Stokes could return for England after father admitted to hospital

Ben Stokes could be ready to take the field in England’s Boxing Day Test against South Africa after his father entered “a stable condition” in a Johannesburg hospital.

Ged Stokes, who was planning to attend the match in Centurion with a number of family members, was admitted with a serious illness on Monday night and remains in intensive care.

All-rounder Stokes missed training on Christmas Eve to be at his bedside but rejoined his team-mates during their session on Christmas Day morning, raising hopes that he would take on the Proteas.

The 28-year-old practised hard in the middle but England will give him all the time and space possible to decide whether he feels able to commit to a five-day match.

A final decision is unlikely until the morning of the match. Stokes is not the only player to have a question mark against his name, with the sickness bug that has swept the camp continuing to throw the tourists’ plans into disarray.

Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer were badly affected throughout the team’s first week in South Africa but despite missing both warm-up matches, the pair have rallied and are now expected to play.

While they continue to improve both Chris Woakes and Ollie Pope have now been struck down. Woakes has almost no chance of featuring after sitting out each of the last two practice sessions while Pope has become the latest squad member to show flu-like symptoms.

Bowler Jack Leach is also struggling having failed to shake off the illness.