Jofra Archer: English pacer apologizes for breaching biosecurity protocols; to miss Old Trafford Test

English pacer apologizes: Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the second Test for breaching rules at the bio-secure bubble.

England fast bowler Jofra Archer will miss the second Test of the ongoing West Indies series after he breached biosecurity rules at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

There is no hiding to the fact that players and officials are being kept under a bio-secure bubble to prevent them from contacting with coronavirus. With Archer breaking the protocol, letting him play would require a huge amount of risk for all the people involved inside the bubble.

Archer, who registered bowling figures of 39-6-106-3 in the first Test in Southampton, will have to self quarantine for five days before re-joining the squad. The 25-year old player will also have to undergo a couple of COVID-19 tests in this period.

There’s always a tweet https://t.co/wFd0QexeDg

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) July 16, 2020

According to Independent, Archer didn’t break the protocol in either of Southampton or Manchester. He breached the rule whilst moving from one bio-secure bubble to the other and it was only last night that the England Cricket Board got to know about it.

English pacer apologizes for breaking biosecurity protocols

“The West Indies team have been made aware and are satisfied with the measures that have been imposed,” read an ECB statement.

Archer, whose exclusion will surely affect the hosts who are already 0-1 down in the series, apologized to everyone inside the bio-secure bubble in a statement.

“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.

Of all the reasons for being dropped for a test match, breach of bio-security protocol has to be the most unique. #JofraArcher

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 16, 2020

“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,” read Archer’s statement.

With ECB not announcing an immediate replacement for Archer, it leaves England with a 12-member squad ahead of the second Test. While the batting division looks set, captain Joe Root is highly likely to leave one out Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran and Ollie Robinson.

With England already not considering James Anderson and Mark Wood for this Test, it means that they will play a whole new fast bowling attack from the first Test today.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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