Steven Cook savours South Africa debut century

South Africa debutant Steven Cook revelled in making up for lost time by scoring a century on day one of the fourth Test against England at Centurion.

The 33-year-old thought his chance may not come to follow in the footsteps of his father Jimmy and play for the Proteas, but the opening batsman's chance finally came on Friday in the final game of a series England have already won..

Cook senior was out first ball in his maiden Test knock against India, but his son experienced very different emotions as he made 115 at Supersport Park – becoming the 100th player to record a Test ton on debut..

He hit the first ball of the day from James Anderson for four and never looked back, putting on 202 with Hashim Amla (109) before South Africa lost four wickets in the final session to close on 329-5.

Cook was grateful that Anderson served up a loosener to settle the nerves and revealed he had a call from his father the night before he strode out to the crease for his Proteas bow.

"Last night he gave me a call before I went to bed and he said, 'My boy if you don't go out to the first one, you are already better than me'," Cook said.

"I was really glad for that first one off the pads."

Cook, who was dropped on 47 by Jonny Bairstow off the bowling of Stuart Broad, was delighted his persistence paid off after being overlooked for so long.

"As time wore on, I knew it was getting more difficult and less likely. But I never gave up hope," he said.

"If I had given up on that hope, it would be have been difficult to carry on playing domestically. It would have just been retirement."

He added: "There are a couple of guys who have inspired me, even someone like Neil McKenzie whose second coming was at a later age. I knew that it did happen to other people and it could happen to me.

"I always thought to myself that it's about making your debut and playing for South Africa but it's about performing and scoring hundreds. I want to contribute to Proteas successes and victories.

"But I am very much a guy who looks after today. I've learnt that getting ahead of myself is the worst thing I can do."

Temba Bavuma (32 not out) and Quinton de Kock (25no) put on an unbroken stand of 56 for the sixth wicket after South Africa had lost four wickets for 36 runs after tea.