England batsman Nick Compton available to face South Africa after recovering from illness

Nick Compton is available for the third Test match against South Africa after recovering from illness. The 32-year-old batsman has been suffering with a stomach problem but has returned to training ahead of the game, which starts in Johannesburg on Thursday 14 January.

The Middlesex man has impressed in the first two Tests, scoring 194 runs. He is likely to retain his place in the side, having been passed fit for the game.

"It was not ideal, him getting an illness close to the game, so it is nice to see him up and about, making a good recovery, and back in the nets today," team-mate Jimmy Anderson said, according to Sky Sports.

"It can take a lot out of you when you get an illness like that. Hopefully he will use his time wisely over the next couple of days to get 100% fit for the game."

Anderson himself sat out the opening match of the series with a calf injury and then spent a long time in the field during the second Test, as the hosts racked up a huge first innings score. But the Lancashire star has insisted he has recovered ahead of the all-important game at the Wanderers Stadium.

Asked how he was feeling, Anderson said: "Good, considering the amount of bowling and the amount of time we spent in the field (South Africa scored 627-7 in Cape Town). It was not ideal, being injured and coming back to 35 overs, but it was a good test of the fitness and I feel pretty good, considering.

"I had a good few days of recovery in Cape Town and then coming here I had a good bowl yesterday, so I am feeling good ahead of the game. It is frustrating to get injured but as a bowler it happens. Whatever age you are, you get injuries. The job of a bowler is to make sure you do all the fitness work away from the ground to make sure it doesn't happen that often."

England currently lead the four-match series 1-0. However, South Africa will have a new captain in AB de Villiers for the game in Johannesburg following the resignation of Hashim Amla.