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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Daniel Gallan (earlier) and Tim de Lisle (later)

England v South Africa: play abandoned on day one of first Test – as it happened

England South Africa Bazball (Organization) Ben Stokes
If you need rain, just put on a Test match.
If you need rain, just put on a Test match. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Match report and reaction

Stumps! England 116-6 (Pope 61, Broad 0)

The umpires have called it a day, which is both disappointing and completely understandable. That photogenic rain is not about to relent. “It is still absolutely lashing down,” says Ian Ward on Sky.

We only got just over a third of a full day’s play, but it was enough for South Africa’s four horsemen of the apocalypse to ride roughshod over England’s top order. Kagiso Rabada was superb as ever, Anrich Nortje expensive but effective, and Marco Jansen grabbed the big one, the wicket of Joe Root.

For England, Ollie Pope shone like a beacon in the gloom with a fluent 61 not out. His team need him to turn that into a hundred, along with a few biffs from Stuart Broad – who owes England both runs and wickets – and some sturdy resistance from Messrs Leach, Pope and Anderson. This could be a pitch on which 180 is a decent score. Or Dean Elgar could do a Graeme Smith and make England’s efforts look puny.

That’s it from me. Thanks for your company, your views on England’s aggression – not so pronounced today, but still too much for some – and your pairings of players in the same team whose cap numbers were miles apart. Play is going to start half an hour early for the rest of the match, so I’ll see you at 10.30 tomorrow (when the forecast is fine). And if anyone in your family has been doing A-levels this summer, the best of luck for the morning.

Updated

“As someone with a ticket for the Saturday,” says Charlie Gardener, “I don’t think enough is being said about the schedule. Starting a game on Wednesday means we might not even get a full day’s play on a weekend. Here I am praying for more rain so I at least finish the champers I’m allowed to bring in.

“Not too damning about the Hundred, actually been a few times including that excellent Will Jacks century (knocking on the proverbial door), but multiple times this year we’ve had Tests on funny days because of the condensed schedule. What’s wrong with starting on a Thursday?”

Nothing as long as the Tests are not back-to-back. This one is starting on a Wednesday so that the second Test, at Old Trafford, can start next Thursday, and the players can have a decent breather in between – one day to travel, two to practice.

“Gaps between caps,” says Olly Plunket, returning to a theme from this morning. “Great subject for stats nerds. Can I proffer Gooch [England cap no.] 461 to Crawley (John) 569? Twenty years!” Ha, yes, Gooch, like Anderson, went from fresh-faced lad to grand old man. And that game was also a Lord’s Test against South Africa. I’d forgotten that Gooch ended up back where he started, at No.5.

This is classy.

“Would a genuine Test class batsman have left the ball Stokes got out to on length?” asks Adrian Page. “As a bowler I loved batsmen that tried to defend balls going nowhere near the stumps, the margin for error was huge then.” Some might have left it. But the implication that Stokes isn’t Test-class is a bit harsh, isn’t it? He played one of the greatest innings of all time, and the first few hours of it were extremely restrained.

“Thoughts on Stokes’ innings?” says Alister McDermott. “I’m all for attacking Test cricket, but that seemed like a misadventure too far…” Well, it was a good ball that got him, angled in then moving away, getting him squared up. He wasn’t attacking that ball and he had left the one before. But I take your point about the way he has sometimes played as captain – getting caught at mid-off straight after being dropped there. England have carried on being positive today, with Pope making a fine 61 off only 87 balls, but the only batter to perish playing a big shot has been Alex Lees, driving on the up, from the crease, at a ball that he would have been better off leaving or cutting. It’s not Bazball that’s has been England’s downfall: it’s the conditions and the skill with which Rabada and co. have exploited them.

Updated

“Am I the only one,” says Charles Sheldrick, “who is enjoying the break? Not sure I can handle the ‘excitement’ of the new style of play. A nice rain-break will give my heart rate a chance to return to normal.”

Weather forecast, anyone? Here’s how the next few hours look at Lord’s, according to the Met Office. The hour from 4pm: 70pc chance of rain. The hour from 5pm: 70pc chance of rain. The hour from 6pm: 70pc chance of rain. (With a dash of lightning in all three of those hours.) The hour from 7pm: less than a 5pc chance of rain. So if we’re very lucky, we may get another half an hour.

Updated

A development!

“Tea,” says Ian Ward on Sky, “has been taken.” Dear old Test cricket, still the most meal-friendly game in the world.

If Ben Stokes had won the toss, South Africa would have been batting today. What do you think they would have got by now? My guess is 80 for four (Anderson 3-21, Potts 1-30).

“Excellent to see South Africa win the toss and burst our bubble of overconfidence,” says Kim Thonger. “It does make it slightly trickier for England to continue their run of successful 4th innings run chases, but may I propose a way to do so. With all humility I’m calling it Master Plan 1.1.3 (slight revision from v1.0 at start of play).

”Suggest England press on quietly and boringly to reach around 325 in singles and extras on first innings. I’m relying mainly on Ollie and Jack.” You sure are. ”Then send Jimmy out to bag a cheap 7fer and skittle SA for say, 110. Make them follow on, and here’s the cunning bit, bowl short and wide with 7 slips so they can easily get to about 450. Bring Jimmy on, having rested him through the runfest, and have him demolish remaining SA batters with reverse swing for a final total of say, 485.

”That leaves a target of 375 to win which is slap bang in England’s new comfort zone, in fact pretty much their sweet spot. Bob’s your uncle. And the best thing is we get to the fifth day and I can get in to watch our inevitable triumph for a fiver. If the trains are running. If it’s not raining. If there’s no asteroid strike.

”This strategy lark is a doddle,” he concludes, “if you don’t overthink it.”

Lord’s is a picture – painted entirely in grey. It’s as if the past month never happened. Anybody else secretly prefer it like this?

Afternoon everyone and thanks Daniel. The rain in London is … mainly making up for lost time. So if you’ve ever felt like emailing the OBO and not quite got round to it, now would be a good moment.

I’m off… That was good fun folks. Really enjoyed that. What a session by the Saffa bowlers who backed up the red meating grunt (go check out my Spin column) with a healthy dollop of guile and skill. England are on the ropes by Ollie Pope is battling back.

I leave you in the safe hands of Tim, though not sure there’ll be any more cricket to report on. Lightning has just struck and the rain is heavy.

Either way, hope you stay on the feed. Should be plenty to chew on.

“Dear Mr Gallan”

Haha, Dean Kinsella, I think we’re going to be firm friends.

“I think you’ll find that this flurry of first day wickets is all part of the Baldrickball cunning plan. In each of England’s stunning wins this summer they have lulled the opposition into a false sense of security by apparently losing the match in the first few days only to rip them apart at the end. Nothing new here”

That certainly does soun as cunning as a fox who’s just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University!

✊

This hockey chat ain’t going away.

Peter Wyatt keeps the fire burning:

“My uncle, a doctor who emigrated to Canada many years ago, used to be the team doctor to one of the pro hockey teams, injuries being not exactly uncommon. In one particular match a player went down needing treatment and my uncle duly skated out onto the ice ready to administer to the fallen only to trip over, break a bone and have to be removed on a stretcher to the derision of the crowd. I should add that he was fine afterwards. Btw he would definitely call it hockey.”

Any sport mad enough to be played on ice can call itself what it wants, to be fair.

If you can’t love England at their 378/3, you don’t deserve them at their 116-6

Schrödinger’s Crawley

This, from Tom v d Gucht, is delightful:

“With most players there’s an element of Schrodinger’s cat about their perspective position when you check the scorecard online. Before looking, they are simultaneously in, out, scoring a century in 50 balls, crawling along as the wickets tumble around them.... Until you hit refresh, all possibilities are true. Apart from for Crawley, obviously, he’s pretty much bound to be out.”

To be fair, it has been ‘remarkable’

Rain delay: England 116-6 (Pope 61, Broad 0)

As expected, the rain has arrived at Lord’s but it has come a little later than predicted. England won’t mind too much. Nortje has just snared the sixth wicket and bounced Broad. If nothing else, this gives the Day Hawk time to recoup.

32nd over: England 116-6 (Pope 61, Broad 0) A wicket maiden for Nortje who might be going at just under 5 an over but has snared three big wickets Bairstow, Stokes and Foakes).

Another wicket after hammering the stumps and we can maybe think back to the bouncer to Foakes in his previous over that persuaded the batter not to get too far forward. As a result, he’s nowhere near the pitch of the ball and a tame waft takes the inside edge en route to the stumps. Quality from the Saffas. Into the tail now.

Wicket! Foakes b Nortje 6 (England 116-6)

That’s just too quick for Foakes who doesn’t move his feet and wafts his bat away from his body. It comes back in off the slope, takes an inside edge and clatters the furniture. Nortje’s extra pace does the trick and he has three now. Beyond one shot, Foakes never looked settled.

Stuart Broad, the Day Hawk, is at the crease in the 32nd over.

Ben Foakes is skittled by Anrich Nortje.
Ben Foakes is skittled by Anrich Nortje. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

Updated

31st over: England 116-5 (Pope 61, Foakes 6) Rabada continues and Pope collects another couple with a short ball, which he rides well. Otherwise in control as Pope looks to build something substantial from the rubble his mates have left him in.

Sam has been hurt too many times

Longest gap between players (D)

John Starbuck is picking up this earlier chat:

“Dan, one problem with this is the increasing number of tests England have played per annum over the decades. Better mathematicians than me (almost everyone) should be able to provide a weighting to compensate.”

30th over: England 114-5 (Pope 59, Foakes 6) Phew, that’s quick from Nortje. 92mph in fact. Pope is behind it well though. He works a single down in the deep but it’s in the air for some time. No worries though. It lands safely in from of deep backward square leg. Another bumper to Foakes finishes the over. Nortje clearly here for a good time, not a long time, in this spell. He’s charging in.

29th over: England 112-5 (Pope 58, Foakes 5) Rabada is back at that area that worked so well for him earlier in the piece. Slightly fuller than back of a length, he gets Pope in a slight tangle who pokes at it reflexively. There’s a prod that flies past Jansen at gulley but it’s squeezed past the diving fielder for two. Oh, and Pope collected another two at the top of the over. Four more then for the busy No 3.

The big question

“Dandiddums”

Now you’re crossing a line, John Starbuck.

“Your correspondent Dean ? (OBO writers usually give surnames too – my apologies, that’s Dean Kinsella ) was having you on. He’s almost quoting a Monty Python sketch where John Cleese is a TV interviewer of ‘Sir Edward’ (Graham Chapman) as a film director and increasingly trying to be informal, as in ‘Eddy-baby’.”

Aha. I’ll have to brush up on my British culture it seems. And here I was thinking I knew all the Python skits.

28th over: 108-5 (Pope 54, Foakes 5) Foakes thwacks Nortje through midwicket to get into his work. Top shot that from a man who is more than just a handy batter. Nortje is revving it up. He’s north of 90mph.

Hockey conundrum

Now I don’t know where to stand. “Just checked with Steph, and she was willing to let the ice hockey thing slide, but inside she was raging,” sorry to hear that Tom.

But here’s a retort to an earlier complaint: “A word to back to Daniel Waddup,” says Mark. “Never ever call it field hockey - it’s just hockey”

I’ll let you lot fight it out amongst yourselves, just like a real Canadian (ice) hockey match.

27th over: England 104-5 (Pope 54, Foakes 1) Rabada gets things going again and Pope immediately continues his fine work, scampering a single after dropping one towards the off side.

Foakes is off the mark with a tapped single through the covers and Pope has two more with a steer past point. A little hodgepodge from the big Saffa who will be sniffing an early rest if he can knock over one of these fellas and get into the tail.

Is it still Bazball?

As Peter points out: “This is different, because for the first time under Stokes England are batting first.”

You can call me anything

“Hi Danno. (you don’t mind if I call yoDanno, do you?) Anyway, Danny baby, All hail these South African quicks and Bazball looking shakey. But you have to give a nod to the selection of Pope at 3. It looked near madness at the time but he is really looking the part there now. “

Right you are Dean. Or is that Deano? Pope has been impressive.

Lunch: England 100-5 (Pope 51, Foakes 0)

South Africa’s session. What an understatement. They’ve absolutely steamrolled their hosts despite Ollie Pope’s unbeaten half century. Two wickets for Rabada with the new ball, two more Nortje later on and Jansen’s big fish in the form of Joe Root means England are staring up at a mountain.

Beyond Bairstow – bowled by Nortje through the gate from a booming drive – and Stokes – who prodded at Nortje just before the lunch break at was caught at third slip – no other England batter can really be blamed for their demise.

Crawley and Lees were undone by excellent work by Rabada with the new ball and Jansen got one to tail back into Root and send him packing after an umpire’s call upheld the review.

A fantastic morning’s session to kick off this series. We were promised fireworks and that’s what we’ve got so far.

Catch you after the break.

Wicket! Stokes c Petersen b Nortje 20 (England 100-5)

What a way to head into the lunch break. If you’re South African, that is. Nortje, who had just been belted fore two fours earlier in the over, finds the outside edge of Ben Stokes’s bat as the skipper prods hard at a length ball away from his body and sees it nestle in the hands of third slip.

The captain loses his wicket rom the last ball of the session.
The captain loses his wicket rom the last ball of the session. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Updated

25th over: England 89-4 (Pope 45, Stokes 16) CRUNCH! Stokes hammers Rabada down the ground with the helpful width that’s on offer. Otherwise it’s a tidy set from the seamer. One more before lunch? Possibly two.

24th over: England 85-4 (Pope 45, Stokes 12) Nortje with a change of ends and he’s a lot tidier this time. Just a single for Stokes and a couple to Pope, who inches nearer to his milestone with a clip off his hips (he’s been very good at that throughout this knock)

23rd over: England 82-4 (Pope 43, Stokes 11) A single apiece for England’s two batters at the crease as they look to crawl to the safety of the lunch break. Rabada, who was so good earlier in the day, is at it again. He beats Stokes with one that angles across him but Stokes is nonplussed, charging the South African quick as he squirts a single down to fine leg.

22nd over: England 80-4 (Pope 42, Stokes 10) Bang! Bang! Stokes is in the game with two wonderful strokes that takes him to double figures. Jansen getting fatigued perhaps but that’s just cracking cricket from the England skipper. A full-faced drive down the ground is complimented by another one as Jansen gets too full and is met with Srtokes’ meaty blade.

21st over: England 71-4 (Pope 41, Stokes 2) Rabada is back for one more burst before lunch. He begins with a very full length and Pope is able to drive him for a couple. Rabada adjusts and Pope tucks a single, courtesy of an inside edge, and gets off strike. Stokes is watchful for the rest of the over and doesn’t add to his score.

I think we might have a winner

20th over: England 68-4 (Pope 38, Stokes 2) Jansen has been very impressive and continues to find a probing area. Pope, though, is well up for it, as is Stokes who has a look of determination on his face. They’re grinding til lunch. Another wicket would really drive home SA’s advantage.

19th over: England 64-4 (Pope 37, Stokes 1) What a shot that is (by the way). Ollie Pope has launched Nortje up and over the cordon with a dashing uppercut. Quality cricket from a young man who looks the real deal in this sort of mood.

Ollie Pope hits a fine shot.
Ollie Pope hits a fine shot. Photograph: Ashley Western/Colorsport/Shutterstock

Updated

18th over: England 56-4 (Pope 30, Stokes 0) Pope gets to 30 with a wormed singled wide of mid-on, but not before he’s beaten by a delicious Jansen delivery that comes back in sharply and cuts the batter in half. What a handful he is with that lanky left arm and movement off the surface. Pope remains in the game, though, and is well forward for the rest of the set, smothering Jansen before taking that single.

Just as Elgar predicted

“Bazbal Bristow out for a 5 ball duck middle stump outta there,” says Paul Sokhy. “Go on Stokes no fear who keeps running out to play the ball. Going south.”

17th over: England 55-4 (Pope 29, Stokes 0) Am I allowed to say the ‘B’ word? Whatever happened earlier in the summer, England’s batting is coming unstuck against a tremendous bowling display from South Africa’s four seamers. Rabada and Ngidi were terrefic up front and now Nortje and Jansen are doing their bit.

This Nortje over is fast and full and sent Bairstow’s middle peg flying. Captain Stokes is out there much earlier than he’d have liked and he’s got one hell of a job on his hands. Pope is with him and they’ll need to get their big shovels out to dig their side out of this mess.

Longest gap between players (C)

Patrick picks up the chat as wickets tumble:

“Hi Daniel. How about the Ian’s? Botham 474 and Salisbury 554. I’m surprised the gap isn’t bigger considering the amount of players that got a solitary call up in the 80s.”

Wicket! Bairstow b Nortje 0 (England 55-4)

Someone needs to fetch that middle stump because it has been dramatically uprooted! Nortje has seared one in at a frightening pace but Bairstow is bafflingly looking to drive this with force. I get the Bazball approach but that is reckless and he’s paid for it with his wicket. What a session for South Africa. They’re backing up their fighting words with commanding action.

Bairstow loses his middle stump.
Bairstow loses his middle stump. Photograph: Ben Whitley/ProSports/Shutterstock

Updated

16th over: England 54-3 (Pope 28, Bairstow 0) There’s an appeal for caught behind down the leg side but not even Jansen looks too convinced as Pope walks away to gather his thoughts. Could be a mode of attack though for the Saffas as Jansen finds extra lift from an uncomfortable angle. Bairstow is watchful after Pope takes a two and then a single.

15th over: England 51-3 (Pope 25, Bairstow 0) England reach their half century with consecutive boundaries from Pope’s bat. Nortje has been expensive and he’s first driven past point and then steered through the gulley region. Pope has suddenly collected 25. He’s looked good amidst the carnage.

14th over: England 42-3 (Pope 17, Bairstow 0) Ollie Pope is now exclusively scoring his runs in clumps of three with drive that doesn’t reach the boundary. Root will now wish his partner had timed it better as his first ball back on strike ends with his wicket. Really good bowling from Jansen who must be just a nightmare to face if you’re a right hander. South Africa all over their hosts. They look well up for this.

Wicket! Root lbw Jansen 8 (England 42-3)

Now then! What a moment in this match! What a moment in the young life of Marco Jansen. He’s got the big fish of Joe Root with a beautiful delivery that starts by angling across the right hander but then tails back in sharply towards his pads. Root’s body is already moving in one direction and he can’t change course before it knocks his front pad. The umpire’s finger goes up but Root reviews. He gets no reprieve. It’s close, but the ‘umpire’s call’ means Root’s got to go. England collapsing in the wake of sustained Proteas pressure.

Joe Root goes for 8 runs.
Joe Root goes for 8 runs. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Updated

My apologies to all Canadians

Thanks to Daniel Waddup for putting me straight: “A word of advice. Never, ever call it ice hockey within earshot of a Canadian friend. It’s just hockey.”

That’s me told.

“Where’s bazball?”

Robert from “Downunder” wants to know. Early days Rob. And let’s not forget that the fireworks earlier in the summer often came from top order failures.

Joe Root gets in the groove.
Joe Root gets in the groove. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

13th over: England 39-2 (Pope 14, Root 8) The first rumbling chants of ‘Roooooooot’ as Joe Root welcomes Arnich Nortje to the scene by cutting him backward of point for four. Nortje’s pace is already north of 90mph but the England batter’s won’t mind that if he bowls short and wide. Pope also gets a cut shot away but only takes three as the fielder at point manages to get a glove on it. Nortje pushes it fuller as the over gets on but he’ll need to sort that radar out.

Updated

12th over: England 32-2 (Pope 11, Root 4) A bowling change and it’s the 2m tall Marco Jansen replacing Ngidi from the Pavilion End. His left arm delivers an opening over that is rather tame by his standards though there’s no run off the bat – just a leg bye. A leg gulley as well as a man under the helmet offers a sign of the plan here but he’s too full for that to yield any fruit. A loosener. Fair enough. Will expect more in his next set.

11th over: England 31-2 (Pope 11, Root 2) That’s a rip-snorter from Rabada. My word, that’s lifted! It rockets from a length that isn’t too short but shoots towards Root’s nose and the batter does well to get his glove on it as both his feet leave the ground. The ball before Root collected a couple with a confident hook towards fine leg but that shock to the system will keep him on his toes. Another one thwacks his bottom glove. This is wonderful! Two supreme athletes locking horns. Love to see it.

G’day to the Cannucks!

“Morning Daniel”

Heya Tom.

”I’m very pleased to be at Lord’s with two dear Canadian friends who I’ve been trying to persuade to come to cricket since (I think) the 2004 series against the West Indies.

They thought Zak Crawley looked skittish, so I think they’re getting the idea. Welcome to the cricket, Steph and Dani!”

Look, it’s slower than ice hockey, but hopefully they’re loving it.

Longest gap between players (B)

Steve Cox offers this:

“I’d suggest Brian Close #344 who last played in 1976 when the debutants were in the 460’s”

Longest gap between players

Gareth has a suggestion:

10th over: England 29-2 (Pope 11, Root 2) Pope has decided that the best way to negate Ngidi’s swing and seam is to come down the track to him. It sounds bonkers, but there’s logic to the madness. The first ball of the over South Africa review an lbw appeal as Ngidi gets one to track back into Pope. It’s missing leg though. The next ball Pope leaves a ball that arrows back from a sixth stump line and almost takes the top of off. Wonderful movement and control. That’s what prompts Pope to get his dancing shoes on and he’s happy to take a single down to fine leg.

Root is off the mark with a couple behind square on the on side. Needless to say, much depends on the former skipper.

9th over: England 25-2 (Pope 10, Root 0) England are two down and both openers belong to Kagiso Rabada who has been magnificent. The ball before he lost his wicket, Crawley collected four from an outside edge. He wouldn’t be so lucky again. Pope gathered another three runs – his third three of his innings so far – to start the over, but it’s South Africa on top here. Quality bowling from the tourists.

Wicket! Crawley c Markram b Rabada 9 (England 25-2)

‘He’s so good, isn’t he, Rabada’

Zak Crawley is next to fall to Rabada.
Zak Crawley is next to fall to Rabada. Photograph: Ashley Western/Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock

So says my colleague Ali Martin. He’s not wrong. Rabada hits a constantly good line and length at speed while moving the ball at will. What a bowler. This one is in that zone that makes batters second guess themselves and Crawley is neither forward nor back. He prods at it and it takes the edge. Markram tumbling forward at second slip holds on well and that’s two for South Africa’s premier pacer. Lovely bowling. There’ll be questions about Crawley’s technique there but make sure you give a heap of credit to the bowler.

Updated

‘I'll have the James Anderson, please’

This from Oliver Smiddy is worth sharing:

“I went into the barbers near my office on Monday and down in between Jimmy Anderson and Zak Crawley. Minutes later I was shown to a chair and while I was having my hair cut, Joe Root got up from the one next to me and they all left. Great to see England’s greatest ever batsman and bowler in the flesh (and, um, Zak Crawley). They’re all much taller than they look. Glad I played it cool though; I don’t think they recognised me.”

8th over: England 18-1 (Crawley 5, Pope 7) Ollie Pope has just double-stepped Lungi Ngidi and clipped him through midwicket. He didn’t time it very well and and so only took three from it, but it was the first sign of the daring chutzpah we’ve been promised. Ngidi has definitely found a better line here, which is perhaps why Pope went in search of something different. Earlier in the set the batter looked to leave but made contact with the ball yet again. That’s twice he’s done that and got away with it. Something to keep an eye on maybe.

7th over: England 15-1 (Crawley 5, Pope 4) Rabada strays onto Pope’s pads and he tucks it beautifully through a vacant square leg. He doesn’t time it well enough to reach the fence and Nortje reels it in in front of the grandstand, but it was a lovely little shot. Rabada rectifies his line and keeps it around that fourth stump area. Crawley isn’t going hard at it – though he is beaten past the outside edge off the last ball – and the rest of the over fizzles out without much drama.

6th over: England 12-1 (Crawley 5, Pope 1) First real bit of quality from an England batter. Crawley leans into a full ball from Ngidi and times it perfectly through mid-on. Didn’t try to over-hit it. Just a short punch to take the first boundary off the middle of the bat.

Ngidi responds well, though, and squares Crawley up with a beauty that angles away off the seam. Good battle when Ngidi get's his line right. He has been a touch wide if we’re being honest. That was a lot better.

Rich Naylor (no relation to our own Gary) is also pondering on the timeless James Anderson who has put us all to shame but still being amazing at Test cricket in his 40s:

“Just been mulling over Anderson’s amazing longevity and it leads me to a question to be thrown at all those who are better at looking up such things than I am..

When Andersen (cap #613) played together with Potts (cap # 706) in the New Zealand series there was a “gap” of 93 caps / players between them. Has there ever been a larger such gap between two test players on a team?”

Not sure about that Rich. But Peter Salmon writes in something you might find interesting:

“Love that you said about Jimmy, ‘Something remarkable would have to take place to see him bowl today’ – how quickly we forget!

Went down an old cricketers rabbit hole, and turns out not only did Wilfred Rhodes play at 52, he lived to be 95! Died in 1973, only nine years before Jimmy was born. Time, eh?”

Indeed.

5th over: England 8-1 (Crawley 1, Pope 1) A maiden from Rabada but he could have snagged a wicket as well. His second ball to Pope is almost steered to second slip. Pope tried to let it go but couldn’t get his bat away in time and it toe-ends its way to the cordon where a forward-diving Markram can’t reach it. Pope is more circumspect for the rest of the over and and plays with it with a compact technique.

Scorecard query

If anyone can’t see the scorecard, try giving your browser a refresh. Should be sorted now.

4th over: England 8-1 (Crawley 1, Pope 1) Another tidy set from Ngidi who has found a probing length (even if his line could do with a little tidying up). A single to Crawley off his pads means he’s off the mark and Pope in at first drop also opens his account with a single of his own through the on-side.

Updated

It’s magic out there

“Good morning Dan”

Good morning John.

“It seems there’s a fairy ring just on a good bowler’s length at Lord’s today. While it could be a sign of early autumn (fungoid activity) has it been known to affect the pitch, batting-wise, before?”

I’ve not no idea, to be honest. It does look pretty though. And the Saffas will feel like there’s magic in the surface with that early wicket.

3rd over: England 6-1 (Crawley 0, Pope 0) An early breakthrough as Rabada underlines his alpha presence in this attack with the wicket of Lees, who looked ruffled after being bounced two balls earlier. There was also an outside edge that raced past Markram at second slip and an lbw appeal after Rabada got one to tail back into the lefty. The wicket felt like a natural conclusion in an over where ball undoubtedly got the better of the bat.

Wicket! Lees c Verreynne b Rabada 5 (England 6-1)

That’s wonderful bowling by Rabada who had just roughed up Lees with a bouncer after finding an outside edge at the start of the over.

This one lifts from a good length and angles across the left handed Lees who doesn’t move his feet as he prods away from his body. A feather on the blade goes through the the ‘keeper and South Africa are off and running as Rabada lets out a mighty roar.

Kagiso Rabada celebrates after taking the wicket of Alex Lees.
Kagiso Rabada celebrates after taking the wicket of Alex Lees. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

Updated

2nd over: England 2-0 (Lees 1, Crawley 0) A maiden from Ngidi from the Pavilion End but it was pretty comfortable for Crawley to watch the ball outside his off stump. A good length from the burly pacer but from too wide a line. Nice shape though, if he can straighten just a touch he’ll be in business.

1st over: England 2-0 (Lees 1, Crawley 0) Early swing from Rabada from the Nursery End and landing on a nice full length. He hits Lees on the pads and goes up for the lbw shout but it’s tailing down leg. Lees is off the mark with clip off his hips and Crawley scampers for a leg bye. Tidy start from the Saffas.

We’re all set!

Right then. The anthems are done. The crowd is building and so is the tension. Have I mentioned how excited I am for this?

Kagiso Rabada has the new ball in his hand.

Here. We. Go!

Kagiso Rabada gets the action under way.
Kagiso Rabada gets the action under way. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

Updated

“Morning”

Hi Paul. Thanks fro dropping a mail.

“With Ireland playing Afghanistan and Scotland playing the USA today in addition to England & Wales playing South Africa. Is this one of the first times that every nation in the British and Irish Isles are playing a full international cricket match on the same day at home?”

That, my friend, is a fantastic question. To be honest, I’ve got no idea but my gut feel is you’re on to something.

Anyone got something definitive for us?

“We are privileged to see Jimmy A play today, at 40 years old. Amazingly, his Test bowling average is lower now (about 26.5) than at any time in his 19 year career (bar after his second Test, when it was briefly slightly lower). That’s tribute not just to his fitness, but his willingness to work at his bowling and adapt it over the years.”

Right you are Steve Hudson. Something remarkable would have to take place to see him bowl today (especially with rain lurking about) but your point stands. What an athlete he is!

Ah, mate… Everyone please spare a thought for Will

England keeping it consistent

Just the one change from the team that beat India in spectacular fashion earlier in the summer. If it ain’t broke, why fix it, eh?

England: Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonathan Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (w/k), Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, James Anderson

Four quicks and a spinner

The Proteas are throwing caution to the win by fielding a lengthy tail in order to wedge in their premier bowling line-up.

South Africa: Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (w/k), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Arnich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi

South Africa win the toss and bowl

That’s what we wanted! Dean Elgar has won the toss and asked England to bat first. Exactly what this match needed. Proteas seamers against England’s batters on a fresh deck with clouds in the sky. Get stuck in folks, put your phone on silent, tell your boss you’ve got better things to do. They’ll understand.

Updated

Preamble

Howsit. Sanibonani. Molweni. Dumelang. Welcome.

There’s a buzz in the air. A visceral vibration that has been building for some time now. An unstoppable force meets, well, another unstoppable force. It’s the Bazball batting brouhaha against the bristling Bouchball bowling attack. Two former wicketkeepers turned bullish coaches and their equally fiery skippers collide for three Tests that have all the ingredients of a blockbuster occasion.

Ben Stokes thinks that the Saffas have already lost the battle of wits, but his counterpart, Dean Elgar, says he isn’t bothered by the noise.

England have preemptively named their team, with Ben Foakes retaining the gloves in place of Sam Billings. And why not? There’s a surge of confidence coursing through this red ball side after the dismantling of New Zealand and India earlier in the simmer.

South Africa are sitting tight on Kagiso Rabada’s fitness (he should be fine, though) and will be desperate to underline their current position at the top of the World Test Championship table. Their come from behind series win over India at the start of the year was no fluke. There are some serious cricketers in this resurgent outfit.

I genuinely have no idea which way this will go. I know we’ll get some rain interruptions at various stages throughout this opening day but the way these teams press down on the fast forward button, that will merely delay the inevitable crescendo.

My name is Daniel, but you can call me Dan if you like. Do get in touch throughout my stint. I literally cannot wait for this. I hope you’re as excited as I am. Will catch you in half an hour with toss and team updates.

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