Butcher questions England captain Stokes’ move to number seven ahead of Tests against NZ

Former England batter Mark Butcher has criticized captain Ben Stokes' decision to drop to number seven for the opening Test against New Zealand at Lord's. Butcher also questioned pacer Jofra Archer's absence following his IPL 2026 stint

London: Former England batter Mark Butcher has expressed strong reservations over skipper Ben Stokes’ decision to drop down to number seven in the batting order for the first Test against New Zealand, starting at Lord’s on Thursday.

Stokes has batted at number seven only 17 times out of 216 Test innings, compared to 131 appearances at number six. His batting returns have dipped since the 2023 Ashes, averaging 28.17 from 23 matches with just one century and seven half-centuries.

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“Why does he need to drop down to seven? I don’t understand it. I wonder whether that’s a move because Stokes has decided, ‘I’m our best bowler, I’m going to take the new ball,’ which would not be the maddest thing in the world at all. That to me is a viable and valid option as far as the guys we’ve got,” Butcher said on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast.

“I’m thinking a very long way back to the eighties when ‘Beefy’ (Ian Botham) bestrode the earth, and quite often he would bat five and open the bowling in the Test team. He was in the thick of everything. Always. I would rather see Ben at six and get back to his very best with the bat.”

England are scheduled to play two more Tests against New Zealand, at The Oval on June 17 and Trent Bridge on June 25. Further explaining his skepticism regarding Stokes dropping down the order, Butcher added, “When he is playing well, in terms of skill and in terms of temperament, he provides a perfect ballast to the more dashing players around the order. You’ve got Joe Root, who will play at a regular tempo.

“We don’t know what Emilio Gay is going to do, so Root at No. 4 playing a regular Test match tempo, Stokes at six playing a regular Test match tempo but able to up it when he’s at his best, and then Jamie Smith at seven in the Gilchrist role, which he’s performed so well, Ashes aside, in Test matches at home. This is why the theory about him opening the bowling pops up—it’s more likely to happen if Sonny Baker plays, obviously—but also, why does he need to drop down to seven? I don’t understand it, unless there is another role that he’s decided to take on instead, like taking the new ball.”

Butcher also voiced disbelief over Jofra Archer’s absence from the Lord’s Test. The pacer remained with the Rajasthan Royals, who played through to Qualifier 2 in IPL 2026.

“I do not understand why you would have an asset that you pay an enormous amount of money to, and you’re not expecting them to show up and be a 12th man. I just don’t get it,” Butcher said. “I’m baffled, and I also wish I were playing now. I can’t understand how there is a justification for it. My point is I’m not slagging off Jofra Archer, I’m just in disbelief. There are only six Test matches in the summer; if you don’t play the first two, then there are four left.”