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Jofra Archer available for 2nd Test vs New Zealand: The England vs New Zealand first Test of the three-match Test series concluded on Sunday as the England National Cricket Team won the game by 115 runs at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, on a wicket that favoured the pace bowlers only once the 200-run mark was crossed in four innings of the game.
Jofra Archer, who missed the first Test due to not yet being ready for a red-ball return following a stint in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 for Rajasthan. Ahead of the second Test match, England head coach Brendon McCullum has revealed the availability of Jofra Archer in the upcoming Test match. The Kiwi head coach is hopeful about Archer’s return.
We are hopeful- Brendon McCullum provides update on Jofra Archer
Asked about Jofra Archer's progress, McCullum said: "We will probably drill down on that over the next couple of days. We are hopeful he will be available for the second Test. Then we will work out conditions-wise where we are at."
"He is following a plan and we completely trust Jof. He has shown in the past that he gets himself ready based on the plans we get together and come up with. He has always turned up in the condition we want from him."
Lord's pitch controversy
The 31-year-old has been training back in his native Barbados and might come into contention for the fixture at The Kia Oval beginning Wednesday, June 17. Jofra Archer would have been furious after looking at the Lord’s pitch, with 40 dismissals in 166 overs - a wicket fell every 24.9 balls in a bowler-dominated game.
Apart from providing an update on Jofra Archer, McCullum also provided a review of England’s debutant Emilio Gay. The English opener impressed as he was the second player to have scored a half-century after England vice-captain Harry Brook. Gay played a knock of 57 from 95 balls in the hosts' second innings. He would look
I was super impressed- McCullum on Emilio Gay's impressive debut
McCullum said of Gay: "I was super impressed. I felt like a week ago things were spinning a bit for Emilio - the initial step into the England set-up. Concerned is not the right word - it was more like, 'right, you just have a little bit of work to do to calm him down a little bit so that he is ready to go'."
"But, over the course of that week, he really drilled down on his preparation, which is vital for him to feel he is able to go out and operate the way he wants to. He became calmer and calmer the closer he got to the start line. He slowly settled himself and realised he didn't have to be anyone else."
"He is a pretty emotional guy and it is pretty hard to suppress those emotions and handle the extra stuff you have to when you come up to international cricket and do it straight away.
"I was a) incredibly impressed with how he played in difficult conditions - that fifty is worth a lot more than what it probably reads on the scorecard - but b) by the calm he operated with. It is rare to see that when you step up to this level."
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