Stokes defends Archer’s Test absence and warns strictness risks England exit

England Test captain Ben Stokes has defended the decision to allow Jofra Archer to skip the start of England's Test summer to participate in the Indian Premier League, warning that a stricter approach could result in players like Archer never playing for England again. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from several former players, including Simon Doull, who called the absence 'absolutely ludicrous,' Mark Butcher, who called it 'absolutely ridiculous,' and Michael Atherton, who described it as 'incredibly frustrating.' Stokes maintained that managing Archer's schedule flexibly is necessary to retain his long-term availability for England.