Aussie fans abuse Archer

Lancashire threw two Australia fans out of Old Trafford yesterday for using “foul and abusive” language towards England fast bowler Jofra Archer.

The fans were standing below the England dressing room at the Brian Statham End and shouted sustained abuse at Archer while he was fielding during the Australia innings.

Among the insults shouted at Archer were “Jofra show us your passport” and other references to his Barbados heritage. Other supporters sitting close to the two men complained to stewards but eventually went to the police as it escalated.

A Lancashire spokesman confirmed the two supporters were ejected from the ground with the club insisting they have a zero tolerance policy on abusive behaviour. Archer did not respond to the abuse but looked angered by the comments.

Last month the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, criticised England fans for booing Steve Smith and David Warner and the pair have had to cope with jeers wherever they have played this summer. Extra security was laid on for Warner when he worried about the safety of his family in England. However, trouble at England-Australia matches has been non-existent.

While Archer was born in Barbados, he has long had a United Kingdom passport courtesy of his British father. Frank Archer was born in Catford and was a driver on the London underground before retiring to Liverpool.

“Jofra’s been coming here since he was two-years-old so you’ve got to ignore that stuff in the press about how he’s just popped up from nowhere,” Frank told the Cricket Paper. (Telegraph)