Stokes defends Archer's absence

England captain Ben Stokes said the “landscape of cricket” has changed as he defended Jofra Archer’s absence from the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s because of the fast bowler’s IPL commitments.

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Archer was a member of the Rajasthan Royals team beaten by Gujarat Titans in the IPL qualifier last Friday and is not with England for the first Test against the New Zealand at Lord’s, starting today.

The 31-year-old is now in Barbados, the country of his birth, and will not return to England until after the first Test. The second Test at the Oval begins on 17 June and Archer could now miss that match as well.