Jofra Archer out of isolation and available for England vs West Indies third test after passing coronavirus protocols
Fast bowler was stood down from selection for the second Test after an unauthorised trip home was ruled a breach of the strict coronavirus protocols put in place to enable the series to go ahead
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Your support makes all the difference.Jofra Archer is no longer in self-isolation and will be available for selection for England’s third Test decider against the West Indies this week after both of his coronavirus test results returned negative.
The fast bowler was excluded from the second Test after breaching the strict coronavirus protocols that have been implemented for the series to go ahead, with the 25-year-old leaving the ‘bio-bubble’ to return to his home in Hove between the first and second Tests, where he came into contact with an unnamed individual.
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced in exclusion on the morning of the Old Trafford Test, which England won on Monday by 113 runs to level the series at 1-1, and after spending five days in isolation and training on his own, Archer has rejoined the squad in their ‘bio-bubble’ in Manchester.
Archer was fined his match fee by the ECB and given an official warning for the breach, but escaped a further ban and will be eligible for a return on Friday when the third and final match of the series gets underway at Old Trafford.
It leaves captain Joe Root with a selection headache, having rested James Anderson and Mark Wood from the second Test only to see Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran steer them to victory in Manchester. With Archer also available, Root will have to select from Anderson, Wood, Archer, Broad, Woakes and Curran to find the right combination to repeat the victory if they are to take the series, with Stokes and spinner Dom Bess likely to retain their place.
Stokes meanwhile has moved to the top of the ICC’s all-rounder ranking for the first time in his career. Stokes stood in for Root as captain in the first Test last week, before inspiring England to victory in the second Test with his 176 off 356 balls in the first innings laying the platform for their triumph. He also took the crucial wicket of Jermaine Blackwood with the final ball before lunch on day five that swung the tie into England’s favour, with Root describing him after the match as “Mr Incredible” due to his contribution.
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