Published: Jan 03, 2020, 09:30 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 03, 2020, 09:32 AM (IST)
England opener Rory Burns limped out from practice on Thursday, the eve of their second Test against South Africa while Jofra Archer also did not train, adding to the team management’s headache. Burns, England’s top scorer in the first Test, injured his left ankle while playing a football match and was taken for a scan.
Archer also did not train because of soreness in his right elbow and has also had a scan, according to a BBC report.
Pacer Mark Wood is yet to return to full fitness from his bout of sickness which has affected most in the squad while opener Dom Sibley is expected to be fit after being ill too.
“We’ve had some very frustrating moments on this tour so far but we’ve got some very talented players to pick from and we know whoever gets the opportunity will give us a great chance to win the game,” England captain Joe Root told BBC Sport.
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England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 1, 2020
On Archer, he said: “We don’t really want to go into a game with him not being 100 per cent and we also don’t want to see him potentially miss a lot more cricket through playing him when he’s not fit.”
“All options are on the table at this point,” Root said of his XI. “It’s a great opportunity for them both to train well and put a case forward and then we’ll make a decision.”
If Archer is unable to play it would enable England to play a spinner, probably off-spinner Dom Bess, without having to drop a fast bowler to make room for him.
Definitely out of contention is left-arm spin bowler Jack Leach, who came to South Africa as England’s number one spinner but went down with illness at the start of the tour and was unable to play in two warm-up games and the first Test.
England lost the first Test against South Africa in Centurion by 107 runs.
