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Cricket

16th Jul 2020

Jofra Archer excluded from second West Indies Test for breaking bio-secure protocols

England's bowling star will now isolate for five days and have to take two covid-19 tests, both of which must test negative

Reuben Pinder

He will have to isolate for five days

Jofra Archer has been excluded from England’s second Test match against the West Indies after breaking bio-secure protocol, the ECB have confirmed.

The fast bowler is thought to have breached the protocols while moving from Southampton, where the first Test was played, to Manchester, where the last two of the series will take place.

Archer will now isolate for five days and take two covid-19 tests in that time, both of which must test negative before he can rejoin the group.

England’s matches this summer are being played behind closed doors and with strict barriers in place to minimise the risk of compromising the series through infection.

Archer has not been replaced in the 13 man squad. With his exclusion, and Jimmy Anderson and Mark Wood being rested, it means England will have an entirely new seam attack for the second Test.

Stuart Broad, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes will likely be the three to come in, while captain Joe Root also returns after missing the first Test for the birth of his second child.

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 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.”

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