Jofra Archer has emerged as an injury doubt for England’s second Test in South Africa.
Archer, who took six wickets in the first Test but was leaked runs in the second innings, only bowled six balls in England’s training session on January 1 due to a sore elbow, raising concerns that he will not have recovered in time to play in the Cape Town Test.
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The pitch for the Test, which starts on January 3, looks dry, meaning England are likely to bring a spin bowler into their side. Dom Bess, the Somerset offspinner, looks in pole position to play, ahead of Jack Leach – who trained on Wednesday, but has been unwell for most of the past month – and Matt Parkinson.
That means that one seamer is likely to miss out, and Archer’s injury suggests he could be a candidate to do so. If he is fully recovered and fit to play, then the selection dilemma facing Joe Root and Chris Silverwood will likely come down to a choice between James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
All 19 members of England’s touring party were fit enough to train, with Dom Sibley recovering quickly from the illness that has swept the camp since their arrival in South Africa.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo