ENGLAND: Cook predicts England Headingley recovery

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Alastair Cook is looking forward to the 2nd Investec Test against South Africa at Headingley Carnegie starting on Thursday. He believes England can restore their pride in the series after the heavy defeat to South Africa at the Kia Oval.

(PHOTO: Alastair Cook scored his 20th Test century in the First Test)

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England were outgunned by the Proteas who claimed a famous innings-and-12-run victory to take first blood in the long awaited series.

Hashim Amla, Jaques Kallis and Graeme Smith all made three figures as the tourists posted a record 637-2. Dale Steyn picked up his 18th Test five-wicket haul to kill off England’s chances of salvaging a draw on the final day.

Cook scored 115 in England’s first innings believes England will bounce back at Headingley to level the three-match series and remain the ICC world number one Test ranked side.

"We will fight back," Cook told ecb.co.uk. "We have had heavy defeats in the past and have bounced back well and now we have to do that again.”

"What is exciting is that we have a chance to level the series, which we need to do. We know that we didn't play to our potential and we know that we can play a lot better than we did and we have to find that performance.

"Clearly it [our confidence] has taken a dent. We can't hide behind that, but if you look round the dressing room we have got a very experienced side. Everyone knows what we have to do and we will be confident amongst ourselves that we can put in a much better performance."

The England bowlers suffered in the first Test as they bowled 190 overs and took only two wickets between them:

"I don't think that they have to do too much differently," Cook added. "Lets remember these guys have taken 20 wickets pretty much every time they have played a Test match over the last few years and one bad performance doesn't change that.”

"It was a tough for the lads and physically they have to recover well. It takes a lot out of the guys when you bowl 40 or 50 overs and I'm sure they will put their feet up now as they will want to prove people wrong and that is a great place to be."

England play South Africa at Headingley between 2 and 6 August