'I haven't committed a crime' - Jofra Archer hits back at criticism over his bio-secure protocol breach

England pacer Jofra Archer was at the receiving end of all the criticism last week for breaching the bio-secure protocol ahead of the second Test against the West Indies. On the way to Manchester from Southampton, he had stopped at his home in Brighton. For the same reason, the ECB decided to drop and keep him in the self-isolation. Rather the board also warned and fined him for his actions.

Archer himself apologised to his team-mates, opposition and the fans while admitting that he committed a mistake. But he isn’t happy with the backlash he is receiving since then. The former cricketers from England and West Indies have come up with some harsh comments for the fast bowler.

The 25-year-old admits it was tough for him staying in self-isolation when his team was fighting it out at the Old Trafford. He also went on to state it was mentally tough for him as well and was hard to take the spotlight after finally walking out of his hotel room after five days.

Whole spectacle has made me feel uneasy, says Jofra Archer

While Jofra Archer conceded that he made a mistake, he also said that he didn’t commit a crime and is willing to feel good again after taking the field. “This whole week has been extremely tough, and to spend five days in isolation has given me a lot of thinking time on where I am at. To be stuck in a hotel room in Manchester was hard.

“You know you cannot focus on the game being played on the other side of the bedroom curtains, and it was frustrating not being able to make an impact on the field. I found I was struggling for motivation in the circumstances when it came to returning to bowling in the nets. When I walked outside of my room for the first time since being placed into self-isolation for breaking the Covid-19 protocols, I heard the cameras clicking with every single step I took.

“The whole spectacle made me feel uneasy. I know what I did was an error of judgement, and I have suffered the consequences of that. I haven’t committed a crime, and I want to start feeling myself again,” he said according to Daily Mail. Meanwhile, Jofra Archer is set to join the squad for the third Test after clearing the COVID-19 test, and he is looking forward to contributing to the team’s win the series decider.

“There is a series to win, and after the win in the second match, it’s there for the taking. We have got amazing depth in the squad, especially now no one is injured, so many options and therefore to do justice to myself and the rest of my team-mates I have to be ready when called upon. We have the firepower to win the match and achieve what we set out to,” he further added.