England boost as Joe Root overcomes sickness bug ahead of third Test

Back in training: Joe Root was struck by a sickness bug again on Sunday
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Will Macpherson13 January 2020

Joe Root was set to return to training at St George’s Park on Monday, having overcome the illness that confined the England captain to his room on Sunday.

Root was one of 11 players laid low by a sickness bug that troubled the England camp in the early part of this tour and he was struck again on Sunday, meaning he was unable to train with the rest of the squad.

But he returned on Monday for their penultimate training session to give England a boost before the Third Test against South Africa starts on Thursday.

Mark Wood and Jofra Archer are looking to prove their fitness to replace James Anderson, who has returned to England to rehabilitate the broken rib he suffered in the memorable Second Test win at Newlands six days ago. Anderson was the second player to go home injured, after Rory Burns ruptured ankle ligaments playing football on the eve of the Second Test.

Wood and Archer required a strong training session this afternoon to move ahead of Chris Woakes in the pecking order for Thursday’s Test. The final Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg might be where the two fast men are likeliest to play.

“There are some good guys on the sidelines, aren’t there?” said wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. “You’re always going to miss Jimmy, the best bowler in the world and that we have produced in England, so we’ll miss him, but it’s exciting for those guys to know there’s an opportunity going into this game. They will be charging in at the nets and trying to make that place their own. It is nice to have that competition because I think that drives performances.”

Buttler has apologised for swearing at Vernon Philander in the last Test and says England believe they can pull off a rare away series victory.

“It is [beautifully poised],” he said. “For us to win in Newlands and have a few days off and reflect on a great game is brilliant. But we want to come here and win the series. It’s set up great and we go into this game wanting to make it 2-1 to us.

Apology: Buttler has said sorry for his foul-mouthed blast at opponent Philander during the second Test
AFP via Getty Images

“That’s the beauty of international cricket — travel the world and try to take people on in their own conditions and win. It is a challenge for lots of team all around the world. South Africa did it well for a patch, they had a fantastic team who won away from home a lot. People look at that side and say it is a true mark of success, to travel and win games.”

Buttler said that Ben Stokes, the man of the match at Newlands, was “the best team man in world cricket” and an inspiration to the rest of the squad. “Everyone just rides off the back of Ben at the minute,” he said. “He’s pretty superhuman and he generates a lot of confidence for everyone to follow.”

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