England nightwatchman Jack Leach struck a maiden Test half-century against Ireland at Lord’s on Thursday. The Proteas’ lower-order batsmen and tail-enders have managed Leach-esque contributions in the past.

Mark Boucher

• The steely wicketkeeper-batsman spent the bulk of his Test career arriving at the crease in seventh or eighth position, but also came in at six – and once five. He was deployed higher than specialist batsmen Jonty Rhodes, Neil McKenzie and Martin van Jaarsveld on a few occasions and dutifully struck centuries against Zimbabwe and England as a nightwatchman in late 1999.

Nicky Boje

• The decision to send Boje in at three after the early departure of Herschelle Gibbs against India in Bangalore in 2000 reaped rewards. The left-hander engineered a Test-best 85 during a 161-run partnership with Gary Kirsten against an opposition attack spearheaded by Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble – and effectively laid the foundation for middle-order half-centurions Jacques Kallis, Darryl Cullinan and Lance Klusener to capitalise en route to victory.

Vernon Philander

• The hope that Philander would knock off some quick runs at the top of the order against India in Mohali four years ago backfired. His characteristic solidity fashioned at seven or eight in the order was not evident as an opening batsman. He fell cheaply and the man he replaced at the top, Stiaan van Zyl, was poor in the middle order. The thinking was bad and the result even worse, as South Africa lost inside three days.

Morne Morkel

• The lanky left-hander started his career at eight, but gradually dropped to 10 and 11. Once, though, he opened the batting while Graeme Smith battled severe injury against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2009. Predictably, he lasted a mere two deliveries and perished to an odd chip shot – akin to a tail-ender’s ability – to become one of the easiest top-order dismissals of seamer Doug Bollinger’s career.

Kagiso Rabada

• Rabada averages almost 15 at three in the order – some three runs more than his Test-career aggregate of under 12. ‘He batted very well. He kept good intensity and we saw a few flair shots towards the end there which was amazing. For him to get those runs in conditions like that with quality bowlers and a difficult wicket; he’s slowly turning into a really handy batsman for us,’ said Hashim Amla of Rabada’s 30 against India at the Wanderers in 2018.

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