Denly beats man flu to score ton

JOE DENLY dismissed “a mild case of man flu” after posting his first century as an England player.

But emergency call-ups for Somerset pair Craig Overton and Dom Bess are proof that flu-like symptoms have hit the bowling attack harder. An illness epidemic sweeping the England camp during their first week in South Africa has seen Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leach too unwell to take the field in either warm-up match.

Five other players and staff have also been unwell, including Denly, but none badly enough to join the trio in lockdown at the team hotel.

England have been concerned enough with the bug to draft in paceman Overton (right) and off-spinner Bess ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Centurion.

Denly, 33, said: “It’s not ideal for those guys not to have taken part in these games but hopefully they’ve rested up well. They are certainly on the mend and getting better each day. We’ll see, but they’ve all played enough cricket and hopefully they can come back strong over the next couple of days.”

Against South Africa A yesterday, Denly was not just fit but firing after scoring 103 in England’s 337-5. It was the first time the Kent batsman has reached three figures for his country, albeit in a game that was downgraded from its first-class status after a request from the depleted tourists. Denly’s top score in his 10 Test appearances is the 94 he made at The Oval in the last game of this summer’s Ashes, making an otherwise low-key tour match a memorable occasion.

Denly said: “I don’t think I’ve had it quite as bad some of the boys, just a mild case of man flu. “It was fluey symptoms, bunged up, headaches... a bit under the weather. It was quite a sapping heat to be batting out there so I was a bit tired before the end but I’ve loaded up on medication and vitamins and I’m feeling alright.

“It might not be a Test match but a hundred is a hundred.”