The return of Faf du Plessis has given hope to South Africa of a revival of their performance in the second Test against England at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge on Friday.
The senior batsman missed the series opener following the birth of his first child but returned in time to see the Proteas suffer a convincing 211-run defeat inside four days at Lord’s as England went 1-0 up in the four-match series.
Dropped catches and wickets off no-balls cost South Africa dear, while their second innings collapse to 119 all out showed how much they could do with Du Plessis’ customary resilience with the bat.
Their task in levelling the series in Nottingham has been complicated by pace bowler Kagiso Rabada being ruled out as he serves a one-game for swearing at Ben Stokes after dismissing the England all-rounder in the first innings at Lord’s.
The tourists could select both all-rounder Chris Morris and young seamer Duanne Olivier – or stick with the same balance, with the struggling JP Duminy in line to make way for du Plessis in any event.
South Africa twice gave Joe Root reprieves early in his first innings as England captain, with the new skipper marking the occasion with 190.
It was a point echoed by fast bowler Morne Morkel, now the holder of the unwanted record for most wickets chalked off for no- balls in Tests. His tally hit 13 after an over-step cost him the dismissal of Stokes at Lord’s.
There will be an even greater responsibility upon Morkel, the most experienced bowler in the attack with 260 wickets in 75 Tests, in Rabada’s absence.
Root had a dream start as skipper, a point emphasised by former captain Alastair Cook.
England are set to field an unchanged team after off-spinning allrounder Moeen Ali took 10 wickets at Lord’s and scored 87 in England’s first innings, with Hampshire left-arm spinner Liam Dawson likely to retain his place.
Doubts persist, however over Gary Ballance’s role at number three while Trent Bridge will be a chance for fast bowler Mark Wood, beset by ankle problems throughout his career, to prove he can stand the strain of back-to-back Tests.