Archer was left out of England’s squad for the opening match of the home summer following his involvement with Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 Indian Premier League, where he enjoyed a strong campaign. The right-arm pacer claimed 25 wickets in 16 matches, finishing third in the Purple Cap standings.
After the conclusion of the IPL season, Archer returned to Barbados for a short break before rejoining England’s setup. The management has opted to give him time to recover and work independently on his fitness and bowling rhythm during this period.
McCullum said the team will make a final decision once Archer returns and is assessed by the medical and coaching staff.
“Jofra, we need to assess. He’s having a little bit of a break at the moment. We’ve seen in the past we can leave Jof to his own devices, work on his game and follow a plan that has been set. He turns up having followed that plan to a tee. When we see him we’ll work out where he sits and if he’s available for the second Test. If not, we’ll look at the third Test,” McCullum told BBC Sport.
In Archer’s absence, England have fielded a relatively fresh-looking pace attack, featuring returning Sussex captain Ollie Robinson along with uncapped quick Sonny Baker in their Test setup.
Archer last played Test cricket during the Ashes series in Australia, where England suffered a 4–1 defeat. He took nine wickets in three matches at an average of 27.11, including a five-wicket haul in Adelaide.
