South Africa vs. England, 1st Test, Day 3: Steyn Injured as England Dominate

It was another day of woes for South Africa as they slumped to 214 all out in their first innings. South Africa have now gone past the 250-run mark just once this year—against the West Indies during the New Year’s Test.

Dean Elgar dug deep but could not find any support, and South Africa are in all sorts of trouble with England on 172 for three at stumps on day three. That’s a lead of 261 in the bag and two days still left to play.

The weather looks decent for the coming two days, so there is likely to be a result, and it’s likely to go in England’s favour.

Here are some of the key talking points from Day 3.

Dean Elgar Makes His Effort Count

Dean Elgar became the first South African batsman other than AB de Villiers to score a hundred in 2015. It wasn’t exactly the classiest knock to watch, but it was effective and exactly what South Africa needed from at least one of their openers.

While the team was collapsing around him, Elgar stood firm and carried his bat, becoming only the sixth South African to do so. The last time this happened was when Gary Kirsten did it in 1997.

Disappointingly for South Africa, though, just one other batsman managed to pass 20. There are some big question marks hanging over the heads of both JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis, and they will need to make a massive contribution in the second innings.

The Curious Case of JP Duminy

JP Duminy's career has been filled with ups and downs. He has averaged everything from 9.66 to 90.33 in a calendar year since first making his debut in 2008 and is currently in one of the leanest patches of his career. He averages just 10.28 with the bat in 2015.

He’s often contributed with the ball when he has not done so with the bat, but he has not been used as a bowler recently, which makes the situation all the more confusing.

As already mentioned, surely bringing back Quinton de Kock for the New Year’s Test is an option for South Africa?

Dropped Catches Galore

When it rains, it pours, and it certainly is pouring in the South African camp at the moment.

Struggles with the bat, an injury to their main bowler and dropped catches dominated proceedings for the Proteas.

South Africa put down three sitters, one of which was dangerman Joe Root, who made them pay with an unbeaten 60. Things are likely to get even worse considering the form the Yorkshireman is in.

Dale Steyn’s Injury Compounds South Africa’s Woes

Dale Steyn is being treated for a muscle strain and spasm, per South Africa Cricket. His participation tomorrow will depend on how he feels, according to the team doctor.

Steyn missed most of South Africa’s tour to India with a groin injury. Since that first Test, he has not played any cricket. Even if fully recovered from his injury, he probably wasn’t match-fit for the encounter against England.

If you ask the man himself, he will tell you that he wants to play every game for South Africa. But the selectors will have to ask themselves whether he was worth risking in this Test?

In Kagiso Rabada, South Africa have a more-than-capable replacement. Steyn, being at that stage of his career where getting back to fitness takes longer, might have benefited from being sent back to domestic cricket to get into the swing of things and regain full fitness ahead of the New Year’s Test.

Rumours Around AB de Villiers’ retirement

Over the weekend, Afrikaans media in South Africa reported that AB de Villiers is considering retirement from Test cricket. The newspaper Rapport suggested his retirement could come as soon as at the end of this Test series against England.

When quizzed on this on the third morning of the first Test, De Villiers did not categorically deny these rumours.

He told broadcaster Supersport: "For the last two to three years the only talk I’ve been doing is to keep myself fresh and have a bit of rest here and there. It’s always been the most important thing for me to enjoy my cricket. It’s just important to look at the schedule moving forward, that is the talk in the camp—for me maybe not to play all forms of cricket."

Read that last part again and draw your own conclusions. The fact that he’s been made to keep wicket—something he has previously said he does not want to do—isn’t exactly helping his workload situation.

All information obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.