Flu-hit trio are back in nets ahead of Test

THREE of England’s flu victims – Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Jack Leach – all made a brief return to the nets yesterday.

And that after Ollie Pope smashed 132 on day two of the final warm-up match against South Africa A.

The three bowlers have been floored by a flu-like illness over the past week and their inability to take the field had thrown preparations for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion up in the air.

They have been quarantined from the rest of Joe Root’s squad to minimise risk but arrived in Benoni midway through yesterday’s play while their team-mates were fielding.

Pace bowlers Archer and Broad (above) looked distinctly under the weather as they arrived at Willowmoore Park but managed an initial 10 minutes of bowling in draining temperatures in the practice facilities. Both men later returned to bat, while left-arm spinner Leach took part in a slightly extended bowling session.

They remain eligible to play some part in the final day of the game when they could get some important time in the middle. But England have been cautious so far and will only allow them to feature if they are deemed ready.

The morning session belonged to Pope, who converted his overnight score of 70 into a first hundred in England whites by adding 62 runs in 58 deliveries. Jos Buttler made 32 and Jonny Bairstow was unbeaten on 38 as Joe Root declared on 456-7 as soon as Pope fell.

Ben Stokes and Jimmy Anderson took a wicket each as the South Africans made 154-2 in reply with the evening session disrupted by lightning strikes.

SOUTH AFRICA legend Barry Richards reckons England are too reliant on star man Ben Stokes.

He said: “People are saying that it will be 3-0 and that England will come over here and dominate.

“I don’t agree. England’s batting is very fragile and they’re very reliant on Stokes.

“Take him out of this England side and things might have been very different over the past couple of years.”