Stokes sympathises with Archer after Brighton breach

BEN STOKES took a leading role for England on and off the pitch on day two of the second Test against the West Indies, hitting a fine 176 then offering his full support for team-mate Jofra Archer.

Stokes’ 10th Test century was further evidence of his maturity in the middle, a perfectly-paced knock that saw him grind down the tourists alongside the stoic Dom Sibley, who made 120, before opening up after reaching three figures.

It allowed England to declare on 469 for nine, and left just enough time for Sam Curran to prise out John Campbell before the close, but he also spoke in impressively measured tones about Archer’s ongoing travails.

The paceman has spent the last two days isolating in his on-site hotel room at Emirates Old Trafford after an unauthorised trip to Brighton breached the team’s bio-secure bubble and faces further disciplinary action this week.

Archer’s lapse, which only came to light late on the eve of the match, caused disbelief and frustration in the England camp but Stokes insisted he now needed support from his team-mates.

“We really need to be there to support Jofra right now,” was his instant reaction to Archer’s period of solitude. “Obviously he’s a big talking point and he is by himself because of everything else going on at the moment.

“It’s making sure that it doesn’t feel like he’s by himself. The worst thing we could do right now as a team is just leave him and see him in five or six days’ time.

“It’s all good being there for people when things are going well and smoothly but what really comes through is how you operate with someone when they need you the most.

“At times like this people are very, very tough and you can feel like you are all by yourself, but I don’t think anybody is going to allow that to happen.

“Jofra’s a massive part of this group, as everybody is.”