Sidebottom suffered a recurrence of a back problem on Sunday while South Africa were piling up 242 for one after following on.

The tourists were therefore set to resume still 104 runs behind on the final day, but with vastly-improved prospects of salvaging a draw - having conceded a first-innings deficit of 346.

Sidebottom, England's leading Test wicket-taker this year, is one of a four-man frontline attack - comprising fellow seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and spinner Monty Panesar.