Woakes is right on the money to a Dale Steyn who is staying leg-side of the ball. No movement in the air under this cloudless sky. England are hovering towards a new ball.

Steve Franklin: Three Bruce French hens...  

Karen Lynch: ‏ 4Colly birds (Paul Collingwood)

Andrew Haines: And a Van Zyl in a 'pair' tree  

When might England return to pace? Right now. Chris Woakes on for the first time today.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Moeen Ali hasn't gone for a boundary in his last 13 overs."

Celebrations done, more work to be done by South Africa, who are bizarrely facing two spinners on a day-three bunsen burner in Durban. For now, Elgar had a willing ally in Dale Steyn, who has eschewed his natural attacking instincts. As the wind ruffles his shirt, Elgar punches Moeen off the back foot for three. When might England return to pace? 

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"It's South Africa's first hundred in seven Test matches."

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"It's been a brilliant hundred from Dean Elgar. Where would South Africa be without him? At the moment, he's single-handedly keeping them in this Test."

100 for Dean Elgarpublished at 08:49

08:49

SA 181-7

Image source, Getty Images

Where would South Africa be without Dean Elgar? A leg-side tickle for three off Joe Root takes him to a fourth Test hundred, but the personal landmark is almost irrelevant compared to the job he is doing for his team. A helmet-off, bat-thrusting punch of the air is produced in celebration, but his team need much more. He's batted superbly, scoring almost exclusively on the leg side.  

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Harding: 2 Prior Gloves.

RunMattRun: Five golden ducks? And a corridor of uncertainty

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Dale Steyn has made his five highest Test scores in Boxing Day Tests. He averages 40 in Boxing Day Tests."

South Africa first innings: 178-7 (68 overs)

Batsmen: Elgar 97, Steyn 3

Fall of wickets: 0-1 (Van Zyl 0), 14-2 (Amla 7), 100-3 (De Villiers 49), 113-4 (Du Plessis 2), 137-5 (Bavuma 10), 150-6 (Duminy 2), 156-7 (Abbott 0)

Bowling figures: Broad 14-6-24-4, Woakes 11-1-22-0, Moeen 19-2-52-3, Finn 15-1-49-0, Stokes 7-1-19-0, Root 2-1-5-0.

England first innings: 303 (Compton 85, Taylor 70, Steyn 4-70, Morkel 4-76)

Full scorecard

Moeen asks the question against Steyn, but that's going well down the leg side. Looking more confident, Steyn bunts up to mid-off and sprints a single. It's El scorchio in Durban, so high time for a drink.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"This wicket is now an absolute dream to bowl spin on. The sun is on it and it's a two-spinner pitch. There is no doubt in my mind that Moeen can win this Test match for England here."

We began the day talking of the 12 Days of Christmas. Is there a way for this to be rewritten in a cricketing style? The 12 Cricketing Days of Christmas? Eight Swanns a-swimming is a given, but what else? A Boycott in a pinny? Four calling (Dickie) Birds?

Seeing the turn, Cook gives Joe Root a roll, but Dean Elgar continues towards a well-earned hundred.

Image source, AFP

Adam Davies: Was there talk before this Test about playing five seamers? Bet Root is gutted. Could we see spin both ends on day three at Durban?!  

Moeen again to Steyn, who has three catchers for company but also some scouts on the fence. Wearing a long-sleeved shirt, Steyn gets everything behind the ball - bat, pad, tattoos. Moeen, seeing nothing but dead bat, comes round the wicket and sees the same result. "Come over for the last one," shouts Alastair Cook. Same result.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Moeen Ali should be relishing this and demanding the ball. He should be saying 'I want to win this Test for England' but I fear because his confidence has been low over the last 18 months that he will feel the pressure of being expected to win this match."

Just waking up? Wiping the sleep from your eyes? Shaking the hangover from your head? Settle under the duvet in the knowledge that England have had the best of this first hour. Three wickets - one for Broad, two for Moeen. Only Dean Elgar stands between South Africa and a stare down the barrel. On a pitch starting to bare all the comfort of a snake pit, the Proteas are miles behind.

Image source, Getty Images

Tim Collingwood: A lot of focus on how poor the SA batting is but not too much mention of how good the England bowling has been?  

Moeen, who has taken 3-5 in his last seven overs, twirls his beard to the soundtrack of Bairstow's northern wittering. Steyn, who has to be livid that he's behind Abbott in the batting line-up, defends solidly as a siren flashes past the ground. Ooohs and aaahs from England, but Steyn gets by.