Sammons wants Proteas batters to be more decisive: 'They were better than us'

Proteas batting coach Justin Sammons says their batters need to be more decisive after a first innings collapse in the third and final Test against England at The Oval.

England won the toss and opted to bowl first on Thursday and Saturday's overcast conditions favoured the bowlers.

The Proteas got off to a horror start as Ollie Robinson ripped through the fragile top-order, with South Africa slumping to 32-5 in the first hour.

Robinson took 5 for 49 as the Proteas were eventually bundled out for 118 in 36.2 overs.

SCORECARD | England v Proteas - 3rd Test

Sammons insists that execution failed them as they struggled against a fiery England pace attack.

"If we knew the answer to that, we wouldn't find ourselves in this position. We have to give the opposition credit, they bowled really well and got the ball in the right area and continued to ask questions," Sammons told reporters on Saturday.

"If we're hyper-critical, our contact points and batting angles could've been better, not to say we wouldn't have gotten out, but we could've given ourselves a better chance.

"It's something we're continuing to work on. I don't think we gave our wickets away through mental errors, it was execution and on the day, they were better than us."

It wasn't the best day in the office for South Africa's batters, with all-rounder Marco Jansen, who missed out of the second Test, top-scored for 30.

South Africa were bowled out for their lowest total on English soil since 1960.

Sammons says a major problem is that the Proteas are missing out on vital century partnerships and urges his batters to be more decisive at the crease.

"What we have been missing is big partnerships, but for that to happen, individuals have to make their starts count, which hasn't