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

  • Critics have called situation ‘ludicrous’ and ‘frustrating’

  • ‘Jofra may not play for England if handled differently’

Ben Stokes has defended England’s decision to excuse Jofra Archer from the start of the Test summer so he could compete in the Indian Premier League, saying a more militant approach risks a situation where “players like him might not play for England again”.

On Wednesday Archer was strongly criticised by the former New Zealand bowler Simon Doull, who described his absence as “absolutely ludicrous” and “completely wrong”. The former England batter Mark Butcher has previously said it was “absolutely ridiculous”, while Michael Atherton described it as “incredibly frustrating”.

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Nathan Ellis stars with 4-33 as Australia beat Pakistan in second ODI

  • Pace bowler leads rout of hosts for 190 in 41-run win

  • Josh Inglis and Cameron Green helped set 232 target

Australia turned the tables on Pakistan, battling their way to victory on a difficult track at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium to level the ODI series one-apiece with one to play. On a surface catered for spinners seamer Nathan Ellis was the star, returning 4-33 in his nine overs with some key wickets.

In the absence of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc Ellis stepped up to lead the attack superbly. With stand-in captain Josh Inglis and Cam Green both making half-centuries the makeshift Australian XI set Pakistan a challenging 232 to win.

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England weigh up Test debut for Sonny Baker with one eye on the weather

  • Brendon McCullum backs quick bowler to bring ‘noise’

  • Gus Atkinson could play if conditions less hot at Lord’s

England have announced a slimmed-down squad of 12 for the first match of the summer, against New Zealand at Lord’s starting on Thursday, postponing until the last minute a decision over whether to reward the “full noise” approach of Hampshire’s Sonny Baker with a Test debut.

The approach mirrors that at the first Ashes Test last November, when England announced a 12-man squad that featured both Mark Wood and Shoaib Bashir before opting in the end for Wood’s extra pace. On this occasion Bashir will play, having been preferred to Rehan Ahmed as the team’s frontline spinner, while Jacob Bethell is fit after a finger injury and also able to bowl if required.

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