Debutant Stephen Cook and former captain Hashim Amla hit hundreds as South Africa enjoyed a commanding start to the fourth Test against England.
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Amla and Cook, both dropped by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow before they’d reached 50, put on 202 for their side’s second wicket in 43.1 overs soul-sapping overs in the field for England.
AB de Villiers won the toss and chose to bat on a grassy but relatively dry surface which is expected – in accordance with tradition at Centurion – to become markedly more unreliable as the Test progresses.
Bowing to public pressure, the Proteas handed Cook his debut at the age of 33, acknowledging the need for a specialist opening batsman after persisting with Stiaan van Zyl, a converted opener, for the first three tests.
England, who are without the injured Finn, will choose between Chris Woakes, Mark Footitt and Chris Jordan on Friday morning.
The one wicket to fall before lunch was thanks to another brilliant piece of fielding at short-leg by James Taylor to remove Dean Elgar.
Stephen continued to play cautiously on his debut and added a 50-run stand with Hashim Amla (109) in 72 balls.
Cook had a life on 47 when Bairstow again dived in front of his captain Cook and spilled a hard chance off Broad. It was a really tough chance for the wicket-keeper though.
England’s leading wicket-taker was short of his best, straying in line and failing to cause much undue concern in two moderate spells. With a boundary through covers, Stephen completed his maiden fifty while Amla soon joined him in a similar fashion.
Amla and Cook improved their unbeaten partnership to 189.
The second match was a slogfest that seemed doomed to end in a draw – and did.
A burst water pipe caused a delay to the start of the final session.
De Villiers said he was keen to turn things around for the team, who have slipped from the number one Test ranking after their recent series loss.
Speaking of De Villiers, Stuart Broad has now dismissed him 10 times, more than any other bowler.
Hales is one of the guys who will be desperate for a big score and to get his Test career up and running – as always when you come into worldwide cricket and are trying to prove to people that you can play at this level.
He eventually fell as the final hour approached, inside-edging a back-foot drive at Chris Woakes back on to his stumps.
Temba Bavuma then came to the crease, but Duminy was out LBW for 16 shortly after when he tried to pull a Moeen Ali delivery that wasn’t quite short enough. South Africa lost half their side with 273 runs on the board.
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De Kock had to miss the Johannesburg Test with a knee injury, reportedly suffered while out walking his dog on the eve of the match – resulting in a dramatic last-minute call-up for stand-in Dane Vilas.
