Bess and Overton called up as cover for sick England bowling trio

Dominic Bess and Craig Overton will join England squad in South Africa due to illness that has affected three key bowlers, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) anunced on Friday. Somerset duo will act as cover with pace duo Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer laid low and spinner Jack Leach also unable to take part in ir tour match beginning on Friday with South Africa A.

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"Dominic Bess and Craig Overton have been called up to England men's Test squad as cover ahead of first Test starting on Boxing Day against South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion due to illness in camp," read ECB statement.

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"Bess and Overton are due to arrive at team's base in Johannesburg on Saturday morning." 

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Overton, 25, who played last of his four Tests against Australia in summer, will provide pace back-up for Archer and Broad, while Bess will offer ar spin option if county colleague Leach does t recover. trio and two backroom staff are suffering from flu-like symptoms. Bess, 22, played two Tests against Pakistan in 2018 and may find himself picked ahead of Matt Parkinson after Lancashire spinner had 112 runs taken off him in his 20 overs earlier in week. match with South Africa A has also been downgraded from a first-class encounter to a three-day friendly. England will play four Tests, three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches during this tour, before moving on to Sri Lanka in March. 

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