Jofra Archer was “sensationally” dropped from the England side for the second Test against the West Indies because he breached the team’s strict “bio-security protocols” by apparently undertaking a furtive 120-mile trip to see his girlfriend Druanna Butler.

Unlike other England players, who made the journey directly from Southampton, where they were beaten in the first Test at the Ageas Bowl, the 25-year-old fast bowler did not drive directly to the hotel near the Old Trafford ground in Manchester for the start of the second match on Thursday morning.

Instead, on Monday, he went in a completely different direction to his home in Hove, Sussex, thereby breaking the rules the England and Wales Cricket Board had set to try and reduce the chances of the coronavirus infection being brought into the dressing room.

The curt ECB statement merely said: “England’s Jofra Archer has been excluded from the #raisethebat second Test against the West Indies starting today (Thursday 16 July) at Emirates Old Trafford following a breach of the team’s bio-secure protocols.

“Archer will now commence five days of isolation and will undergo two COVID-19 tests in this period, which have to test negative before his self-isolation period is lifted.

“The West Indies team have been made aware and are satisfied with the measures that have been imposed.”

An apology from Archer was attached: “I am extremely sorry for what I have done. I have put, not only myself, but the whole team and management in danger. I fully accept the consequences of my actions, and I want to sincerely apologise to everyone in the bio-secure bubble.

“It deeply pains me to be missing the Test match, especially with the series poised. I feel like I have let both teams down, and again I am sorry.”

According to an “exclusive” report in the Mail, Archer was “sensationally” left out of the second Test “after breaking coronavirus protocols by making an unauthorised detour to visit his home. It is thought Archer made the trip home to see his girlfriend, leaving England officials ‘fuming’ at his actions. Archer’s detour was discovered because he was wearing a tracker (mobile phone).”

Archer posted a cryptic meme on his Twitter account featuring a photograph of himself taken during England’s net session on Wednesday. It read: “Her: Drop the attitude or leave” then “Me” with the picture of Archer giving a sly glance to the camera.

The West Indies have been targeting Archer because he was born in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Speaking on Test Match Special, former England captain Michael Vaughan, who last week defended Archer against West Indian taunts that he does not bowl at top speed often enough, said: “I don’t think he will play next week, there needs to be some kick-back and Jofra can’t think he can just walk back into the team. It could be a few Tests.”

The drop zone

Over the years, many cricketers have been dropped for unusual reasons. Here are five such instances:

Bad timing: John Benaud (Aus) was ignored for the second Test of the 1972-73 home series against Pakistan despite scoring 142 in the first game because the squad for the second match was chosen midway into the first. That was before John, Richie Benaud’s younger brother, made his century.

One and only: Kapil Dev (Ind) missed only one Test during his career — versus England in Calcutta, in 1984-85. He was controversially dropped on disciplinary grounds after what the team management thought was unnecessary adventurism while batting in the previous Test.

Doubly slow: If Kapil was dropped for trying to score too fast, Geoffrey Boycott (Eng) was axed for being too slow. The opener made 246 not out against India in Headingley in 1967. But the selectors deemed his 555-ball innings of 573 minutes “selfish” and he was omitted for the next match.

Fish tale: Andrew Symonds (Aus) was omitted from the squad during a home series against Bangladesh in 2008 when he missed a team meeting as he had gone fishing.

Beamer Roy: Pacer Roy Gilchrist (WI) was sent home from India by captain Gerry Alexander, ahead of the West Indies’ tour of Pakistan in 1958-59, chiefly because of his reluctance to stop bowling beamers. He never played for WI again.