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• Jofra Archer not guaranteed Ashes place – McCullum

  Jofra Archer is not guaranteed to be selected for the Ashes, England head coach Brendon McCullum has said.

  The 29-year-old has been part of England's white-ball set-up since May, but has not played Test cricket since February 2021 due to injury issues.

  Archer was signed by Rajasthan Royals in the IPL auction on Sunday, meaning he will play even less red-ball cricket ahead of next year's Ashes.

  England have attempted to carefully manage the bowler's workload and McCullum cannot say for certain if he will be part of the five-match series.

  "He is all-in for playing for England and getting back to red-ball cricket but at the same time there are significant opportunities for him," McCullum said ahead of his side's series in New Zealand.

  "We have to be fluid. He has to continue to feel right in his own body, sustain a decent workload and put his hand up from there. There is no guarantee [he will be selected for Test cricket]. 

  "We have unearthed some incredible talent in the last 12 months. The stocks are looking pretty good."

  England had requested Archer sit out next year's IPL in order to concentrate on his red-ball return with Sussex.

  However, after being left off the initial auction shortlist, Archer was added to it 48 hours later and was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals.

  Archer is therefore now set to miss the early part of the County Championship season with Sussex due to an overlap in competitions.

  McCullum added: "If he gets fit and ready and that is the skillset we are after, he puts himself in the frame."

• Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega Auction; Shepherd, Powell snapped up by RCB and KKR, respectively

  Guyanese hard-hitting left hander Sherfane Rutherford will get the opportunity to shine on T20 franchise cricket’s biggest stage once again after being picked up by the Gujarat Giants on Monday’s second day of the 2025 IPL Mega Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

  Rutherford, who entered the auction with a base price of US$182,000, was the subject of an intense bidding war between the Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans.

  The Indians started the bidding at US$243,000 before the Titans countered with a bid of US$268,000.

  Mumbai responded with a bid of US$292,000 before the Titans returned with a winning bid of US$317,000.

  Rutherford has previously made 10 appearances in the IPL, seven for the Delhi capitals in 2019 and three for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022, scoring 106 runs in nine innings at an average of 15.14.

  He has also previously been part of the Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders.

  Other West Indians selected on day two include Romario Shepherd who was snapped up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for US$182,000 and West Indies T20I captain Rovman Powell who went to the Kolkata Knight Riders for the same price.

  The Lucknow Super Giants exercised their right to match the Mumbai Indians bid of US$91,000 for pacer Shamar Joseph.

  Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Akeal Hosein, Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase all went unsold.

• Australia still confident despite heavily losing first India Test, says Cummins

  Pat Cummins says Australia are still confident they can win the Border Gavaskar Trophy despite slumping to a 295-run defeat to India in the first Test.

  The hosts started day four needing 522 runs after slipping to 12-3 at the start of their second innings but could only reach 238 as India's attack made quick work of things in Perth.

  Australia have won just one Test series when losing the opener (home and away) since 1970. They have lost 24 series and drawn five, though three of those five draws were two-match series.

  Despite a poor start to their five-match series, Cummins insisted it was unlikely Australia would make any rash decisions ahead of the second Test.

  "I am not a selector, but I would be very surprised if we made any big changes," he told ABC Sports.

  "Really confident these are the best of 11 guys coming into this week. This week didn't go our way, but I'm still confident that's the case.

  "We challenge each other. We will stick firm, so this week doesn't change that.

  "We were clearly well off the mark. There is a lot to work on. So, the most important thing is, there's four Test matches next to come.

  "What's the next move? How do we make sure that we don't be in this position again?"

  India had racked up just 150 runs during their first innings, but a strong bowling performance against Australia steadied the ship before centuries from Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal put them out of sight.

  The tourists claimed their biggest Test win (by runs) in Australia on Monday, while it was also their third-biggest away Test victory in history.

  Captain Jasprit Bumrah, who took his 40th wicket on Australian soil as he finished with bowling figures of 8-72, was pleased with the faith India showed after their early setback.

  "We were put under pressure in the first innings, but the way we responded after that, I'm really very proud of the team," Bumrah said.

  "I played here in 2018, so I remember that when you start here, the wicket is a little soft and then becomes quicker and quicker. So, I was relying on that experience. Obviously, this wicket was a little less spicy than the last one that I played here, but we were really well prepared.

  "So I was just telling everyone to have faith in their process and ability, because over here at this moment you have an opportunity to do something special. So, on a given day, experience does matter, but if you have faith in your ability, you can do something special."