Ben Stokes has defended England's decision to allow Jofra Archer to miss the start of the Test summer for the Indian Premier League, warning that a stricter approach could lead to players like Archer never playing for England again. The Test captain acknowledged public frustration but argued critics are stuck in the past.
Former New Zealand bowler Simon Doull labelled Archer's absence 'absolutely ludicrous', while ex-England batter Mark Butcher called it 'absolutely ridiculous'. Stokes, however, pointed to the changing landscape of cricket, noting that players now have opportunities unavailable 10 or 20 years ago.
'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,' Stokes said. He insisted Archer remains committed to England, despite his absence from the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's starting Thursday.
Archer recently completed a successful IPL season with Rajasthan Royals, taking 25 wickets. He is expected to feature later in the New Zealand series but his availability for the second Test remains uncertain. Stokes also admitted England have 'consistently let ourselves down' in key Test moments, a trend they aim to address.
