West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick has extended his support to England pacer Jofra Archer who has been having a rough week ever since he violated the COVID-19 protocols after the first Test in Southampton and then racist abuse on his Instagram account following the episode.
Encouraging the talented cricketer, Estwick who mentored Archer as a young cricketer in Barbados, said the star pacer has to “lay low, focus on the game and on people you can trust” while condemning the racial abuse that the speedster was subjected to on social media.
Estwick said ahead of the third and final Test on Friday (July 24): “Jofra will be fine. I’ve been in constant contact with him… have been talking to him and trying to reassure him that you know we all make mistakes and learn from your mistakes and we move on.”
He further added, “I spoke to him yesterday, and he appeared to be in a good space. I will continue to support him, there’s no doubt about that, and I’ll be there for him. He knows what he’s done, he would’ve learned from it and he will understand that he will get criticism.”
Meanwhile, Estwick has insisted that the tourists have been constantly reminding themselves of the opportunity that they make history by bringing their ‘A game’ and leave no stone unturned to end their 32-year wait to win the “big final” which will also be played at Manchester.
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The assistant coach further explained, “We’re constantly reminding that we’ve got a chance to change something that hasn’t happened for 32 years. We’ve played them a few times over the last two-three years and we’ve won odd Test matches. We’ve obviously won in the Caribbean (and) we want to go one step better here in England. We really want to win that Test match; we’ve really got to be up for it. Obviously, England’s going to be up for it as well because it’s a final.”
He signed off, “It’s a big Test match, and we’ve just got to be ready. We can’t have any excuses. We’ve got to go there and bring our ‘A’ game. All eleven players that walk on that park. The support staff as well. We’ve got to be up for it, we’ve got to push them. We’ve got to make sure that we’re ready. We’ve got to leave no stone unturned to make sure that we get the result that the Caribbean deserves.”
(With Firstpost Inputs)
