Jofra Archer becomes injury doubt for England's second Test in South Africa

Jofra Archer has emerged as an injury doubt for England's second Test in South Africa.

Archer, who took six wickets in the first Test, only bowled six balls in England's training session on January 1 due to a sore elbow, raising concerns that he will not have recovered in time to play in the Cape Town Test.

The pitch for the Test, which starts on January 3, lacks the grass seen in Centurion and is relatively dry. As a result, England are likely to bring a spin bowler into their side. Dom Bess, the Somerset offspinner, looks in pole position to play, ahead of Jack Leach - who trained on Wednesday, but has been unwell for most of the past month - and Matt Parkinson.

That means that one seamer would have to miss out, with Archer's injury suggesting he could be the most likely to do so. If he is fully recovered and fit to play - which is far from certain - the selection dilemma facing Joe Root and Chris Silverwood would probably come down to a choice between James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

While Archer was expensive in the second innings at Centurion, it will be a significant blow for England if he is unavailable. He is, alongside Mark Wood, the fastest bowler in their squad and their seam attack would risk looking somewhat one-paced in his absence. The pitch is expected to prove relatively good for batting. Not only it is the first Test surface prepared by new groundsman, Ihtishaam Adams, but the local board's finances suggest they would prefer a four or even five-day crowd.

All 19 members of England's touring party were fit enough to train, with Dom Sibley recovering quickly from the illness that has swept the camp since their arrival in South Africa.