England to stand by Archer: Stokes
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|| Desk Report ||
England vice-captain Ben Stokes said that the team would be there to support fast bowler Jofra Archer after he was excluded from this week’s second Test against West Indies for breaching bio-secure protocols.
“We really need to be there to support Jofra right now,” said Ben Stokes, who scored a magnificent 176 in England’s 469-9 declared to put his side in charge on day two.
“Obviously he’s a big talking point and he is by himself because of everything else going on at the moment,” Stokes told reporters.
“It’s making sure that it doesn’t feel like he’s by himself. The worst thing we could do right now as a team is just leave him and see him in five or six days’ time,” he added.
England mercurial all-rounder Stokes has had his share of off-field problems and said that it was important the team stood together.
“It’s all good being there for people when things are going well and smoothly but what really comes through is how you operate with someone when they need you the most,” he said.
“At times like this people are very, very tough and you can feel like you are all by yourself, but I don't think anybody is going to allow that to happen,” he concluded.
