South Africa v England: James Anderson set to replace Woakes

Captain Hashim Amla has confirmed the 32-year-old, second in the International Cricket Council Test bowling rankings, is still nursing a shoulder injury and will be replaced by Kagiso Rabada. Stokes simply took it apart, 17 runs coming from the debutant Chris Morris’s first over with it, hitting four boundaries in five balls, the batsman playing with an abandon and freedom that was utterly compelling to watch and the strongest of statements.

“It was nice to get that innings on the board”, he said.

“I’d heard some of the rumours but from my point of view anyone is allowed to make a mistake or improve, I suppose, if that’s what he needed to do”, he said. The defeat at Durban showcased the low confidence levels of the team. Potentially, this team can do some really good things.

The visitors, on the other hand, are, if not completely then partially, in an exact opposite state of mind as compared to their hosts.

On a day where flawless conditions prevailed, England showed the initiative for the greater part of the day after their captain Alastair Cook won the toss and took first option to bat on a superb batting surface. Their only problem is whether to bring veteran fast bowler James Anderson back into the side, probably at the expense of Chris Woakes.

The England captain told a media conference: “When you’ve got someone like him [Anderson] in the background, if he’s fit to go he will play”.

More significant is the issue of England’s consistency.

The all-rounder arrived at the crease in Cape Town with his side on 167 for four and in danger of throwing away a promising position, but by stumps he had transformed the game with an unbeaten 74 in 91 balls.

Stokes top-scored for the touring side with Alex Hales and Joe Root also contributing half-centuries and Jonny Bairstow ending on 39 not out in an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 94. And they appear to have rediscovered and unearthed two gems in the shape of Nick Compton and James Taylor, who were the true architects of that first Test win despite the fine bowling display.

That they face Pakistan and Sri Lanka, two teams under construction, with former facing internal upheavals following Mohammad Amir’s return, and the latter still reeling from the departure of its legends, adds cherry to the cake. His exclusion over the past two years looks increasingly unwise. Long gone are the days, if they ever existed, when a bunch of blokes could be simply beaten and they would pick themselves up, dust themselves down and start all over again without the accompanying angst.

Steyn batted in the fourth innings at Kingsmead but after twice leaving the field mid-over on Tuesday, he is a major concern.

Speaking in his role as a summariser on BBC’s Test Match Special, Smith explained: “In Durban, I was asked to come down and just join the guys for the training session on New Year’s Day, just to come and spend some time with the guys and chat to them, hopefully help them”.