CENTURION: The illness epidemic that has beset the England team since arriving in South Africa a fortnight ago claimed more victims on Saturday when captain Joe Root and wicket-keeper Jos Buttler were declared unwell.

Root left the field not long after the start of the third day’s play at the SuperSport Park on Saturday with a fever and stomach problems, a team spokesman said.

He was immediately isolated from the rest of the team.

Before play, Buttler had been declared unwell with Jonny Bairstow talking over the gloves as South Africa resumed their second innings on 72-4.

Influenza has ravaged England with several players and staff taken ill since arriving on Dec 14.

Bowlers Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Jack Leech missed out on the two warm-up games before the start of the first Test with spinner Leech still quarantined at the team’s hotel.

Ollie Pope was also struck down and missed out on a chance to play in the first test, although Archer and Broad recovered in time to be selected.

Chris Woakes fell ill on the eve of the Test and Mark Wood reported sick on Thursday - although neither were expected to play at Centurion.

England officials said the pair are also separated from their team-mates at their hotel.

Ben Stokes battled with dehydration during the first day of the Test on Thursday but recovered to both bat and bowl on Friday.

England’s team had only one week back home in cold conditions after returning from two Tests in New Zealand before flying to the South African summer with the change of climate initially blamed for causing the flu.

“There are a lot of theories going around but no one has nailed the cause. If it was that, it would surely be over it now but it keeps striking team members,” a team spokesman said on Saturday.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2019