Former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull has torn into Jofra Archer's omission from England's squad for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, calling the situation 'absolutely ludicrous' and openly questioning the fast bowler's appetite for red-ball cricket. Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Doull argued that a centrally contracted seamer earning up to £1 million a year should be available for England's marquee assignment.

What Doull said

Doull was unsparing in his critique of both Archer and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). 'It's ludicrous. Absolutely ludicrous,' he said. 'How are you paying this guy up to a £1m per year and he's not available for your first Test match? It is absolutely ludicrous.'

Archer continued to feature for Rajasthan Royals through the IPL playoffs but was left out of the series opener. England head coach Brendon McCullum has also signalled that the pacer may not be ready for the second Test either, deepening the debate over workload management.

The New Zealand comparison

Doull drew a sharp contrast with how New Zealand's quicks prepared in similar windows. He recalled that Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Matt Henry bowled red-ball overs between IPL matches before touring England. 'They arrived five days before the first Test after the IPL and that previous tour. OK, it didn't work out. New Zealand lost the series 3-0. But there is no reason that Archer couldn't have been bowling six, seven overs each in between days,' he said.

The former seamer went further, suggesting Archer's choices reveal his mindset. 'The fact that he's not doing that tells me he has no interest in playing Test cricket,' Doull said, adding that 'in between days, he needs to be bowling five overs, six overs, seven overs with the red ball so that he's ready to go'.

England's pace dilemma

The timing is awkward for England, who are rebuilding after a chastening Ashes campaign in Australia. With seamer Brydon Carse ruled out through injury, the hosts' fast-bowling stocks look thin heading into a home summer.

One boost is the recall of Ollie Robinson, returning to the Test squad after more than two years. Former England captain Nasser Hussain welcomed the move but stopped short of an endorsement. 'I do like the fact that they have him involved — Ollie Robinson is a skilful bowler,' Hussain said. 'He has let [McCullum] down, and that is the thing you have to prove to people.'

The Robinson test

Hussain argued that Robinson's real examination will come when the ball stops moving. 'When things are in his favour, and it's nipping around, his stats and his skill are as good as anyone. I think Brendan called him world-class,' he said. 'But that's not what has defined the people he's replacing. That's not what defined James Anderson when it was hooping around or Stuart Broad or Chris Woakes.'

He added that the toughest moments define Test bowlers: 'When it gets tough — and it stops moving, and the ball's going soft, and you're coming on for your fourth spell and your body's stiff and you have to take the new ball at 6.30 pm — that is when Anderson, Broad and Woakes showed their skills. And that will be the test for Ollie Robinson. Because that is Test cricket.'

With the Lord's Test looming, England's selectors face a balancing act between protecting Archer's fragile body and answering uncomfortable questions about priorities in a packed cricket calendar.