COVID-19 clearance

England pacer Jofra Archer has tested negative for Covid-19 and joined the rest of the England squad at the Ageas Bowl this afternoon.

The other 29 players in England’s enlarged training squad arrived in Southampton on Tuesday, and began training today ahead of the first Test against West Indies on July 8.

Archer’s journey was delayed after a member of his household began to feel unwell over the weekend. They had all tested negative for Covid-19, but Archer underwent an additional test yesterday as a precaution and travelled to Southampton this afternoon after receiving a negative result.

Archer’s first training session will be tomorrow. The rest of England’s players have been split into two groups for training, with one half having their first session this morning and the other in the afternoon.

Earlier this week, Archer used his Daily Mail column to declare himself fully fit, and Sussex have posted videos on social media of him bowling at full pace against Zak Crawley in the Hove nets.

So far, no player or support staff member from either the England or West Indies groups has tested positive, with the ECB confirming yesterday that all 702 tests so far had been negative.

Ten of the Pakistan players due to tour England in August have tested positive so far, plus one member of the team’s support staff. The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced that five reserve players and a back-up member of support staff would be tested for the virus, while those who have previously tested positive will undergo a second round of tests tomorrow. (Cricinfo)