Archer in doubt for Newlands Test after elbow injury

England were given more fitness concerns this week after Jofra Archer was unable to bowl in a New Year’s Day practice session.

Archer took part in fielding drills in Cape Town on Wednesday and had a bat in the nets but didn’t bowl at all after injuring his elbow.

The England camp have yet to confirm the injury but with the second Test looming Archer could be severely underdone after missing much of the build-up to the first Test with illness.

Archer injury could open the door for Leach

England went with an all-seam attack at Centurion but could chose to replace Archer with spinner Jack Leach with Dom Bess also an option.

Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler says the entire squad are in contention to play in the second Test at Newlands.

“There’s a lot of flexibility (in selection). It’s about turning up, looking at conditions and seeing what you’re faced with then coming up with the best way to win the game,” Buttler said.

“I know Joe Root and (head coach) Chris Silverwood are open to lots of different combinations, whether that’s a spinner or all seamers.”

England want to dominate

The England vice-captain said that the team were looking to be positive in the second Test as they seek to wrestle the initiative from the hosts. England have shown themselves capable of tremendous fightbacks, but Buttler says the team need to find a way to perform from the outset to take control of matches.

“The way Rory Burns batted in the second innings I thought was worth 150 runs on a few other wickets,” he said. “I thought that was fantastic, showing that character, but we have talked about showing that character ahead of the game as well.

“It’s when we are backs-to-the-wall that the team shows a lot of character to try and get out of trouble, but can we do that on the front foot and get ahead of the game?”

Buttler opined that the pitch might be just a little bit dry which could bring a spinner into the game. In the first Test England used the off-spin of Joe Root and the leg-spin of Joe Denly sparingly, though the skipper was unlucky not to claim the wicket of Quinton de Kock during his romp to 95.

The Newlands pitch is traditionally a results wicket but when England last visited it ws unusually flat. Buttler wasn’t sure what to make of the surface.

“Everyone says it looks a good wicket but it is open to the elements so might be a bit of a dry wicket,” Buttler told BBC Radio 5 Live.