ENG VS WI, 2nd Test: Holding slams Archer, questions ECB's protocols

Archer, who scalped three wickets in the Southampton Test which England lost by four wickets, was omitted from the squad to face West Indies in the crucial Manchester Test.

Manchester: England pacer Jofra Archer broke the bio-secure bubble ahead of the second Test of #raisethebat series at Old Trafford. Reacting on the same West Indies great Michael Holding slammed Archer for his carelessness and questioned ECB's protocols.

Jofra Archer

Archer, who scalped three wickets in the Southampton Test which England lost by four wickets, was omitted from the squad to face West Indies in the crucial Manchester Test.

Jofra Archer

Citing the example of Nelson Mandela, Holding ripped into Archer, stating sacrifices should be made for the larger good.

"I have no sympathy at all. I don't understand why people can't just do what is required. Talking about sacrifices -- Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in a little cell and he did nothing wrong -- that is a sacrifice," Holding said.

Jofra Archer

Holding also questioned the protocols put in place by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and stated it should be more 'logical'. It is being reported that Archer drove to his home in Sussex as other players made their way to Manchester from Southampton.

Jofra Archer

"I just want to ask a few questions of the ECB and these protocols, though. I understand that protocols should be put in place but they should be a little bit more logical," Holding said.

"Why aren't the England team travelling on a bus? If they have already passed the COVID test and everyone is together, they have six matches and are moving from one venue to another, why aren't they just all on a bus?

"Why are they allowed to travel by car? People need to just think a bit," he added.

Jofra Archer

Former England cricketer Michael Atherton was also very critical of Archer's actions and stated it has not only put England's chances of a comeback into disarray but also put everyone's safety in jeopardy.

"It's very foolish for a number of reasons. One, it cost him a place in the team. Secondly, it's thrown England's plans into disarray, a vital Test match that they must win to try and win this series," Atherton told said.

"And thirdly it's put at risk all the work that ECB have done. These six Test matches, three against West Indies, three against Pakistan, they've had to do a tremendous amount of work to get these games on."

Archer will now commence five days of isolation and will undergo two COVID-19 tests in this period, which have to test negative before his self-isolation period is lifted, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in an official statement.