England replace handshakes with fist bumps over coronavirus fears

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - South Africa v England - Second Test - PPC Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa - January 7, 2020 England's Ben Stokes and Joe Root celebrate as they shake hands with South Africa's Vernon Philander after winning the second test REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

(Reuters) - England players will not be shaking hands on their tour of Sri Lanka and will use fist bumps instead to greet each other following the coronavirus outbreak, skipper Joe Root said.

Root's team were laid low by flu and gastroenteritis in South Africa and are cautious following the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 3,000 people and infected more than 89,000 globally.