England Reach 76-1 at Lunch Against Proteas

The Proteas have confirmed the raw but rapid Kagiso Rabada will replace Steyn, but they still hope Kyle Abbott will pass a morning fitness test on his hamstring. Smith will be with the team for the rest of the four-match series.

Anderson replaced Chris Woakes after recovering from a calf strain that kept him out of the first test in Durban, where England beat South Africa by 241 runs, with just a two-day turn over before the second test.

“It was a good contest between bat and ball but Stokes’s innings got the bowlers, who were sleeping on the physio’s couches, out to come and watch”, Hales told reporters. For England, the return of bowling spearhead, James Anderson would have buoyed the spirits within the English camp additional.

“It’s an interesting call because the number of overs he’s bowled on this tour so far are not a huge amount and the heat out there means the test conditions will be tough for all of us”.

“We don’t want to hinder ourselves and have an injury caused which we could have prevented”.

But Amla said a final decision still had to be made, with one of the middle-order batsmen between Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy and Temba Bavuma possibly missing out.

“It gives us the option of getting Quinny in and taking a load off AB”. This is Vishal Mehra, and I shall be presenting to you the live updates from the game as and when they occur.

Root made 50 before giving debutant Chris Morris his first Test wicket when he nibbled at a ball and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. He took 20 wickets in the first two matches of the current season’s first-class campaign for the Lions franchise.

South Africa’s Graeme Smith runs after a ball after he failed to make a catch during the third day of their test cricket match against Australia in Centurion February 14, 2014.

Cook’s youthful side had struggled to secure back-to-back Test victories in 2015, following a win with a defeat in series against West Indies, New Zealand and Australia, until they won at Edgbaston and then Trent Bridge to regain the Ashes last summer.

“I won’t say Graeme was the most technically correct batter himself, but he’s got good know how about Test cricket and that’s what it’s about, having a feel for the game”. “That’s just the nature of global sport. Wherever there is value that can be added you?ve got to take it”.

There has been plenty of reason to fret over the future of Test cricket in recent years and one big crowd at Newlands does not solve the issue, but this was a wonderful occasion at one of the most iconic grounds in the world with a large contingent of England fans playing their part.

“It took a lot out of us to win in Durban. When we come back tomorrow, great venue, great history we’ve had here – but it’s the present that’s most important”.