South Africa vs England: Proteas put chaotic morning behind them after Quinton de Kock ruled out before third Test

Souh Africa 73-1

Hasim Amla watches Alex Hales stop the ball from going beyond the slip cordon (Getty Images)

South Africa put a chaotic morning behind them to post 73 for one at lunch on day one of the third Test against England.

The Proteas were forced to fly Dane Vilas to Johannesburg from Port Elizabeth after wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock was ruled out with a knee injury suffered at home on Wednesday afternoon.

Vilas did not arrive at the Wanderers until an hour's play had gone, but by then South Africa had won the toss and blunted England's initial new ball burst.

Ben Stokes eventually made a breakthrough in the 18th over, Stiaan van Zyl top-edging a half-baked pull, but Dean Elgar (28no) and Hashim Amla (15no) reached the break intact.

While De Kock's unexpected absence caused South Africa a headache in the morning, England were happy to name Alex Hales in their XI after concerns over a virus.

Alastair Cook confirmed he and Hales would have taken to the crease had he won the toss, but instead AB de Villiers, captaining for the first time in his 105th Test, made the call.

Initial signs were good, with clouds overhead and a couple of awkward deliveries from James Anderson and Stuart Broad at the start of their spells.

Anderson located Elgar's edge with his third ball and Broad's first had Van Zyl fending awkwardly in front of his face.

But the trail went cold quickly.

The seamers allowed too many balls to pass through without a shot offered and after an hour's play South Africa had moved along to 40 without loss.

By then there had also been a first over of spin from Moeen Ali and a testing start from Steven Finn, who offered a better line and invited uncertainty outside off stump.

But it was England's golden boy Stokes who drew first blood, removing Van Zyl for 21 with his third delivery.

This was pure batsman error though, Van Zyl shaping to pull from a poor position, changing his mind and chipping a top edge tamely into Jonny Bairstow's gloves.

Elgar and Amla added 29 before the break, but Finn beat the latter with a beauty from the final ball of the session.

PA