No more curry for me in Durban... and no more Come On Eileen at Tests, please! 

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Former England cricketer David Lloyd reviews day three of the Boxing Day Test between England and South Africa in Durban.

ELGAR THE EXAMPLE 

Australian opener Chris Rogers showed how to play against England and Dean Elgar did exactly the same for South Africa. 

Proper Test match opener, wearing the bowlers down and very watchful outside off-stump while taking no liberties and accumulating his runs. 

He showed the rest of the Proteas' batsmen how to play on this pitch but most importantly against this attack.

Dean Elgar showed his team-mates exactly how to play against this England attack with an unbeaten hundred

PRESSURE'S GOT TO HOSTS 

Although South Africa are still No 1 in the world it’s pretty obvious now that they’re vulnerable after a 3-0 defeat in India in spinning conditions. 

They’ve come back home and look very edgy at the crease as a batting unit. A number of these players are playing for their spots and you can tell it’s inhibiting them but when you look at what else is available here the cupboard appears to be bare.

While most of South Africa's batsmen have caved, England's Joe Root (60no) and James Taylor (24no) are looking comfortable at stumps on day three with England in a commanding position

DE VILLIERS NOT FINISHED YET 

Strong rumours here that AB de Villiers will announce his retirement from Test cricket at the end of this series but my information is that he will carry on in all three formats of the game but just won’t play as much. 

I understand he will miss tours - such as Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka – but still play in the big ones. And, of course, have more time for Twenty20 around the world…..

Rumours that AB de Villiers will announce his retirement from Tests appear to be an exaggeration  

ENGLAND'S UNUSUALLY HEAVY LEGS 

Interesting to talk to Stuart Broad ahead of the third day and hear him say that England’s bowlers were actually cramping up on the second evening, which is very rare for them. 

It’s probably because the sunshine is soaking all the water out from the outfield after the heavy rain of Christmas and making the players really heavy-legged. 

Remember, England have got four quicks while South Africa only have three and now Dale Steyn is injured. That could be really significant.

Stuart Broad revealed that England’s bowlers were actually cramping up on the second evening of action

STEYN INJURY A HUGE BLOW 

Dale Steyn’s problems started on day one when his pace dropped from being consistently around the 90 miles per hour mark to the sort of pace Paul Collingwood used to bowl. 

The physio was on rubbing his shoulder and the evidence was there for all to see. All the indications are he’s out of the Cape Town Test. 

Steyn has been an absolute warrior but it’s catching up with him and South Africa missed a trick by going in here with three seamers. England are in a fantastic position now and need to pounce.

South African batsman Dale Steyn plays a shot before suffering injury against England on Monday in Durban

THAT CHEESY MUSIC HAS TO GO

Did a talk with an English touring group last night and they were very unhappy about the music that is creeping into Test cricket and being used by the Kingsmead authorities here during play. 

On the second day a boundary was accompanied by a blast of Come On Eileen or another Eighties ditty. 

The South Africans say their spectators like it but have reduced it by 30 per cent because of all the complaints they’ve received from travelling supporters. There’s absolutely no need to do it. Test cricket can stand on its own two feet.

On the second day a boundary was accompanied by a blast of Come on Eileen -  it wasn't appreciated 

CURRY STILL OFF THE MENU 

I have to report that ‘no more curry for me Brown Horrocks,’  as featured in Sunday's column, was uttered not just by by Kenneth Williams in Round the Horn but Major Dennis Bloodnok, as played by Peter Sellers, in The Goon Show.

My thanks to reader Geoff Coe, who must be even older than me, for pointing this out. Anyway, the point remains - No more curry for me in Durban!