Jofra Archer has been axed from England’s Test squad with the West Indies due a to breach of ‘the team’s bio-secure protocols’ and will isolate for five days. England are playing the series behind closed doors due to the coronavirus, and all five matches this summer will take place in a bio-secure environment.
But Archer, who took 3-45 in Southampton, has now been dropped for the second Test with England trailing the series 1-0.
It is still not clear exactly how Archer breached the protocols, but he has apologised for putting his team-mates in danger.
Sam Curran is set to replace him but Archer will likely come back into the team following his isolation period and if he can deliver two negative coronavirus tests.
An ECB statement read: “England’s Jofra Archer has been excluded from the #raisethebat second Test against the West Indies starting today (Thursday 16 July) at Emirates Old Trafford following a breach of the team’s bio-secure protocols.
“Archer will now commence five days of isolation and will undergo two COVID-19 tests in this period, which have to test negative before his self-isolation period is lifted.
“The West Indies team have been made aware and are satisfied with the measures that have been imposed.”
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And Archer said: “I am extremely sorry for what I have done.
“I have put, not only myself, but the whole team and management in danger. I fully accept the consequences of my actions, and I want to sincerely apologise to everyone in the bio-secure bubble.
“It deeply pains me to be missing the Test match, especially with the series poised. I feel like I have let both teams down, and again I am sorry.”
Archer was criticised for not bowling at full speed during the first Test but former England captain Michael Vaughan hit back saying it’s impossible to go so fast every over.
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He said: “Going forward he will have frustrating days, he’s a young bowler. Will he become really consistent the older he gets? Maybe.
“Look at [Australia’s] Brett Lee and [Pakistan’s] Shoaib Akhtar. They have lots of spells where you just go ‘come on, you can crank it up’, but it’s impossible. The body just doesn’t allow you to do it every single over that you bowl.
“But when you get that click, that six or seven overs where everything is in sync and you see the ball flying down at 90mph-plus causing chaos, that’s why you put Jofra Archer in your team.
“I was delighted with Jofra’s spell yesterday – he was back to doing what he does best.”