As the hot summer sun beat down on what Faf du Plessis described as the home of cricket on the day before the game, it wasn't the game itself that was the main attraction.
A Hadeda Ibis somehow refused to move from the field as the second Test ebbed and flowed.
On the first day, it had close shaves but escaped from the game unscathed.
Yesterday, it moved around unfettered and unbothered, smartly keeping out of the ball's way.
Whatever richness the bird found from a sustenance perspective on the lush grass, none of it was easily translated into runs and wickets as England struggled for wickets while SA was content to grind out the runs at less than three an over.
At times, especially during the second afternoon and evening, the rather noisy bird stood still, freezing the game with it as the sides jostled for every run and wicket.
A Hadeda Ibis somehow refused to move from the field as the second Test ebbed and flowed
With England snaring three critical pre-lunch wickets when Stuart Broad dismissed debutant Pieter Malan and Zubayr Hamza while James Anderson accounted for Faf du Plessis, they seemed to have their noses firmly in front by reducing SA to 40/3 in the 14th over. England had won the toss and ended the first day on 262/9 before they were bowled out early yesterday for 269.
Dean Elgar and the lucky Rassie van der Dussen gradually drew the sting out of England's bowling with a determined 117-run fourth-wicket alliance.
Elgar could have and should have converted his 14th Test 50 into his 13 Test ton, but he fell 12 short when his miscued lofted drive was snaffled by Joe Root at mid-off off Dom Bess.
Van der Dussen was gritty, uncompromising but also fortunate as he had three lives.
On six, he reprieved himself by correctly reviewing a wrongly given out leg before by umpire Paul Reiffel off James Anderson.
On 16, Stuart Broad had him caught behind, but the England fast bowler had bowled a no-ball.
When he was seven away from his second Test 50, Ben Stokes shelled him at second slip off Anderson.
He was on 38 when a nick off Anderson didn't carry to Stokes at second slip.
Van der Dussen's 50 eventually came off 131 balls and the innings took on greater significance after Quinton de Kock carelessly bunted a Sam Curran slower ball to Anderson at mid-off.
Van der Dussen has been an important cricketer for the Proteas in the shorter formats and proved his value again after he did the same in the first Test.
There was less intent here than at SuperSport Park, where a quick transfer of pressure was required, but his extended presence at the crease on a tricky surface for right-handers kept England at bay.
He was eventually dismissed by Curran four overs before the second new ball was available, with Stokes not making a mess of the third chance after his two earlier mishaps.
There was a crack on a good length the South African fast bowlers successfully exploited when bowling from the Wynberg end.
As the game moves into the critical third day after yesterday's proceedings, that same fissure will test England just as it did SA
Being experienced and quick learners, England's bowlers did the same, with the first three wickets and that of Van Der Dussen's coming from that end.
Though De Kock was dismissed by Curran from the same end, his exit had little to do with the surface.
There seemed to be fewer terrors when bowlers came in from the Kelvin Grove end, but there was an increasing amount of turn.
However, that was neutralised by the even bounce, which meant Bess needed to deceive Elgar through flight to prise him out.
While there were three SA batsmen who fell for single figures, two of the three who crossed 20 converted to 50.
This wasn't the case with England where all the frontline batsmen barring Zak Crawley crossed 25, but only Ollie Pope crossed 50 with his unbeaten 61.
England's batsmen barring Stokes and Pope also battled with the crack and the ball's devious behaviour when it pitched there, but at least they won't have to bat last as it wears.
The Hadeda, which maintained its peaceful vigil on the field while moving to various positions, never came close to the pitch to tamper with the fissure.
As the game moves into the critical third day after yesterday's proceedings, that same fissure will test England just as it did SA.
If they have a first-innings lead, it could be the difference, just like it was at
Centurion.
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