STOKES RETURN A BOOST FOR ENGLAND
ENGLAND were handed a Christmas boost after their chaotic and disrupted preparations for today’s first Test when Ben Stokes trained and declared himself ready to face South Africa. The whole England camp had been shocked and saddened when Stokes’ father Ged was taken ill on Christmas Eve and was said to be in a serious condition in a Johannesburg hospital. But Stokes senior, who had only just arrived in South Africa from his home in New Zealand to cheer his son on in Centurion, improved yesterday, allowing Ben to leave his bedside and rejoin an England squad ravaged by flu. As long as there is no change in the condition of his father, who was stable last night, Stokes will play here today in the final assignment of England’s momentous year. ‘The most important thing is that we support Ben and his family,’ said England captain Joe Root. ‘Family comes first and that’s how it should be. It will absolutely be down to Ben to decide if he is ready to play.’ The return of Stokes to training at SuperSport Park was just the fillip England needed after the latest setbacks to plans that have been up in the air in the ten days since they arrived here for a crucial four-Test series. Just when they thought the virus that has caused them so many problems had cleared up, three more players reported sick yesterday and missed Christmas Day training.
Chris Woakes was taken ill on Christmas Eve and was joined yesterday by Ollie Pope and a relapse for Jack Leach, all with the same symptoms that had earlier struck Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer plus coaches Carl Hopkinson and Graham Thorpe. It had appeared that Broad and Archer would be most in danger of missing today’s Test but now they look set to play, certainly in the case of Broad who has been determined not to miss out. But if England do throw Broad, Archer and Jimmy Anderson, who returns to the side today for his 150th Test after a summer ravaged by injury, into the team they will be taking a huge gamble. Neither Broad nor Archer has bowled a ball in anger so far on this tour, while the 37-year-old Anderson missed the bulk of the Ashes with recurring calf problems.