Archer sorry for breaching bio-secure bubble rules
Jofra Archer was dramatically banished from England’s second Test against the West Indies after breaking the team’s ‘bio-secure’ bubble with an unauthorised trip home to Brighton.
Archer made the trip after England’s defeat at the Ageas Bowl on Sunday and before the squad linked up at Emirates Old Trafford on Tuesday – in direct contravention of strict guidance from the EnglandandWalesCricket’sBoard in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The25-year-old’stransgression only came to light late on the eve of the second Test, throwing the side’s plans up in theairfollowingtheearlierdecision to rest James Anderson and Mark Wood for the match while retaining Archer.
Hewasimmediatelyplaced in self-isolation at the on-site Hilton hotel in Manchester, where he will remain for five days. He will receive two Covid-19 tests and will only be free to rejoin his team-mates if he is all clear.
A remorseful Archer said in a statement: “I am extremely sorry for what I have done. I haveputnotonlymyselfbutthe whole team and management indanger.Ifullyaccepttheconsequences 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, especiallywiththeseriespoised. I feel like I have let both teams down and again I am sorry.”
That apology, no matter how heartfelt, is unlikely to be the end of the matter given the exhaustive organisational workthatwentintogettingthe #raisethebatseriesupandrunning.
Cricket West Indies were informed of Archer’s movements and are said to be satisfied with the response.