Archer available for final Test as rain foils England

MANCHESTER: Jofra Archer will be available for England’s third and final Test against the West Indies next week after being ruled out of the second match for a breach of coronavirus protocols, it was announced on Saturday.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s statement came as the hosts’ quest to level the three-match series at 1-1 was frustrated by rain washing out the whole of the third day’s play in Manchester.

Both teams have been living in ‘bio-secure bubble’ sites at the Ageas Bowl, the venue for last week’s first Test, and Old Trafford, where the final two matches of a series that marks international cricket’s return from lockdown are taking place.

Fast bowler Archer broke the rules by going home to Hove on Monday, during which time he met with an unnamed individual following England’s four-wicket loss in the series opener at Southampton before the team travelled north to Manchester.

He was then left out of the ongoing second Test that started on Thursday, with Archer self-isolating in an onsite hotel room at Old Trafford for five days.

But the 25-year-old could yet feature in the finale after a disciplinary hearing chaired by England managing director Ashley Giles on Friday decided an ‘undisclosed’ fine, believed to be in the region of 30,000 pounds($38,000) and a written warning amounted to sufficient punishment.

Archer’s ‘impeccable record’ was said to have counted in his favour, with the paceman ‘full of remorse’.

He will now undergo two Covid-19 tests, which have to produce negative results, before his self-isolation period is lifted.

The ECB said Archer was due to rejoin the squad on Tuesday — three days before third Test starts on Friday.

“Jofra Archer has been fined an undisclosed amount and received an official written warning after admitting to breaching the team’s bio-secure protocols on Monday 13 July when he made an unauthorised visit to his home in Hove,” said an ECB statement.

Former England spinner Giles said on Thursday that Archer’s breach of the regulations was a potential ‘disaster’ that could have cost ‘tens of millions of pounds’ amid fears it could scupper an international programme taking place amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile England star Ben Stokes said on Friday: “We really need to be there to support Jofra right now.”

Thursday saw an apologetic Archer say he was ‘extremely sorry’, adding: “I fully accept the consequences of my actions.”

Saturday’s downpour came with England well-placed in the second Test.

They made 469-9 declared in their first innings, Stokes top-scoring with 176 and sharing a stand of 260 with Dom Sibley (120).

Sam Curran then removed John Campbell to leave the West Indies 32-1 at stumps.

“It’s looking like we’ll have to take 19 wickets in two days,” Stokes told Sky Sports. “But the wicket has offered something throughout the whole Test so far. And we know that once we get on a roll, anything is possible with the bowling attack we have.”

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings):

R.J. Burns lbw b Chase 15

D.P. Sibley c Roach b Chase 120

Z. Crawley c Holder b Chase 0

J.E. Root c Holder b Joseph 23

B.A. Stokes c Dowrich b Roach 176

O.J. Pope lbw b Chase 7

J.C. Buttler c Joseph b Holder 40

C.R. Woakes c Hope b Roach 0

S.M. Curran c Brathwaite b Chase 17

D.M. Bess not out 31