Joe Root placed in quarantine as England try to prevent another outbreak of illness on ‘cursed’ South Africa tour
JOE ROOT was placed in quarantine as England tried to prevent another outbreak of their illness epidemic.
Captain Root missed the team’s first practice session since their 189-run win in the Second Test finished after complaining of feeling sick.
Team medics immediately ordered him to remain in isolation at the team hotel to make sure his symptoms do not spread to other squad members.
A team spokesman said: “Joe stayed away in order to contain the bug and in case it spreads.”
Root was one of 11 players to suffer sickness in the early weeks of the tour.
It was a factor in England’s defeat in the First Test but there were no illness problems as they surged to a thrilling victory in the Second Test in Cape Town.
The effects include ‘flu-like symptoms such as a sore throat and aching limbs while some have suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea.
With the series poised at 1-1, it would be a disaster if England lost more players leading into the Third Test on Thursday.
Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler said: “Hopefully, Joe is just ill for today. It's obviously a frustration, nobody will miss being at training more than him. Guys getting ill has been a bit of a story of the tour so far, but I'm sure he'll be fine.”
Meanwhile, Jofra Archer is not progressing as fast as England hoped as he recovers from the elbow injury that kept him out the Second Test.
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He bowled at around 80 per cent yesterday but will need to increase his speed and intensity over the next 48 hours to be considered.
Durham speedster Mark Wood, who has not played since the World Cup final in July because of a torn side muscle and knee operation, bowled almost flat out but must show he operate at full pace for three straight days.
That means Chris Woakes, fully fit after a severe dose of lurgy around Christmas, is now favourite to replace Jimmy Anderson, who has gone home with a broken rib suffered while bowling on the final day of the win in Cape Town.