Covid scare holds up Archer arrival

PACE BOWLER IN VIRUS WORRY

JOFRA ARCHER will delay his arrival at England’s behind-closed-doors training camp by

48 hours after a late coronavirus scare.

The England fast bowler, right, has already tested negative for Covid-19 but will have a second test today after a member of his household complained of feeling unwell.

If he gets another all-clear he will meet up with the rest of the squad tomorrow.

Joe Root’s 30-man training squad and all support staff were tested at the Ageas Bowl after meeting up yesterday.

They will get results this morning ahead of a first training session tomorrow.

England will play a three-day practice match at the ground on July 1 in the build-up to the first Test on July 8.

Ashley Giles insists Pakistan’s tour of England in August is “not in doubt” despite 10 of their players testing positive for Covid-19.

The Test squad and support staff have gathered in Lahore ahead of a June 28 departure for Manchester. And while there will be further testing tomorrow, there is confidence the series will go ahead. “We are far enough away from the start of the Test series to not worry about [positive tests] too much at the moment,” said Giles, England’s director of cricket.

The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed a touring party of mainly redball players and support staff will leave on Sunday. They will fly in to Manchester before going on to quarantine quarters in Derby. Giles also confirmed the ECB remains confident that Australia’s limited-overs squad will round off the cricket summer with a white-ball series in September.

West Indies played out the first cricket of the summer at Old Trafford yesterday, with the best batsmen lined up against the strongest bowlers. Kraigg Brathwaite hit 84 as he led a side packed with batsmen while Jason Holder led a side heavy on bowling.