Vernon Philander and Chris Morris fully justified the Standard Bank Proteas decision to balance their side with two bowling all-rounders rather than the extra specialist batsman on the opening day of the second Test match against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Friday.

After Faf du Plessis had won the toss and taken the courageous yet correct decision to bat first under overcast skies the Proteas were set up for a big total by the 113-run partnership for the third wicket between Hashim Amla and their new No. 4 Quinton de Kock.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) have today confirmed that batsman Darren Bravo is available with immediate effect to play in all forms of cricket, following his apology to CWI and the President, Dave Cameron.

President Cameron said, “In early November 2016, I gave an interview to SportsMax TV during which I discussed player retainer contracts and the grades of contract that had been awarded to certain players. In the course of the interview I stated that Darren Bravo had previously been on an ‘A’ contract, which I have since been advised is not correct. I apologize for the misstatement, and wish to assure Mr. Bravo that there was no insult or offense intended towards him. Darren is a senior cricketer who has been a valuable part of the WINDIES set up for a long time, and I would hope to see his game continue to progress and mature, at both regional and international level.”

The Proteas will need to draw on their experiences in previous difficult situations to bounce back in the second Test against England starting at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Friday. Captain, Faf du Plessis, says the match will be a ‘ big character test’ given some of the off and on-field challenges the squad has faced this week.

Du Plessis’ return after missing the first Test adds invaluable experience and temperament to the batting line-up to go with his presence and intensity as the leader of the pack. One of his strengths as captain has been his ability to lead from the front, a characteristic that has shone through during challenging periods he has faced throughout his tenure.

South Africa will have little time to lick their wounds following the 211-run loss to England in the first Test match at Lord’s, as the focus quickly shifts to Nottingham ahead of the second Test starting at Trent Bridge on Friday. Proteas paceman, Morne Morkel, says the preparation for the quick turnaround of matches will focus on perfecting their disciplines- which were the glaring disappointment in the first match- and channelling their energy towards a series-levelling performance.

“We had two days in London to get over it (the loss),” he said to the media at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. "Once we got on the bus to Nottingham yesterday it was important for us to leave that behind and look forward to Friday. It’s a quick turnaround, we have two training sessions, and it’s important for us as individuals to work out what we want to achieve in these two days.