Jofra Archer dropped from 2nd Test after breaching COVID-19 protocols

Old Trafford:England pacer Jofra Archer was on Thursday dropped from the second Test against the West Indies for breaching the team's COVID-19 bio-secure protocols, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said.

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. 

Notably, England and West Indies are playing the historic Test series which marked the re-start of international cricket following the enforced break due to the Covid-19 pandemic in a bio-secure bubble. The ECB has taken extreme precautions while organizing the series and the first Test in Southampton passed off without any incident. 

Archer apologised for the lapse, which wasn't specified in the ECB 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,''  said Archer.

''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,'' he added.Jofra was confirmed in England's 13-man squad for the 2nd Test of the three match series.(UNI)

2nd Test: Windies win toss, opt to bowl; Broad, Woakes in for England

Manchester: West Indies captain Jason Holder won the delayed toss and opted to bowl against England in the second Test match of three match series, in overcast conditions at the Old Trafford on Thursday.

England made two changes in its playing XI as Jofra Archer was dropped from the team after he violated the Covid-19 protocol.

Stuart Broad is back in the team and will share the new ball with Chris Woakes and Sam Curran.On the other hand, West Indies made no changes in its playing XI.

Teams:

England: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root(c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler(w), Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Shai Hope, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich(w), Jason Holder(c), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel(UNI)