Jofra Archer tests negative for Covid-19

Jofra Archer has tested negative for Covid-19 and will join the rest of the England squad at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday afternoon.

The other 29 players in England's enlarged training squad arrived in Southampton on Tuesday, and began training on Thursday ahead of the first Test against West Indies on July 8.

Archer's journey was delayed after a member of his household began to feel unwell over the weekend. They had all tested negative for Covid-19, but Archer underwent an additional test on Wednesday as a precaution and will travel to Southampton on Thursday afternoon after receiving a negative result.

Archer's first training session will be on Friday. The rest of England's players have been split into two groups for training, with one half having their first session on Thursday morning and the other in the afternoon.

Earlier this week, Archer used his Daily Mail column to declare himself fully fit, and Sussex have posted videos on social media of him bowling at full pace against Zak Crawley in the Hove nets.

So far, no player or support staff member from either the England or West Indies groups has tested positive, with the ECB confirming on Wednesday that all 702 tests so far had been negative.

Ten of the Pakistan players due to tour England in August have tested positive so far, plus one member of the team's support staff. The PCB announced on Thursday that five reserve players and a back-up member of support staff would be tested for the virus, while those who have previously tested positive will undergo a second round of tests on Friday.