Nick Compton and James Taylor lead England rally in Durban

Nick Compton and James Taylor shared a belligerent fourth-wicket stand of 125 to dig England out of trouble on a rain-hit day one of the first Test against South Africa, at Kingsmead. 

Durban-born Compton contributed a patient 63no off 179 balls on his return to Test cricket after a two-and-a-half year absence while Taylor struck 70 - his second fifty in only his fourth Test - to help drag England from 49-3 to 179-4 in the 65.1 overs possible before stumps. 

 
Dale Steyn (3-29), still ranked the No 1 bowler in Test cricket, was the inevitable partnership-breaker as he returned from injury to international cricket full of fire.
Steyn was near-immaculate in the 6.1 overs of play possible before lunch after South Africa won the toss, dismissing Alastair Cook for an 11-ball duck in a fiery spell of 0-1 off 3.1 overs.
The fast bowler tempted England's skipper to nibble at one outside off stump and was quickly back among the wickets again after a 63-minute rain break, finding the edge of Alex Hales' bat as the debutant drove at the fourth ball of the afternoon session.

Dale Steyn celebrates taking the wicket of Alastair Cook

Joe Root ran his first ball away for four and ticked over nicely, riding the extra bounce of Morne Morkel well, even despatching Kyle Abbott for six over midwicket with a sweetly-timed pull.
England's leading run-scorer of 2015 in all formats looked increasingly comfortable on his way to 24 only to fall lbw to the first ball bowled by off-spinner Dane Piedt, Root failing to overturn the on-field umpire's decision on review as replays showed the ball hitting the top of middle.
Obdurate Compton and Taylor, quick on his feet against spin from ball one, were forced to rebuild either side of another 22-minute rain break and each batsman drove well to bring up a 50-run stand off 107 balls.

James Taylor reached his half-century off 87 deliveries

Taylor overtook his partner just before tea with back-to-back boundaries off Piedt and went on to register his half-century off 87 balls with eight fours to his name.
Neither batsman's focus waned as Amla rotated his strike to no avail, Compton's measured 145-ball fifty not only frustrating the home side but rather draining the festive Boxing Day mood among South Africa fans. 
As if to emphasis the swing in fortunes, Taylor crunched Morkel through the covers for four to bring up his 100-run stand with Compton off 228 balls, the Nottinghamshire batsman's contribution totalling 61, before crunching Dean Elgar over midwicket for the second six of the day.
It was Steyn who broke the stand, spanning 45.2 overs. The fast bowler - so missed as South Africa slumped to defeat in India - finding the edge as Taylor pushed tentatively with stumps in sight.
Ben Stokes had time to pummel a Piedt full toss for four before he and Compton accepted an offer to go off for bad light with just 65.1 overs bowled.