Joe Root misses England training in Port Elizabeth with illness

Joe Root has been forced to miss training in Port Elizabeth on Sunday due to illness, ahead of next week's third Test against South Africa.

The England captain is the latest member of the squad to be struck down on a tour that has been dogged by illness and injury. It is unclear at this stage whether the episode is related to the sickness bug that decimated the team during the first Test but, bearing in mind how persistent and contagious that proved, the management will be taking every precaution in ensuring no cross contamination.

As things stand, they are hopeful Root will be able to train as normal on Monday. His absence was more with a view to containing the bug than any serious concern over his availability for the Test.

There was encouraging news for England in the sight of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer bowling two spells each in the nets. Wood appeared to bowl at full pace and is clearly close to match fitness, while Archer remains just a bit tentative and is currently rated at 80% by the team management. They will be looking for Archer to bowl with greater intensity on Monday and Wood to show he can do so again without any negative repercussions.

With both men remaining doubtful for the Port Elizabeth Test, however, and James Anderson having returned to home due to injury, Chris Woakes could well be in line for a recall. He also bowled two spells without issue on Sunday and his rated by the management as "fully fit".

Meanwhile, Jos Buttler has issued an apology after stump mics caught him swearing angrily at South Africa's Vernon Philander during the Cape Town Test. Buttler was subsequently fined 15% of his match fee while one demerit point was added to his record by the ICC.

"I'd like to apologise," Buttler said. "I understand that's not the way to behave. Obviously I'll take the slap on the wrists and understand that as role models you can't get away with using language like that, and to Vernon. Hopefully I can move on now, and look forward to the next game.

"Sometimes it's just one of those things: the heat of the moment and a bit of red mist. It's all done so hopefully it can be swept under the carpet and we move on. The two games have been played in great spirit. They've been hard fought games and the series is set up well at 1-1."

The incident was the second time that Buttler has been handed a demerit point by the ICC, following an incident - again involving a swear word - during an ODI in Bangladesh in 2016. Asked if he needed to mind his language, Buttler said: "I don't know. Maybe there's a side… I remember saying in Bangladesh that maybe you guys don't know me as well as you think. I'll wash my mouth out with some soap."

But while Buttler accepted that stump mics add to the "viewing experience", he does have reservations about them.

"In Test cricket there are lots of high emotions at times and things can be said that don't necessarily mean anything," Buttler said. "But for viewers at home it can come across very poorly. It's a tough one.

"We understand the stump mics and being able to hear what goes on adds to the viewing experience but we also like that what goes on the field to stay on the field that things said aren't necessarily heard by everyone at home. I'm sure it's up for debate."