Cricket Fifth Test: Andre Nel did not have to wait too long to make an impact on his return to South Africa's Test side. He rushed across the outfield during practice and rugby-tackled Matthew Hoggard to the floor, which was not the most respectful greeting he could have summoned for the fast bowler who had just bowled England into a 2-1 lead with one Test to play.
He was still overflowing with pent-up energy yesterday after a bad-light call that edged England closer to winning the series, this time manhandling South Africa's coach, Ray Jennings, on his way to the dressing-room.
The movie character Billy Elliot's dad ("lads do boxing and football and wrestling, not frigging ballet") would have approved of Nel. He is a roisterer of a fast bowler, who delayed his marriage for two hours so he could play in a Centurion Test against West Indies.
If Jennings ever decides that his policy of concussing his players by hitting cricket balls at them from point-blank range is a little bit soft for a series decider, then he could always order Nel to get physical.
In the final session he bowled to lightning forks flashing behind a distant water tower and to rumbles of thunder. It was how it should always be. His first 10 overs had cost only 15 but he had just undeservedly gone for 10 in one over when with better luck he would have dismissed Graham Thorpe.
Smith almost took him off, then thought better of it. He struck Andrew Strauss on the shoulder with a last desperate bouncer and then had him caught behind. Another bad light call meant that was that but this time he and Jennings settled for a pat on the back.
Nel has not played this series because of a back injury and has promised his home crowd: "I have five months' aggression saved up."
Five minutes is normally quite long enough. He is a fast bowler with two follow-throughs: the first helping to propel the ball, the second taking him to within a few feet of the batsman to pass comment on how well he played it.
South Africa are overstocked with seamers - they have five plus the left-arm spin of Nicky Boje - and one of either Nel or Andrew Hall is usually expendable.
On this occasion they bowled in tandem before lunch, upping the aggression without necessarily increasing the threat as Thorpe and Strauss remained unmoved by the running commentary.
Nel won the contest about who would be the first to fling the ball back past the batsman and snarl. He also followed up with two histrionic lbw appeals, unlikely affairs because he was bowling round the wicket. After the first he held his head in his hands; the second saw him march, disoriented, towards extra cover.
He has had a colourful past. On his first senior tour, to the West Indies, he was one of several South Africans fined for smoking dope after a Test in Antigua, and was presented as a young innocent who was worried what his parents might say.
No one mentioned the parents when he was sent home early from an A tour of Australia for drink-driving. He was ordered to attend a life skills course at the University of Cape Town and emerged with his physicality intact. But then life skills tend to be a bit different in South Africa.
"I've a few things to prove to people," he said before the Test. "I've had my problems but I've grown up. Hopefully I can use my aggression in a controlled manner but, if I'm not in the guys' faces, then I'm half the bowler I could be."
He is good for the game; with the England supporters booing him and the South Africans cheering in return, he briefly turned a gritty and forgettable day into something put on by the World Wrestling Federation. Yesterday any entertainment would do. - Guardian service
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