South Africa has kept the same team for the last two Tests against England despite their 189-run defeat at Newlands that left the series level at 1-1.

The starting team from the Cape Town Test, which England won in a thrilling finish, plus bowler Dane Paterson will travel to Port Elizabeth for the third Test, which starts on Thursday.

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The rest of the squad members will stay with their franchise teams and continue to compete in domestic four-day competition.

“The selection panel are placing an emphasis on the importance of game time for non-starting players and prefer that they are available to their teams to help boost the competition,” Cricket South Africa (CSA) said in a statement on Friday. “They will join the national team if and when required.”

The third Test at St George’s Park is followed by the last at the Wanderers in Johannesburg from January 24 to 28. South Africa won the first Test in Pretoria by 107 runs.

Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Beuran Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Pieter Malan, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second, Rassie van der Dussen