There was an air of disbelief floating around Old Trafford before the start of play when the news broke that Jofra Archer had done a Dominic Cummings and broken bio-secure protocols, resulting in his exclusion from the second Test.
Unlike Boris Johnson, England did not faff around. They had no choice. Once Archer had been found to have gone home on Monday between Tests he put the entire operation at risk from a health perspective.
The disbelief and anger that ECB felt, and the seriousness with which they viewed his error, was because of the enormous amount of work that has gone on to stage these bio-secure Tests. Months of work, with every little detail covered, to get government approval and to try to ensure that there is as little chance as possible of a player becoming infected with COVID-19. Clearly, by breaching the protocols, Archer increased that risk.
Not only has the ECB had to work incredibly hard to put these matches on, the West Indies are here, Pakistan are also in the country, and both teams have had assurances around the health stipulations. Archer’s foolish actions showed little regard for the sacrifices these teams have made to leave family and friends and spend time here, and little regard for his own teammates too before an important game.
Imagine if Archer’s mistake had been discovered after the game had begun? What would have happened then? Would the match have been cancelled? Would England have had to play with 10 men?
That it was discovered the day before was some consolation at least, although it left England’s selectors in a real bind.
There may be some sympathy for a player who has had to spend the best part of a month inside a cricket ground, with no contact allowed with friends or family. These are very unusual circumstances, with every player, official and broadcaster having to make some small sacrifices. But that sympathy should be limited: Archer simply had to do what every other player has managed to do, which is abide by the rules that were very clearly set out.
That sympathy is also limited by what is at stake: each of these Tests is worth about £20m ($36m) to the ECB; the summer of Tests is worth £120m; the summer of international cricket all told about £200m. That is money for the whole game and the short-term finances of the ECB are very dependent on these matches going ahead.
Archer apologised, immediately and unreservedly, and, of course, that is where the matter should end. He misses this Test and must now isolate for five days and take two COVID-19 tests but if they come back negative there should be no reason why he should not play in the third Test. Missing a crucial Test and the embarrassment and opprobrium that will come his way is punishment enough.
It left England in a pickle, of course, having already announced that they would be resting James Anderson and Mark Wood after their exertions in Southampton.
Archer was the outstanding bowler in the second innings when he bowled with great pace and skill and England were looking for him to lead the attack here. Now, through his own foolishness, that is not possible.
The Times
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