Jofra Archer reports racist abuse on social media to the ECB

Jofra Archer has revealed he suffered racist abuse on social media after being withdrawn from England’s squad for the second Test against the West Indies last week for breaching bio-secure protocols.
It emerged the fast bowler had made an unauthorised visit to his flat in Hove before travelling up to Manchester, and he was placed in isolation for five days at the team’s on-site hotel at Emirates Old Trafford.
Archer, who was fined but is available for the third Test which starts on Friday after returning two negative coronavirus tests, accepts he made a mistake but insists he will not tolerate being the target of racism.

“Some of the abuse I have taken over the past few days on Instagram has been racist and I have decided that enough is enough,” Archer wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“Since Wilfried Zaha, the Crystal Palace footballer, was abused by a 12-year-old online I drew a line and I will not allow anything to pass.”
Archer, who was racially abused by a spectator in New Zealand last year, with a 28-year-old man admitting the offence, has reported the latest incident to the England and Wales Cricket Board.
An ECB spokesperson said: “The alleged racist message was brought to our attention by Jofra Archer last week. We are supporting him and we have reported the message through the appropriate channels and authorities.”
While Archer has now rejoined his team-mates, he was only allowed out of his room for carefully controlled solitary fitness work last week, activities for which he admitted he lacked motivation due to the scrutiny he has attracted.
“I found I was struggling for motivation in the circumstances when it came to returning to bowling in the nets,” he said.
“When I walked outside of my room for the first time since being placed into self-isolation for breaking the Covid-19 protocols, I heard the cameras clicking with every single step I took.
“The whole spectacle made me feel uneasy. I know what I did was an error of judgement and I have suffered the consequences of that. I haven’t committed a crime and I want to start feeling myself again.
“Yes, I made a mistake in not driving to Old Trafford directly from Southampton between matches. But people make mistakes. To me, home is home. A safe place. I picked some stuff up, dropped some stuff off. It was no big deal.”
Archer wrote that he had apologised to his team-mates and thanked them for their support, while singling out Ben Stokes for advising him on “how to deal with being in the spotlight of international sport”.
The all-rounder starred as England levelled the #raisethebat series with a 113-run win, having lost the opener at the Ageas Bowl, where Archer admitted his bemusement at the varying reactions at his own performance.

Archer followed up figures of nought for 61 first time around with a three-wicket burst in the second innings which gave England an outside chance of victory, only for the Windies to get over the line at Southampton.
“The second innings in Southampton showed me how fickle cricket is,” Archer added.
“In the first innings, I hear I am this and that – over-rated. Then, the second innings comes, I do well and it’s all ‘he’s a great player.’ That’s cricket.
“Some days are good, some are bad. No one is going to be amazing all the time. Sometimes I feel it’s not a fair world – really and truly.
“Over the last few days, I have unfollowed and muted a lot of social media profiles to get away from it.
“I won’t be going back on it. I find it unnecessary noise. Take two wickets and everyone is back on the bandwagon again. It’s a fickle, fickle world we live in.”
Latest
-
England
Liam Livingstone praises England spinner Rehan Ahmed as ‘exceptional talent’
Ahmed has furthered his blossoming reputation against the West Indies by recording identical figures of 10-1-40-2 in two ODIs in Antigua.
-
England
Little bit of relief – Sam Curran and England bounce back in Antigua
Curran laid the groundwork for England’s six-wicket win.
-
England
Sam Curran and Jos Buttler return to form as England level series in Antigua
Chasing 203, Will Jacks put England into the ascendancy with a sparkling 73 off 72 balls.
-
England
Sam Curran finds form as England bowl out West Indies for 202
Curran took three big scalps days after enduring a tough time in the first ODI.
-
England
Andrew Flintoff set to return to England’s backroom staff for Windies T20 series
Flintoff first linked up with the national side in an unpaid role for ODI series against New Zealand and Ireland before the World Cup.
-
Women's Cricket
Danni Wyatt stars on 150th T20I appearance as England begin India tour with win
Sophie Ecclestone returned figures of three for 15 on her comeback appearance after four months out with a shoulder injury.
-
England
Harry Brook blocks himself from ‘negativity’ by withdrawing from social media
Brook has left the running of his X and Instagram accounts to someone else.
-
Women's Cricket
Sophie Ecclestone set for England return in T20 opener in India – Heather Knight
The world’s top-ranked limited-overs bowler underwent surgery after dislocating her shoulder in August.
-
England
Rehan Ahmed rejects Sir Alastair Cook’s criticism of Jos Buttler’s captaincy
Several of Buttler’s decisions were scrutinised during a calamitous World Cup defence.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson handed their first central contracts by ECB
England Women have once again issued 18 full-time deals.