‘Our bowlers are extremely hungry for success’

Captain Dean Elgar believes South Africa's fearsome four-prong pace attack will only get better as he admits he is unsure of what the wicket holds for the second Test against England at Old Trafford that starts on Thursday.

South Africa needed only 82.4 overs to take England's 20 wickets as they beat the hosts by an innings and 12 runs in the first test at Lord's, with the majority of the damage done by the pace quartet of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen.

"I reckon they can get much better, they're still pretty fresh," Elgar told reporters on Wednesday.

"The wicket assisted them at Lord's, we must take that into account, but you have to put the ball in the right areas and they did that.

"Our bowlers are leading our pack at the moment and they're extremely hungry for success. The competition among them is brilliant and the way they go about things is the most professional behaviour I've seen from fast bowlers."

Elgar suggested the tourists would likely retain the same XI for the second test, with only spinner Simon Harmer a potential addition to the side, though there is not an obvious candidate for him to replace with Keshav Maharaj having also bowled well at Lord's.

"We have our 12, the same as the first test and we decide on the day. Everyone is down to play and on the day you will be told if you are or not, which creates that sense of not taking the foot off the gas," Elgar said.

He also admitted they expect a much-improved home team in the second test with the three-match series on the line.

"I hope the second test goes the same way but we know England are hurt and they will fight back with a vengeance."