Bowling trio on the mend

STUART BROAD, Jofra Archer and Jack Leach all made a tentative return to the nets on day two of England’s final warm-up match against South Africa A.

The trio have been floored by a flulike illness over the past week and their inability to take the field has thrown preparations for the Boxing Day Test in Centurion up in the air.

They have been quarantined from the group and arrived in Benoni midway through yesterday’s play while their team-mates were fielding.

Pace bowlers Archer and Broad managed 10 minutes of bowling in draining heat and later returned to bat.

Spinner Leach took part in a slightly extended bowling session.

They remain eligible to play some part today, their last chance to bank time in the middle, but England will only allow them to feature if they are deemed ready and non-contagious.

On the pitch the day belonged to Ollie Pope, who converted his overnight 70 into a first England ton by piling on 62 runs in just 58 deliveries.

He said: “It’s been a bit of a strange game, we didn’t know how it was going to pan out – when the boys are back fit or if they’ll be able to bowl tomorrow or not. I think they’re all on the mend.”

Captain Joe Root declared as soon as Pope holed out for 132 looking to clear the ropes, with a hefty score of 456-7.

Attention duly turned back to the bowling attack, with the hosts moving to 154-2 either side of a long break for bad weather.

James Anderson and Ben Stokes took a wicket apiece.