Stokes relief Father out of hospital after illness

Mount Maunganui and the workload has taken its toll.

As a centrally contracted player, England have control over his diary. Archer is due to play in the Indian Premier League in May for the Rajasthan Royals and, while the England and Wales Cricket Board understands that players want to cash in, the focus is now on Test cricket so they will be more reluctant to allow their prized assets to risk injury in franchise cricket.

England, as usual, have a packed summer schedule. They play Test series against West Indies and Pakistan as well as ODIS and Twenty20 matches with Australia and Ireland. Archer is also a marquee signing in the Hundred competition for the Southern Brave.

England start preparation for the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour today, when they practise in Paarl, the venue for two warm-up matches tomorrow and on Saturday.

Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Wood have all been rested for the three ODIS, but are back for the Twenty20 series. Their absence has given England a chance to look at Tom Banton, who enjoyed a brilliant Big Bash tournament in Australia, and has already been compared to Buttler and Kevin Pietersen forpower and inventive stroke play.

Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson has been a passenger for the Test series in New Zealand and South Africa, but England want to see him in white-ball cricket, his favoured format. It is a chance to judge the next generation pushing England’s World Cup winners for a place in the side. The ODI at Newlands on Tuesday will be England’s first 50over game since the World Cup.