Key facts
- Jofra Archer will miss England's first Test against New Zealand.
- Archer is currently playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Rajasthan Royals.
- The ECB is reportedly paying Archer a significant sum of money.
Jofra Archer has been excluded from England's first Test match against New Zealand, which is scheduled to commence at Lord's. The reason for his unavailability for the Test series is his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Rajasthan Royals. Reports indicate that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is paying Archer a considerable sum, reportedly in the region of a million pounds, while he is engaged in the IPL. This situation has drawn criticism towards the ECB.