Du Plessis dropped, South Africa bat first

England leads 2-0 and wrapped up its first series win over South Africa in 11 years in the third test last week.

‘We’ve got all the players to still pull a win from this game. “It’s a Test match for England”, Compton told reporters on Wednesday. “But I’m very much a guy who looks after the moment and I have no intention of getting ahead of myself”.

“And obviously from a team point of view, make no bones about it, this team wants to keep moving forwards”.

Although the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy has already been secured, captain Alastair Cook insists there is no lack of hunger to finish the job in style at Centurion. We’d hate to lose 3-0. I owe a lot to him.

Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website. “We are rebuilding a bit and trying to find our feet but it’s time for us to wake up and play proper cricket”.

With Stuart Broad tearing through the hosts at Johannesburg where Steven Finn and Ben Stokes both topped 90mph, that placed record wicket-taker James Anderson in the firing line.

South Africa captain AB de Villiers said England are not unbeatable as the Proteas eye a consolation victory in the fourth Test.

He said: “There’s no hiding from the fact they seem to know what they are doing – they understand their roles really well”.

“The batting is not 100% best-in-the-world material, there are areas we can expose if we start well with the ball”.

England was flat for the first two sessions, bowled countless boundary balls and also dropped a couple of catches.

Root was in defiant mood after play, plotting a way for his side to reclaim the initiative. It was fantastic to have a guy like Hashim with me for most of my innings. Someone who is consistent in his approach.

“He (Stephen) has had to work hard at his game, he’s never been one of those naturals”.

However, Cook suggested de Villiers’ comments would only stir up his spearhead.

“All three are different options and are desperate to be selected”, Cook said.

Stephen Cook came in for a long-predicted Test debut, adding some ballast the the top-order at the age of 33, and there were also recalls for JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock, Kyle Abbott and Dane Piedt.

Stephen now has a chance to emulate recent late test bloomers like Australians Chris Rogers and Adam Voges.

“There are always going to be ups and downs in cricket and in life”, he said.

“If you look at the way he has fielded all series, he’s done a fantastic job, but for me, that is the pick of the lot, especially to a spinner when someone is looking to be aggressive”.

Fragile batting and injuries to key bowlers have hurt South Africa.