South Africa's day that could have been

Today could have been about the statement of intent South Africa made by packing their XI with pace and personnel who know these conditions better than anyone. South Africa picked four quicks, two of whom still play their domestic cricket at the Wanderers, and a third who used to until the start of this summer. Instead, it was about the England attack, who had more runs than the batsmen but still managed to put the home side in trouble.

Today could have been about Stiaan van Zyl saving his Test career by building on a start he has seldom been able to get - he has five scores below 10 in his last nine knocks - and going on to silence the doubters, to make the opening spot his own and to score a big one. Instead, it was about his shot selection and why, after a seeing of a new ball which James Anderson managed to swing, he played a rash pull off Ben Stokes.

Today could have been about Dean Elgar being undeterred by van Zyl's struggles and establishing himself as the anchor. Instead, it was about how he did all the right things at the beginning, watched carefully, left well, survived, and then faced one ball of spin and was dismissed by it.

Today could have been about Hashim Amla, freed from the shackles of captaincy and finding his fluency, and it almost was. Amla drove like he was on a freshly tarred road and then struck a powerful pull off a hit-me ball from Stokes that said even though he had given up authority in one way, he could still own the stage in another. It looked as though it would need a good ball to dismiss Amla, and he got the best one of the day.

Today could have been about AB de Villiers, feeding off extra responsibility and leading from the front. De Villiers drilled two of the first three balls he faced, and smacked a six the over after tea resulting in the ball being lost in the stands. De Villiers was in charge in title and deed and then got greedy. He followed a ball as it went down the leg side and gloved it. Jonny Bairstow, who seemed due a mistake after taking the previous three catches that went his way, grasped his fourth.

Today could have been about Faf du Plessis following up on his re-found form from Cape Town. Instead, it was about his scoring rate, which was the slowest on the day and inexplicably so. Du Plessis' style is to spending time at the crease, see balls go by and if he has to, hit them straight back to the bowler. There are times when the team needs that. There are other times when he eats away at time and is dismissed with an empty plate. Today, he caused that dismissal himself.

Today could have been about Temba Bavuma, the country's newest cricketing hero, who was playing on his home ground. Bavuma started crisply and showed some of the urgency he had in his innings in Cape Town. Instead, he hesitated mid-pitch after being called through for a sneaky single and was well short of his ground.

Today could have been about Quinton de Kock and how he found his way back into the Test team. Instead, he was injured late yesterday afternoon while walking his dogs, two Jack Russells. He was ruled out of the game this morning and Dane Vilas had to be flowing in as an emergency replacement.

So then surely today could have been about Vilas, whose dreams of an international career were resurrected when he was called at 7am, left Port Elizabeth on the 8:40am flight, reached the Wanderers shortly after 11am and was batting by quarter past four. Instead, it was about how he called for the run that required too much from Bavuma and then how, like some of his team-mates, he also sent a pull shot straight to a fielder.

Today could have been about how South Africa's lower order did not have to make up for the mistakes of their top seven. Instead, it's about whether they will be able to drag them over 300 and towards a par score.

Today could have been about all that cricket. Instead, many people watching the game did not actually see much of it at all. They were preoccupied by the biggest scandal to hit South African cricket since Hansie Cronje, and one that threatens to be even worse. One player, a former international, has been named and charged with fixing and there are several other to follow. In the stands, in the corporate boxes and in the corridors, speculation is spewing. Names are being mentioned and reputations being destroyed.

Tomorrow, South Africa hope, will be about something else.