England Test captain Ben Stokes has defended Jofra Archer for his absence from the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s due to IPL commitments. Speaking to the media ahead of the series opener starting Thursday (Jun 4), Stokes warned that leading England players like Archer could be driven away from international cricket if the ECB attempts to limit their IPL commitments.&nbsp;Months after the Ashes embarrassment (1-4), England resumes Test cricket duties, with the home summer getting underway at the Home of Cricket in London. However, the hosts would be without Archer for the first Test, who was part of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad, which was beaten by the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh. &nbsp;Currently in Barbados, the country of his birth, Archer’s availability for the second Test also remains uncertain.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-effect-india-a-odi-tri-series-to-be-broadcast-live-here-is-how-to-watch-sony-sports-network-1780492263509">The ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live; here’s how to watch</a> &nbsp;Although New Zealand’s cricketer-turned-broadcaster Simon Doull called Archer’s absence (due to IPL commitments) ‘absolutely ludicrous’, Stokes commented on the same, saying that the top white-ball players could lose to Tests if they were to make themselves available for every match. &nbsp;"I totally understand people's frustrations around it, but there is another side to it," Stokes said. "A lot of it has to do with the landscape of cricket and where it is at the moment. &nbsp;"A lot of points people are making around Jof and that situation are to do with the landscape when they were playing. But it's completely different now. There are opportunities for cricketers now that there were not 10, 15, 20 years ago." &nbsp;Stokes said Archer's desire to play for his country was unquestionable, warning against a hardline approach. &nbsp;"There is a situation where it could get messy, and players like Jofra might not play for England again if you handle it in a different way, and that is not good for there anyone," he said. "Jofra has shown that he's committed and loves playing for England. Just because he's not available for this first Test match does not change that." &nbsp;On the other hand, Jacob Bethell, who also represented the eventual IPL 2026 winners, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is with the England team at Lord's, having played no meaningful red-ball cricket since his stunning Ashes century in Sydney in January. &nbsp;"It's just one of those things. You have your number three (Bethell), he has a great couple of games out in Australia, then he spends nine or 10 weeks out in India, and you are seeing him two days before a Test match," said Stokes. "That is almost becoming the norm. The game is changing all the time. There are some things you have to roll with and accept; it is what it is."&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Ben Stokes defends Jofra Archer’s absence from the New Zealand Test series opener following backlash over his extended IPL commitments.

England Test captain Ben Stokes has defended Jofra Archer for his absence from the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s due to IPL commitments. Speaking to the media ahead of the series opener starting Thursday (Jun 4), Stokes warned that leading England players like Archer could be driven away from international cricket if the ECB attempts to limit their IPL commitments. Months after the Ashes embarrassment (1-4), England resumes Test cricket duties, with the home summer getting underway at the Home of Cricket in London. However, the hosts would be without Archer for the first Test, who was part of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad, which was beaten by the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh. Currently in Barbados, the country of his birth, Archer’s availability for the second Test also remains uncertain. Also read | The ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Effect’: India-A tri-series to be broadcast live; here’s how to watch Although New Zealand’s cricketer-turned-broadcaster Simon Doull called Archer’s absence (due to IPL commitments) ‘absolutely ludicrous’, Stokes commented on the same, saying that the top white-ball players could lose to Tests if they were to make themselves available for every match. "I totally understand people's frustrations around it, but there is another side to it," Stokes said. "A lot of it has to do with the landscape of cricket and where it is at the moment. "A lot of points people are making around Jof and that situation are to do with the landscape when they were playing. But it's completely different now. There are opportunities for cricketers now that there were not 10, 15, 20 years ago." Stokes said Archer's desire to play for his country was unquestionable, warning against a hardline approach. "There is a situation where it could get messy, and players like Jofra might not play for England again if you handle it in a different way, and that is not good for there anyone," he said. "Jofra has shown that he's committed and loves playing for England. Just because he's not available for this first Test match does not change that." On the other hand, Jacob Bethell, who also represented the eventual IPL 2026 winners, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), is with the England team at Lord's, having played no meaningful red-ball cricket since his stunning Ashes century in Sydney in January. "It's just one of those things. You have your number three (Bethell), he has a great couple of games out in Australia, then he spends nine or 10 weeks out in India, and you are seeing him two days before a Test match," said Stokes. "That is almost becoming the norm. The game is changing all the time. There are some things you have to roll with and accept; it is what it is." (With inputs from AFP)

Ben Stokes defends Jofra Archer’s absence from the New Zealand Test series opener following backlash over his extended IPL commitments.

‘It is what it is’: Ben Stokes defends Archer’s Test absence due to IPL duties

The hosts, England, have named two uncapped players in their final XII for the summer’s opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s in London. Opener Emilio Gay and pacer Sonny Baker have been picked for the series opener, while Ollie Robinson returned for the first time in over two years. Captain Ben Stokes is also back leading the team for the first time since the Ashes debacle, with veteran batter Joe Root ready to take centre stage. On the other hand, another of the Fab Four, Kane Williamson, is set for his last dance at the Home of Cricket.&nbsp;Check England XII for the Lord’s Test – &nbsp;Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue &nbsp;With no Zak Crawley at the top following a shallow away Ashes, England roped in Durham batter Gay to open alongside Ben Duckett, with Baker also potentially earning his maiden Test call-up.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sairaj-bahutule-joins-india-support-staff-as-spin-bowling-coach-for-afghanistan-series-ind-vs-afg-one-off-test-new-chandigarh-june-6-1780403299248">Remember Sairaj Bahutule? PBKS spin coach joins India support staff for Afghanistan series</a> &nbsp;Praising the speedster, England head coach Brendon McCullum said, "Sonny Baker is quick. I think he's going to be a cricketer the country really gets behind when he does play. He charges in, and he leaves everything out there. He's full noise. He's exciting. He swings the ball both ways, and he's obviously got the ability to touch 90mph. He's an exciting proposition, and his time, if it's not in this Test, his time will come. If it is in this Test, I'd expect him to do a good job." &nbsp;With no Jofra Archer available for selection due to IPL commitments and Brydon Carse out with a finger injury, England brought back Robinson to lead the pace attack at Lord’s. Without revealing his final XI, McCullum commented on how the weather could determine the side that walks out for the first Test. &nbsp;"There is a little bit of jeopardy around the conditions and the forecast over the next 48 hours," McCullum said ahead of the Lord’s Test starting Thursday (June 4). “We have a strong understanding of what we think will be our XI, but we do want to have the ability to pivot if required, if the conditions turn out to be slightly different to what we anticipate.”<h3>Kane’s ‘last dance’ at Lord’s</h3>At 35, Kane Williamson might not play another Test at the Home of Cricket after this one and realising this, he said, "It's always a special Test. I think if you look over your career, you only get...well depends on how long you play for... but yeah, I've played for a while, and you only get a handful of opportunities to come to Lords and play. &nbsp;"I think the way they maintain the tradition is quite special. It's unique to Lords; the history that surrounds it, the effort that goes into it, to all of that- you come here and you, you notice those differences to all other grounds,” he continued.&nbsp;

A new era meets a historic farewell at Lord's. England name uncapped starlets Emilio Gay and Sonny Baker in their final XII, while Kane Williamson prepares for his ultimate 'last dance.'

The hosts, England, have named two uncapped players in their final XII for the summer’s opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s in London. Opener Emilio Gay and pacer Sonny Baker have been picked for the series opener, while Ollie Robinson returned for the first time in over two years. Captain Ben Stokes is also back leading the team for the first time since the Ashes debacle, with veteran batter Joe Root ready to take centre stage. On the other hand, another of the Fab Four, Kane Williamson, is set for his last dance at the Home of Cricket. Check England XII for the Lord’s Test – Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue With no Zak Crawley at the top following a shallow away Ashes, England roped in Durham batter Gay to open alongside Ben Duckett, with Baker also potentially earning his maiden Test call-up. Also read | Remember Sairaj Bahutule? PBKS spin coach joins India support staff for Afghanistan series Praising the speedster, England head coach Brendon McCullum said, "Sonny Baker is quick. I think he's going to be a cricketer the country really gets behind when he does play. He charges in, and he leaves everything out there. He's full noise. He's exciting. He swings the ball both ways, and he's obviously got the ability to touch 90mph. He's an exciting proposition, and his time, if it's not in this Test, his time will come. If it is in this Test, I'd expect him to do a good job." With no Jofra Archer available for selection due to IPL commitments and Brydon Carse out with a finger injury, England brought back Robinson to lead the pace attack at Lord’s. Without revealing his final XI, McCullum commented on how the weather could determine the side that walks out for the first Test. "There is a little bit of jeopardy around the conditions and the forecast over the next 48 hours," McCullum said ahead of the Lord’s Test starting Thursday (June 4). “We have a strong understanding of what we think will be our XI, but we do want to have the ability to pivot if required, if the conditions turn out to be slightly different to what we anticipate.” Kane’s ‘last dance’ at Lord’s At 35, Kane Williamson might not play another Test at the Home of Cricket after this one and realising this, he said, "It's always a special Test. I think if you look over your career, you only get...well depends on how long you play for... but yeah, I've played for a while, and you only get a handful of opportunities to come to Lords and play. "I think the way they maintain the tradition is quite special. It's unique to Lords; the history that surrounds it, the effort that goes into it, to all of that- you come here and you, you notice those differences to all other grounds,” he continued.

A new era meets a historic farewell at Lord's. England name uncapped starlets Emilio Gay and Sonny Baker in their final XII, while Kane Williamson prepares for his ultimate 'last dance.'

ENG vs NZ 1st Test: England name uncapped Gay, Baker in final XII; Williamson set for Lord’s ‘last dance’

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‘It is what it is’: Ben Stokes defends Archer’s Test absence due to IPL duties

Gay, Baker named in England's final XII; Williamson set for Lord’s ‘last dance’