England bowler Jofra Archer fined and given official warning for breaching bio-secure protocols

England fast-bowler Jofra Archer was fined and received an official warning for breaching the team's bio-secure protocols following the opening Test against West Indies.

Archer broke the rules by going to his flat in Brighton following the series opener in Southampton last week.

England dropped him from the team for the second test against West Indies, announcing the decision hours before the start of the match at Old Trafford on Thursday.

The disciplinary hearing on Friday evening was chaired by England director of cricket Ashley Giles and attended by Archer's agent and a representative from the Professional Cricketers' Association. Details about the size of the fine were not disclosed.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) read: "Jofra Archer has been fined an undisclosed amount and received an official written warning after admitting to breaching the team's bio-secure protocols on Monday 13 July when he made an unauthorised visit to his home in Hove.

"Archer was withdrawn from England's second Test squad against West Indies at Emirates Old Trafford and is commencing five days of isolation at the venue.

"He will undergo two Covid-19 tests in this period, which have to test negative before his self-isolation period is lifted. He is due to rejoin the rest of the squad on Tuesday."

England vice-captain Ben Stokes said the team were going to be mindful of Archer's well-being during his period of isolation in a hotel room at the ground.

"We understand that it can be a very vulnerable and lonely place for him right now," Stokes told BBC Test Match Special.

"Making sure that Jof is as happy as he possibly can be is the main thing for us. We need to do everything we can to make sure we keep him going."

Stokes, meanwhile, admitted England face a tough task to win the second Test against the West Indies and pull level in the three-match series after rain washed out the third day's play at Old Trafford on Saturday.

As the Test enters Day 4, the West Indies will resume on 32/1 in their first innings reply to England's 469/9 declared. It means England face a race against time to square the series.

"It's not ideal, turning up today with the weather around," Stokes, who top-scored with 176 on Friday, told Sky Sports. "It's looking like we'll have to take 19 wickets in two days.

"But the wicket has offered something throughout the whole Test so far, so we just need to make sure we can expose that. And we know that once we get on a roll, anything is possible with the bowling attack we have."