England lose toss and are asked to bat in Durban

England have sold their top-order wickets far too cheaply and far too frequently in recent times and at 49 for three a traumatic start to the series seemed to be on the way.

Dale Steyn took two wickets up front with the new ball and a third with his final spell of the day to keep the Proteas on terms with England on day one of the opening Test at Kingsmead on Saturday.

Taylor was first to fifty but he was unable to make it to stumps as Steyn returned to break the partnership and give South Africa a lift heading into day two.

“Of course it’s disappointing when you lose the spearhead of your attack but I think, rather than it being a ruled out of the series type thing, it’s just a slight niggle and the management decided that it really wasn’t worth the risk in the first match of the series”, Broad said on Thursday.

Making his Test debut alongside Cook will be Alex Hales, the eighth batsman to partner the England captain since the retirement of Andrew Strauss in 2012 but perhaps the first to fit the attacking, aggressive approach desired by the head coach, Trevor Bayliss.

Both Taylor, playing his second Test match after three years out of the side, and Compton, returning this match following a similar hiatus for his 10th Test appearance, stood strong for 45.2 overs of watchful batting under heavy skies that belied any personal nerves about their respective places.

South Africa, the number one ranked side, host England for a long series which consists of four Tests, five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and two T20Is.

“It’s been frustrating sitting on the sidelines for the last six weeks but I’ve worked hard with a trainer, lost a few kilograms and it’s been nice to get back on the field today and contribute”, he told reporters after recording figures of three for 29 on the opening day of the Test series against England.

He got off the mark with a clip to leg for two off the first ball he faced from Kyle Abbott and looked comfortable at the crease, although the ball he faced against Steyn was the last delivery before the rain. It sets the tone for the team.

A brief rain delay stalled Steyn’s progress but once play resumed the hunt continued.

Steyn still had time to strike an early blow and remove Cook, who never settled and sent a thick edge to Dean Elgar in the third over of the test. “If the outfield and wicket had been quicker they could have scored faster”.

When the day ended Compton was on 63 and Ben Stokes was on 5.

Compton, who was born in Durban, provided the steadying influence for Root and then Taylor to work around.

The arrival of the new ball threatened to be the key moment and, initially at least, England responded well.