England call up Woakes to replace injured Anderson

Earlier, England displayed their strong preparation as they beat South Africa A team by an innings and 91 runs in their final warm-up match in Pietermaritzburg.

There is very little to separate the Castle Lager Proteas and England based on the recent results, but the small matter of home advantage will give Hashim Amla and his troops an edge in the opening Sunfoil Test match at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on December 26th.

This four-Test series between two of the world’s foremost nations has been eagerly-anticipated and is certain to be gripping.

“It’s even-stevens at the moment I think and the breakthrough at the end certainly helped us”, said Steyn.

“If South Africa lose this series to England there will be lots of questions about whether they are on the right path”. They know their conditions better than anyone.

“We want to start well”, he added. But it’s just talk isn’t it?

Anderson has been ruled out of the first Test in Durban because of a calf strain but fellow paceman Broad said there were others waiting in the wings to replace him.

Speaking on Christmas Day, also his 31st birthday, Cook said: “Chris is going to play”.

“Steven Finn coming back to fitness and bowling so nicely last week, (hence) we have got the depth to cover”.

England captain Alastair Cook believes Chris Woakes and Alex Hales are primed and ready for the biggest game of their careers.

For the tourists it was a day of triumph for two players who have struggled at times to persuade the selectors of their value.

“It was good fun in the middle, it was just enjoyable”.

They both made Test debuts in 2012 but neither seemed to fit with Andy Flower’s regime and Compton, in particular, appeared unlikely to dine at the top table again. “So it’s about how you handle that and, when you’re in, make sure you cash in and go big to compensate”.

Steyn showed his danger either side of lunch, striking to remove Cook before the heavens opened and then Hales in the first over after the interval.

Taylor, laying claim to a long-term job at number five, played with a freer spirit on his way to 70 before succumbing to Steyn late in the day.

“I hope he’s looking forward to the challenge of showing people what he can do rather than being another opener off the rank”.

In 2004-05, Michael Vaughan’s England secured a 2-1 win that preceded their Ashes triumph, while the one-day leg of the trip saw Kevin Pietersen score three centuries despite abuse from the crowds in the country of his birth.

The heavy rain arrived at 12 for one to badly disrupt proceedings and, on resumption, Hales got out straight away. Sometimes you do need to step out of the bubble and reassess. He’s had a few years out too and the way he applied himself was brilliant. Its been good from a personal point of view.

He added: “It’s exciting and it’s a bit different”.