South Africa wins toss, bats 1st in last test vs England

Earlier in the day, Hashim Amla posted his 25th Test hundred and added a 202-run partnership with Stephen for the second wicket.

‘From where I was standing at mid-on it did look a bit freaky where he plucked it from, ‘ said a smiling Root. And, the way Hashim Amla and debutant Stephen Cook batted today gave a clear impression of what message AB de Villiers wanted to convey to the England team.

Other than Taylor’s piece of brilliance, England slogged through a fruitless morning with Cook’s unbeaten 91 and a century from Amla frustrating the tourists as they reached tea.

After 165 first-class games his son had no such trouble first ball as he whipped James Anderson through mid-wicket for four to settle the nerves.

Amla survived a massive scare when he was on 5 as he was put down by Cook at first slip off the bowling of Ben Stokes.

When JP Duminy followed for 16, South Africa were in real danger of throwing away all their good work.

Cook spent 321 minutes at the crease in his first taste of global cricket and scored a composed 115, convincing proof that he should have been part of the Test team a lot sooner.

Anderson has endured a tough series and was the subject of another sledge on the eve of this game, when South Africa captain De Villiers suggested he was down on pace and past his best. South Africa only play another Test in August, so how Cook’s career is managed from here will be crucial.

He was greeted with a hug by his father when he was finally dismissed.

‘I thought it was a great comeback from our lads if I’m honest, ‘ he said. “I think we have been a bit naïve in believing we can just go on in the way we have been”.

“I played 48 Tests in a row, didn’t miss a single one, and now suddenly I’m an injury liability at the age of 32? It’s probably one for him as well that he never got”.

Although not as aesthetically pleasing as his two wonder catches at the Wanderers, Taylor showed bravery and quick thinking to assist Moeen Ali in removing Dean Elgar.

Amla was dropped on five when he edged Stokes low to first slip, where skipper Alastair Cook, possibly obscured by diving wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, put down the chance.

Cook also said there would be no let-up in intensity from his team, even though the series is already won.

Lastly the third Test of the series was looking like a competitve affair and likely to find a result as after the first innings the sides were within ten runs of eachother and wickets were falling regularly.

It took a quickfire 56-run stand between de Kock, who took up the wicketkeeping duties over from Dane Vilas, and Bavuma to ultimately bring the hosts back in charge at the end of the day. “But there’s also no doubt in my mind there are weaknesses; we have exposed some of them but not enough”, De Villiers said when asked to reflect on England’s series-winning XI.