On Tuesday, however, there was a conspicuous lack of volunteers heading for the front line.

The only hands to rise at regular intervals belonged to the umpires or high-fiving South Africa fielders as England's [Images] batsmen trudged back to the pavilion in quick succession.

By the close South Africa, having skittled the touring side for 163, had moved on to 184 for three in their second innings, giving them a massive lead of 462. No side has ever scored as many in the fourth innings to win a Test.

Throughout 2004, that English boast had rung true. The team won 11 out of 13 Tests and drew the other two. There were also a record eight wins in a row.

The man-of-the-match awards were sprinkled liberally around the team. If it was not Steve Harmison who was doing the damage, then it would be Matthew Hoggard [Images] or Simon Jones or even the once much-maligned Ashley Giles.

Eight different players also made centuries during those eight wins in a row.

It seemed only reasonable to expect more of the same on Tuesday.

Michael Vaughan's [Images] team had somehow saved the second test after winning the first of the series, so another miracle would surely manifest itself.

Or, as all rounder Andrew Flintoff [Images] had put it after England, chasing South Africa's 441, had slumped to 95 for four by Monday's close: "We are going to have to scrap, but we have been in this position before in the past 12 months and there is a great deal of confidence among the team that we can get back into the test.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE

"Over the past 12 to 18 months we have improved as a side and it seems that every time we need a performance from someone, somebody sticks their hand up and puts a special one in.

"Tomorrow will be no different."

In South Africa, however, few would have noticed much English improvement. Harmison, virtually unplayable against West Indies [Images], seems to have lost his length and line while Vaughan looks horribly out of touch. So did Mark Butcher before he succumbed to injury.

Tuesday was very, very different indeed.

Flintoff cut tamely to gully, wicketkeeper Geraint Jones nibbled at an outswinger and Graham Thorpe was another soft dismissal, flicking a gentle catch to square leg as the innings subsided with barely a whimper.

South Africa spent the rest of the day rubbing in their superiority and now look certain to level the series with two Tests to come.

Flintoff's words at Newlands suggested supreme self-belief.

The question now is whether England's leading players have gradually allowed themselves to fall victim to rather less admirable over-confidence.

Or as former England captain Nasser Hussain put it, in his Sky Television commentary: "Their performances have been phenomenal over the past year but they must not think they have done enough.

"They mustn't rest on what they have done, it's just not enough."