Archer fined & handed official written warning: ECB

Manchester : England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been fined and handed an official written warning after breaching the team's bio-secure protocols for their ongoing three-match Test series against the West Indies, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Saturday.

The ECB said that the decision was made at a meeting that was chaired by ECB's Director of Cricket Ashley Giles and included a representative from the Professional Cricketers' Association and Archer's agent.

"Following a disciplinary hearing held on Friday evening, 17 July, England cricketer Jofra Archer has been fined an undisclosed amount and received an official written warning after admitting to breaching the team's bio-secure protocols on Monday 13 July when he made an unauthorised visit to his home in Hove," said the ECB in its statement.

Archer was withdrawn from England's squad for the second Test to be isolated for five days at Old Trafford. "He will undergo two COVID-19 tests in this period, which have to test negative before his self-isolation period is lifted. He is due to rejoin the rest of the squad on Tuesday 21 July," said the ECB.

All-rounder Ben Stokes had earlier called for the team management to support Archer.

"For us as players, and as the England cricket group, this is a time where our way of operation really needs to come through," Stokes, who scored 176 to guide England to 469 for 9 declared in their first innings of the ongoing second Test, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.