Jofra Archer 'unbothered' by criticism of skipping ENG vs NZ 1st Test, focus on IPL 2026 Playoffs

Jofra Archer is Rajasthan Royals' highest wicket-taker in IPL 2026 and has been one of the biggest reasons why they've been successful.

Fingers are pointed at Jofra Archer. It isn’t his performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 that’s in question, but his fealty to English cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed that Archer will miss the first Test of the 2026 home summer against New Zealand at Lord’s from June 4 to 8.

The announcement didn’t go down well. Archer, who was bought for INR 12.50 crore, will stay back in India and continue playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), who are expected to qualify for the IPL 2026 Playoffs. The reasoning behind Archer’s exclusion was what irked most.

Skipping ENG vs NZ 1st Test irks many

The ECB had stated that Archer needs to build up his bowling load before playing red-ball cricket. Several former England cricketers, including two captains, were perturbed by the ECB not wanking Archer out of the IPL and forcing him to play Test cricket since he has a 2-year contract which runs until the ODI World Cup 2027.

Michael Vaughan, who is working as a broadcaster in IPL 2026, doesn’t understand the point of the ECB awarding Archer a central contract if he chooses to play in the IPL over international cricket. Mark Butcher and Michael Atherton were similarly baffled.

“It baffles me. It really does. Managing a workload… I mean, the problem is that it should be the other way around. He should be pulled out of IPL games rather than you being rested from your main employer to go and play in a tournament overseas. I don’t get it; I don’t think I ever will. What’s the point of giving someone a two-year contract, then allowing them not to honour that contract by (not) playing for you but playing for somebody else? I find it absolutely ridiculous that you could be rested from an England Test match because you’ve been playing in the IPL,” Butcher said on the Wisden podcast.

“I find it incredibly frustrating, and I’m sure England supporters do as well because you’ve got central contracts there. The point of the central contract is to arrange and manipulate a player’s workload so that he is fit and ready and bang on ready to go for England. It’s been five months since the last Test that England played, and between January and June, a centrally contracted bowler would get to the first Test of the summer against New Zealand, and he’s not ready and right to go. As a centrally contracted player, that’s an immense frustration,” Atherton had said on Sky Sports Cricket.

Jofra Archer unperturbed by criticism

Archer realises that his decision has ruffled some feathers in England. But he knows, whichever direction he’d gone in, he would’ve received pushback. He had been called back by the ECB, say, after the 10th match, on May 1. Experts in India would’ve lambasted him for taking franchise money and leaving them astray.

Furthermore, his opportunity to play and earn big bucks in the IPL would’ve been hit as well. Franchises could’ve overlooked him in the coming seasons. One can’t forget that Archer’s an injury-prone fast bowler, and in the past, teams have bid for him despite his being unable to play. If his commitment to the IPL goes missing now, his earnings will surely take a hit.

“It doesn’t matter to him. If you stay back here (in India), you annoy people in England, and if you go back, you are in danger of never playing in the IPL again. So, be it,” said RR assistant coach Trevor Penney on the eve of the Mumbai Indians match in Wankhede.