The defeat to England in Port Elizabeth has given the squad extra motivation – as if any was needed – to do our utmost to square the series in Durban.

Responsibility is a big thing in international cricket and as international cricketers we have to take responsibility for our performances and I am sure we will on Friday.

The guys have taken everything on the chin after Sunday’s game and hopefully we will bounce back.

It will not be an easy task as England’s bowlers have performed magnificently.

England has got quality bowlers and each of them has poses a different threat but I think Jimmy Anderson, with his pace and accuracy, is probably the one that stands out.

Durban will offer a different challenge to the other matches we have already played in the series.

There has been a lot of rain about and, with Durban being a track that traditionally favours the seam and swing bowlers, we may not see massive scores in the decider but that will not make it any less tense and exciting.

In fact, we can probably take some knowledge gleaned from the Port Elizabeth match and use it to our advantage in Durban.

The mistake we made in PE was in trying to carry on from Cape Town and going for a score of 300+ from the outset of our innings, when a score of 220 was probably the target we should have set ourselves, was in hindsight, the wrong decision.

We are a relatively young side and mistake are going to made but it is important that we learn from our mistakes as quickly as possible.

On a personal note I am delighted to be back in the Proteas set-up after making my debut back in 2006.

I have always wanted to play for South Africa and having been given the opportunity I want to hold on to my place. Every game I play for my life but more importantly I play for my country.

When I was selected to return to the South African squad much was made of the fact that I had spent most of my senior career opening the batting but the Proteas were going to use me in the middle order.

I hope three half-centuries on the trot have silenced the doubters!

I told the coach that whenever I am picked for South Africa I am happy to bat wherever they need me.

It was a little bit of a mindset change to bat in the middle but when I was asked to bat at five I saw it as an opportunity rather than anything else.

I took it upon myself to do the best that I could and to prepare as well as possible.

It’s a lot to do with knowing my game better. After playing in a really strong SA side in 2006, I walked away from it knowing exactly what I had to do to improve.

So coming back into the team I understand my game better and I know were I want to go.

I think I play more intelligently now. There has been a little bit of a technique change but I am more intelligent in how I build my innings and how I go about things at the crease. Ultimately I just try and bat for as long as possible.