The third test match between England and South Africa will be played at Cape Town in the New year. The tourists lead the series 1-0 after their convincing innings win at Kingsmead in Durban over South Africa.

The hosts will be hurting over their previous loss. They had been dominant over the English counterparts in the first test match at the Centurion, and even after their first innings in Kingsmead, it did not look like the game would be gone so easily. As it turned out, the English side were buoyed by the return to form of two of their old, but out of form warhorses, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell. Both smashed centuries and batted South Africa out of the game.

The actual problem has been in their face for some time now. It has been the South African bowling which has disrupted the opposition batting in the past that is struggling to regain control of the proceedings. While their record at Cape Town will inspire a lot of awe, having five of their last six games with the other match drawn, they will also need to factor for their average bowling attack. Dale Steyn had been nursing an injury in the first test match and his return to the side was understandably cautious. However, apart from him, Makhaya Ntini was as listless as they come and Morne Morkel did not add too many feathers to his cap either.

This will mean that there is a decent chance that Fredel de Wet will make a comeback to the side after a brilliant debut performance. In all probabilities, Graeme Smith words that the right selections will be made for the third test will ring true in the ears of Ntini, who could just have played his last test match in some time.

In contrast, the English bowling attack bears the look of the future. Graeme Swann won his second successive man of the match award, and on the Cape Town wicket which does take some turn towards the end, could prove to be quite handful. The quick bowlers have been penetrative enough as well, and for now, there shouldn't be any changes to the team.

The side will, however, do well to remember that they had a similar lead against Australia in the Ashes, but a couple of games later had the momentum totally turned against them. Both their departments need to continue with similar kinds of discipline that had won them the match.

Tag :- Alastair Cook   Dale Steyn   England   Graeme Smith   Graeme Swann   South Africa