Former skipper blasts England's horrendous DRS use

Nasser Hussain has slammed England after a massive Hashim Amla edge was not referred to the DRS during the second Test against South Africa.

England must chase down a world-record 474 to win at Trent Bridge while South Africa have two full days to bowl them out after the tourists' batsmen provided the strongest possible platform for victory on the third day on Sunday.

When South Africa resumed on 1-75, England knew they had to take early wickets and will rue the basic error that allowed Amla to escape at 1-91 when they failed to review a half-hearted appeal by Stuart Broad.

TV replays later showed a massive edge to the keeper, with Amla inevitably making England pay with 87 vital runs - his second half-century of the match.

Former skipper Hussain was absolutely livid in the commentary box, with the costly let-off the latest in a string of DRS blunders.

"It is total confusion out there," Hussain said as he showed four other examples of England's poor DRS use.

"It's just absolute chaos, there's no set procedure at all."

Rookie captain Joe Root has looked out of his depth at times and has failed to use the review system with any real conviction.

Root is in his second Test as captain after Alastair Cook - who is still in the side - stepped down from the role.

with AAP