England fans fear squad ‘has s***s’ with Pakistan Test in danger of being off
England’s preparations for their first Test match in Pakistan have been ruptured – with fears it could even be cancelled with squad suffering from ‘the s***s’.
The Press Association report that some 13 or 14 players have been affected by an illness – a number reflecting half the total of the playing squad.
Among those who have come down with a bug is Ben Stokes. And some online have read between the lines and revealed that they believe the side are having some tummy trouble.
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Responding to a news report on the matter, one wrote: “I live for the day when a journalist calls it straight: England cricket camp hit by the s***s”.
Another said: “S**t. Half the England cricket team in Pakistan have got the s***s.”
A third wrote: “You know it’s the s***s, I know it’s the s***s, we all know it’s the s***s. Yet we play out the same charade every time this happens on tours to the subcontinent. There are other more editorially acceptable words without having to frame it as a 'virus'."
The side have now made their final training session ahead of the Test match on Wednesday morning optional.
Some of the names who turned up include Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, and Joe Root.
Stokes had named his nominal starting XI for the match, including handing a debut to Liam Livingstone and a first Test recall since 2016 for Ben Duckett – but now those plans are somewhat under threat.
Former captain Root, who is said to have experienced symptoms on Tuesday but is now recovered and fighting fit, told a press conference in Rawalpindi: “As far as I’m aware, there are a few guys not feeling 100 per cent. I didn’t feel great yesterday but I woke up better today so hopefully, it’s just a 24-hour virus and I don’t think it’s food poisoning or Covid or anything like that.
“I think it’s just one of those things that we’ve unfortunately picked up as a group – we’ve tried to do absolutely everything. We’ve prepared really well for this game and sometimes life throws things at you but we’ll do everything we can to be right tomorrow and be right and ready to go.”
When asked if everyone would be ready, Root replied: “It’s hard to say.
“I’ve not seen anyone this morning, we’ve literally got straight on the bus so the guys will do everything we can to be right in that aspect, so time will tell really.”
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