Graeme Smith called up to help South Africa

Cook said 2015 had been an “up-and-down year” for England and he wanted consistency to be the key word this year. It took a lot out of us to win in Durban, we had to get out of some tight situations but we managed to drag it back through absolute determination.

“I certainly haven’t got to the bottom of why we’ve been so inconsistent as a side over the last 10 months or so and this is another test for us”. Have we as a side learnt. We will see. It will be really disappointing if we can’t back up our performances. But we have to hit the same standard. In Durban, we set a benchmark.

South Africa need to prove that they really are the number one test team in the world, as their performances haven’t shown it recently, and unless they want to fall to 6th in the World rankings, they will need to sort themselves out quickly, to save a whitewash defeat.

Cook is eager to break that barren run.

A win in Cape Town will damage South Africa’s hopes and chances of at least a series draw, and England want to win convincingly to show they are now becoming the real deal within worldwide cricket.

Gruelling “It isn’t great for the players if we’re being brutally honest. I know Russell has always been a big advocate of getting somebody in to kind of – I won’t say look after the batters – but be a sounding board for the batters”, Amla said.

An estimated 8,000 English fans, attracted by the cheap Rand and winter sunshine, are expected to pack into this picturesque ground set beneath the stunning vista of Table Mountain every day.

Anderson missed England’s 241-run victory over the Proteas in Durban with a calf strain, but he was back bowling in the nets before the end of that match and could return in Cape Town.

“If Jimmy is fit and ready and confident, then he’ll be opening the bowling”.

Captain Alastair Cook said Anderson was “desperate” to play but England had to carefully consider changing a winning team. “But we have to make sure we’re right”.

Kagiso Rabada replaces Steyn for his fourth test appearance, South Africa captain Hashim Amla said on Friday.

Kyle Abbott, who played second fiddle to Morne Morkel, as the latter came to his own during the India tour past year, also has issues with his hamstring, and Chris Morris, the all-rounder, is the likely replacement, should the former fail to pass the fitness test, given Morris’ limited-overs experience that must also give him an edge over Hardus Viljoen, the other squad member called in.

De Kock’s return would take pressure off AB de Villiers, who returned behind the stumps for the Durban Test but looked under pressure with the burden of extra work.