'We really need to support him right now' - Ben Stokes on Jofra Archer's bio-secure protocol breach

Jofra Archer has been the talking point over the last couple of days in England. Ahead of the second Test match between the hosts and the West Indies, the pace bowler was sensationally dropped from the team for breaching the bio-secure protocols set by the ECB. According to the rules, he will now be in the self-isolation for five days and will have to test negative for COVID-19 twice to be considered for the third and final Test.

The ECB confirmed that Archer went home on Monday when the players were supposed to travel straight to Manchester from Southampton. This is where the protocol breach happened and since then, the pacer is at the receiving end of all the flak from former cricketer for being careless and letting down the teammates and the opposition as well.

However, Ben Stokes reckons the England team should rally around Jofra Archer during this tough time and make sure he doesn’t feel alone. “I think from us as players and as England Cricket group, this is a time where our way of operating really needs to come through. We really need to be there to support Jofra right now because obviously he’s a big talking point,” he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Obviously he is by himself because of everything else going on at the moment but it’s making sure he doesn’t feel like he’s by himself. The worst thing we can do right now as a team is to just sort of leave him and see him in five or six days’ time and then say, ‘Alright’,” Stokes added.

Jofra Archer is a massive part of the group, says Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes also pointed out that this is the time when the team needs to stand by him and the ECB would’ve handled the matter the same way for any other player. “Jofra is a massive part of this group, as everybody is. If it was anybody else bar Jofra it would be the exact same way of handling it that we would do as a team.

“It’s all good being there for people when things are going well but what really comes through is how you operate with someone when they need you the most,” the all-rounder further said. As far as the ongoing second Test is concerned, the home team is in a great position thanks to twin centuries from Stokes and Dom Sibley. They will now be aiming to bundle the Caribbeans out after posting 469 runs in the first innings.