India, May 18 -- Michael Vaughan has questioned England's handling of Jofra Archer's availability, arguing that centrally contracted players should not be prioritising franchise cricket over Test duty as England prepare to begin their home summer against New Zealand.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, former England captain Vaughan said the current arrangement between ECB and BCCI has created the wrong optics, with Archer continuing his IPL stint in India while England's first test against New Zealand at Lord's approaches.

England recently named their squad for the opening Test against New Zealand, starting June 4, with Archer left out as the ECB manages his return to red-ball cricket after an extended injury-hit period. The decision comes despite A...