Jofra Archer reports racist abuse and is 'struggling for motivation' after Test ban

Pace bowler broke coronavirus protocol and had to self-isolate instead of playing against West Indies

England cricketer Jofra Archer has hit back at the level of criticism he received on social media following his breach of pandemic protocols earlier this month. PA

Jofra Archer has revealed he received racist abuse on social media after breaching biosecurity protocols and being dropped by England.

The fast bowler has passed on details of the abuse to the English Cricket Board and is seeking to have action taken, and added he was struggling for motivation ahead of the third Test against the West Indies on Friday.

"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," he wrote in the Daily Mail.

"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, so I have forwarded on my complaints to the ECB and that will go through the correct process.”

Archer was fined and warned by the English Cricket Board and forced to isolate on his own after being left out of the second Test at Old Trafford, which England won by 113 runs on Monday to level the series at 1-1

The 25-year-old went home last week instead of heading straight from the first Test in Southampton to Manchester under the strict health guidelines laid down for the series. Once the breach had been discovered, he had to spend five days in isolation but has since twice tested negative for Covid-19 and is eligible to play in the third Test starting on Friday.

"I found I was struggling for motivation in the circumstances when it came to returning to bowling in the nets," he wrote.
"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.

England's Jos Buttler catches out West Indies' Jermaine Blackwood on day five of the Manchester Test on Monday. Reuters

England's Chris Woakes celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of West Indies' Shane Dowrich duringthe final day of the second Test in Manchester. AFP

West Indies' Jason Holder, left, and Shamarh Brooks during day five of the Manchester Test on Monday. PA

England's Sam Curran, right, celebrates the dismissal of West Indies' Shamarh Brooks. AP

Jason Holder of West Indies is bowled by Dom Bess. Getty

England's Ben Stokes, left, with West Indies' Jason Holder after England wrap up the Test on the final day in Manchester. AFP

England's Ollie Pope takes the winning catch to dismiss West Indies' Kemar Roach. PA

England's Jos Buttler takes the catch to dismiss West Indies' Jermaine Blackwood. AFP

West Indies' Jermaine Blackwood falls in an attempt to play a rising delivery from England's Ben Stokes. AP

England's Chris Woakes appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of West Indies' Shamarh Brooks. PA

"The whole spectacle made me feel uneasy. I know what I did was an error of judgment and I have suffered the consequences of that. I haven't committed a crime and I want to start feeling myself again.

"I spoke briefly to the doctor about how I'm feeling and also to Ben Stokes on Monday night. Ben tried to advise me on how to deal with being in the spotlight of international sport.

"He vowed to back me and support me. Now, I need to be 100 per cent mentally right so that I can throw myself into my cricket this week."