First Test - D1

Good decision to bat, it diminishes the impact of spin batting second on the last day of a deteriorating wicket.
Go Proteas!

 JP goes on the sweep. Amazing how hard it is re-accelerate an innings, he was very fluid into the 40s and then bogged down.

 A pretty useful innings scored at a good clip compared to Stephen Cook and Amla. It took the latter a total of 20 balls before he scored his first runs.....after a poor Ozzie tour you'd have to wonder whether we're seeing the last of him if he underperforms again.Stephen Cook is another concern, technically flawed and scores too slowly. Trouble is he manages to score enough runs to stop him from being dropped.

When AB comes back one batsman will have to go....candidates are Cook, Bavuma and Elgar. Amla is on the down slope....oddly looking a bit like he did early in his career. But I can't see him being dropped. Nor I suppose will Bavuma be dropped, but that would be the least disruptive change. So I'm guessing itwill end up being Cook or Elgar.

I'm happy to persist with Elgar and Bavuma. Also it would be tragic dropping both openers, Cook has to be the one and alongside of him, Amla. Father time seems to have caught up with both. Hope the selectors don't allow them to hang around, it would  stall a succession plan.

So if you are dropping Cook and Amla and keeping Bavuma along with bringing back AB, you need an opener. Who would you pick?

Aiden Kyle Markram (born 4 October 1994) is a South African cricketer who captained the South African U-19 cricket team to win the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[1][2][3][4]

 Amla is one good knock away from a return to form. Class doesn't just disappear. MAybe some domestic cricket to restore confidence.Cook and Elgar cant be dropped. I would drop Bavuma. Bit tough on him but its the log ical choice.Also Move de kock up to  5 or 6

 Sri Lanka in trouble now at 23 for 3.  Keep going oaks!

 cook is the goods to open . if AB comes back, Bavuma should be the one to make room.