England star rested for 1st ODI against New Zealand to manage workload ahead of Ashes series

England's star speedster Jofra Archer is set to miss the beginning of the One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand as part of a carefully managed preparation plan for next month’s Ashes 2025-2026 series against Australia. The Sussex bowler is scheduled to arrive in Mount Maunganui this Saturday, traveling alongside Test squad colleagues Mark Wood and Josh Tongue.

Jofra Archer to miss 1st ODI against New Zealand

Archer's debut in the series will not be the first ODI, which is played the very next day. This first match is taking place in the same town where the 30-year-old was subjected to racial abuse by a spectator during his first international appearance overseas back in 2019.

ALSO READ: Injured Hardik Pandya's return date revealed as star all-rounder all set to make a comeback in this series

He is tentatively scheduled for a return to action in the second of the three ODIs, set for next Wednesday in Hamilton. However, his participation will be assessed based on how well he acclimatizes after the long-distance flight from the UK. Ideally, England’s management would like Archer to make at least one appearance in the ODI series, which wraps up in Wellington a week on Saturday. This match fitness is intended to build on his strong finish to the 2025 home season, during which he showcased pace and hostility, notably taking nine wickets in two Tests against India and earning a Man-of-the-Match award against South Africa.

England set sights on all-important Ashes series

England's entire contingent of fast bowlers is currently following custom-designed training schedules in preparation for the upcoming Ashes series. This tailored approach sees each bowler managing their workload differently.

For instance, Gus Atkinson chose a route that involved participating in the current white-ball tour of New Zealand first. Following this, he will link up with the England Lions squad before joining the main Test squad in Perth on November 9. In contrast, both Mark Wood and Josh Tongue opted for a slightly shorter preparation window, with their lead-in periods being seven days less than some of their peers. Meanwhile, Matthew Potts has taken the most direct approach, heading straight to Australia to join the England Lions squad there.

ALSO READ: 'He knows how to play in one way only...': Ex-India coach's big words on Virat Kohli's mentality ahead of IND vs AUS 2nd ODI

However, before the ODI series, Harry Brook’s side will first look to secure a series win in the T20Is against New Zealand, which is still underway. They currently hold a 1-0 edge in the series after defeating the Black Caps by 65 runs in the first ODI in Christchurch. The final T20I between England and New Zealand is scheduled to be played on October 26 at Eden Park.