Nel pumped up

South Africa paceman Andre Nel has promised to calm down his mad alter-ego as he looks to make the most of his recall for the third npower Test with England at Edgbaston.

Nel is a gentle giant off the pitch but often appears to be a man possessed when confronting the opposition with pace and aggression and more than a few well-chosen words in the heat of the action.

It has led to Nel being given the "Gunther" nickname by team-mates and opposition alike and he admits to being affected by 'white line fever'.

That is an expression invented by former South Africa pace legend Allan Donald to describe how his whole approach altered once he entered the field of play.

But Nel insists his energies will be channelled in the right way as he looks to cash in on Dale Steyn's absence with a thumb injury.

The extrovert Nel admitted: "Gunther will make an appearance in the middle. He will definitely come up. There is no doubt about that. He will definitely sneak out somewhere along the line.

"I was messing around with our computer guy one day and he said sometimes when I go onto the field I'm like those guys who live up in the mountains and have a lack of oxygen to the brain.

Andre Nel is hoping to channel his aggression in better ways

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"Gunther has a lack of oxygen to the brain and sometimes it happens to me.

"I'll be pumped up but I'll be a smarter pumped up. I don't think I'll be overboard any more. I've got smarter with time so I am looking forward to it."

Nel added: "I have calmed down a bit. There will still be 'white line fever' but just a bit more tame.

"The older you get, the smarter you become and maybe you use that aggression in better ways and better energy and that's what I'm trying to do. I have worked on that for the past couple of years.

"The aggression I use makes me the bowler I am. Without it, I am half the bowler so I've got to use that but in the right way so it works in my favour.

"It all depends what the captain wants. If he wants me to be in the faces of the batsmen or contain a certain end, I'll do what the team wants."

Nel, who last played Test cricket in January, is determined to grab the opportunity Steyn's injury has presented to him.

He said: "It has been frustrating but we have a good squad and only 11 guys can play. Dale and all the guys have been bowling well so you have to wait and take your chance - and hopefully I can take my chance here.

"I've been fortunate to play four seasons in a row with Essex. I think it has helped to make me smarter. I've played everywhere around England so I'm used to bowling in English conditions. Hopefully that will help me

"I've only played the one one-day international at Edgbaston. I bowled a bouncer and Freddie (Flintoff) fell on his back the last time I played here.

"You've got to go out and give it your best. You never know. It might be the last chance."