recent form and the relatively short stretch of Tests ahead.
