Pace legend Michael Holding has questioned the England and Wales Cricket Board’s bio-secure protocol to tackle the Covid-19 threat after pacer Jofra Archer breached it ahead of the ongoing second Test against the West Indies in Old Trafford.
Archer, on Thursday, was axed from the match after breaking team protocol to visit his home in Brighton after the first Test. He will now undergo two Covid-19 tests during a five-day isolation period.
“I just want to ask a few questions of the ECB and these protocols, though. I can understand protocols have to be put in place but I would think they should be a little bit more logical,” the former West Indies pacer said on Sky Sports Cricket during the opening day of the second Test.
“Why aren’t the England team travelling on a bus? If they have already passed their Covid tests, everyone is together, they have six Test matches, they are moving from one venue to the other,” he added.
Archer has apologised for the lapse and acknowledged the enormity of his indiscretion. “Why aren’t they all just in a bus travelling to the next venue? Why are they allowed to be going in cars? What’s the purpose of that? People need to just think a bit,” said Holding.
In April, Holding had questioned the logic of stopping players from using saliva on the ball in a bio-secure environment.
