England pacer Joffra Archer has revealed that he was abused racially on social media while he was in isolation for breaking COVID-19 security protocols. Archer was dropped from the England side in the second Test against West Indies after he broke biosecurity protocols by driving back to his flat in Hove instead of going straight to Old Trafford. He was handed a fine and written warning by the England Cricket Board (ECB).
In a column to the Daily Mail, Archer said that social media was fickle-minded and that people would praise a sportsman one second and criticise him the moment he underperforms. "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”, said Archer.
Archer also revealed that racism was prevalent in social media and that he had raised the same with the ECB. "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 said. "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 is eligible to play in the final Test which starts Friday after testing negative twice for COVID-19 during his five days spent in isolation. England have levelled the series after sealing a 100-plus victory in the second test.
