And what words of congratulation did the new captain whisper to the old one when a streaky four took Atherton to his hundred five minutes before the end? Stewart's remark was ``crap shot'', Atherton revealed.

He was at his most phlegmatic in the aftermath. Was the hundred an answer to his critics? ``Well, people are always writing me off. That's all part of my life.''

But he did acknowledge that ``runs have not exactly flowed freely for me in recent times. Test hundreds are always special. They don't just roll off the production line.''

Atherton said England would have bowled first if they had won the toss - ``a good toss to lose for the new captain. It was one of those days for us. The pitch wasn't a pleasant one. It swung a lot and Shaun Pollock must have beaten the bat 30-40 times. It was never a day when you felt you were in for the duration. We needed luck to survive.''

The original England plan was for Nasser Hussain to come in first wicket down but in the event Stewart appeared in the middle when Mark Butcher was dismissed. Explanations from the dressing-room varied: one said Hussain was ``on a call of nature''; another that Hussain had just taken his pads off for a break.

Attempts to discover the reason for South Africa's wayward bowling last night met with a brick wall. Bob Woolmer was giving 'throw downs' in the nets to Hansie Cronje when he was expected to meet the press.

It was then announced that his replacement, Allan Donald, was having a massage and was not available.

Ali Bacher who flew in 24 hours earlier was at the game. Considering the high profile the managing director of the United Cricket Board gives to media relations this was an unusually reticent South African camp.