Chris Silverwood on Archer: "He's a young man and he's made a bad judgement call. He knows he has done that and we will support him the best we can"
Saturday 18 July 2020 13:26, UK
Jofra Archer's bio-secure breach could have been "a disaster" for English cricket costing "tens of millions of pounds", according to Ashley Giles.
England seamer Archer went home to Brighton between the first and second #rasiethebat Tests against West Indies, contravening strict guidelines.
Giles, managing director of men's cricket at the ECB, suggested the pace bowler had risked the entire summer schedule.
"This could have been a disaster. The ripple effect this could have had through the whole summer could have cost us tens of millions of pounds," said Giles, with Archer now amid a mandatory five-day self-isolation at the team hotel at Emirates Old Trafford.
"The potential knock-on effect I don't think he could have understood. He is a young man and young men make mistakes. He has to learn from them. There will be a disciplinary process to go through.
"With the help of government and the help of the opposition, in this case the West Indies, the series was set up with these protocols and we have to abide by them. Everyone has to abide by them. If you know what the protocol says and what's expected of you it's a simple choice."
England head coach Chris Silverwood says it is now important that Archer, who has apologised for his indiscretion, is given support by the team.
"He went home and that does breach the protocols of what we have set up here. Obviously the integrity of this bio-safe environment is very important," Silverwood told Sky Sports.
"He's made a mistake, he's a young man and he's made a bad judgement call. He knows he has done that and we will support him the best we can.
"He's got five days stuck in a hotel room, so we've got to make sure he's alright from a well-being point of view, that we look after him."
Giles added: "Show me someone who has never made a mistake and I'll show you a liar. I don't think trust is something that is lost or gained over one incident. Jof will learn from it. We will support him and move on.
"He is fine young man, incredibly polite, works hard and is a great asset to this team. On this occasion he got it wrong.
"There has to be consequence for every action and there will be a process we go through. But that balance with support is equally important."
Speaking on The Cricket Debate, former West Indies fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose says Archer now faces a "challenge" to be ready for the third Test, which is also at Emirates Old Trafford, from July 24.
"It is always going to be tough because as a bowler you do need to spend some time in the nets to get yourself into some kind of shape for the Test match to come," Ambrose said.
"With Archer not able to do anything for the next five days or so and then only a couple of days between the second and third Tests, it will be a challenge for him.
"For him to break the protocol was a bad move, not a very smart move. We all make mistakes and I'm sure it won't happen to him again."
Watch day two of the second #raisethebat Test live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.30am on Friday.
