England v South Africa: First Test, day one recap

First Test latest score

England 1st inns: 357-5 (87 overs. Root 184*, Moeen Ali 61*, Stokes 56, Ballance 20; Philander 3-46)

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England v South Africa: Live commentary

🌙  STUMPS: England 357-5 (87 overs)
Well that's an extraordinary day in the end for Joe Root and England. It was 76-4 for four when Bairstow became Philander's third victim of the morning, but England would lose only one further wicket in adding 279 runs. Most of those flowed from the bat of their new captain, who can sleep easy in his bed tonight knowing he needs just 16 more in the morning to reach 200 in his first innings as the boss. South Africa will be kicking themselves; they shelled two presentable chances to remove Root, when he had made only five and 16 and would be facing an altogether less harrowing prospect tomorrow had Maharaj not unforgivably overstepped when Root ran past one on 149. That, remarkably, was the second 'wicket' to fall to a no-ball on the day, with 13 in total added to England's total on a day that started so promisingly for the tourists but ended in ill-disciplined frustration for four tired frontline bowlers and a rookie captain.

Over 87: England 357-5 (Root 184, Moeen Ali 61)
Three singles from the over. A quick chat between the batsmen after five balls probably just enough to ensure it'll be three overs that disappear into the ether.

(Probably) the last over of the day coming up.

Over 86: England 354-5 (Root 182, Moeen Ali 60)
"If the cover drives sounded as good as they look it would just all be far too arousing," tweets Dom on the subject of Moeen Ali's Terrible Bat. It's a fair point. Root's bat sounds tremendous, though, and he uses it to flay another delivery through the offside for four. Slipped gears against the second new ball, and moves to 182 not out with a clip to deep square-leg. It's yet another no-ball, this time because Philander has flicked the stumps with his hands in the delivery stride. Even the estimable Philander starting to struggle at the end of a long, hot day in the dirt.

Over 85: England 345-5 (Root 177, Moeen Ali 57)
Too much loose stuff from Rabada today. Not for the first time it's short, wide, four as Moeen frees his arms and cracks one behind point. Bat still sounds like an absolute plank, mind.

Over 84: England 340-5 (Root 177, Moeen Ali 53)
The 150 partnership comes up with a Moeen single down the ground. It's only taken 177 balls, and has taken the game away from the tourists and then some.

Over 83: England 339-5 (Root 177, Moeen Ali 52)
This is just all too easy for Root now. South Africa can't say they didn't have chances, but it's hard work now. Rabada tries going full, Root thunders a drive through the covers. He tries going short, Root hammers a pull through midwicket. Both into the pickets. Root marches on and with 20 minutes/four or five overs remaining could even get to 200 tonight at this rate. He already has the highest score by an England captain in his first Test, going past Cook's 173 against Bangladesh in Chittagong back in 2010.

Over 82: England 329-5 (Root 168, Moeen Ali 52)
Philander's not fully fit here, but still bowls one of the better overs we've seen since lunch. Hitting the seam and getting movement to twice beat Moeen outside the off stump. Strays once on the pads and it costs him a couple.

Over 81: England 327-5 (Root 168, Moeen Ali 50)
The risk-reward of the second new ball highlighted in two balls. The first is too short from Rabada and disappears off Root's bat through cover-point at a rate of knots. The second is pitch-perfect and snakes past the outside edge of a man with 164 against his name. Last ball of the over is full and wide, swinging further away, and Root just throws his hands at it. Not perfectly out of the middle and in the air, but no fielder really in the frame as the ball rattles off the boards a fraction of a second after leaving the England skipper's broadest of bats.

New ball taken. Rabada with it.

Over 80: England 319-5 (Root 160, Moeen Ali 50)
Moeen has scored some extremely tough lower-middle-order runs for England over the years. These have not been extremely tough lower-middle-order runs, but he's filled his boots regardless, and more people to his classically high elbow. Half-century off 81 balls with four fours and little sweat.

MM Ali 50: 81 balls 4x4

Over 79: England 314-5 (Root 159, Moeen Ali 46)
These two have spent the last half-dozen overs locked in a private torment over whether to tee off against this nonsense or play sensibly for the cause. They've sort of done neither, and both hit the ball in the air and not where they intended to collect singles in what will surely be Maharaj's last over for a wee while.

Over 78: England 310-5 (Root 157, Moeen Ali 44)
A very, very surprise bouncer from Bavuma keeps Moeen honest, forcing him to take evasive action after camping on the front dog. Only two runs off the over, and that's a win for South Africa right now. New ball soon.

Over 77: England 308-5 (Root 156, Moeen Ali 43)
Hundred up for Maharaj, still wicketless after his overstepping shenanigans last time out. England's mindset highlighted by the way they scamper back for three after Moeen edges wide of slip. South Africa's mindset highlighted when a routine piece of fielding in the deep is attempted lethargically one-handed and costs an extra run.

Over 76: England 301-5 (Root 152, Moeen Ali 40)
Four singles from Bavuma's third over. Going to stick my neck out and say that "Bavuma's third over" is a phrase that will never be heard on a good day for South Africa.

Over 75: England 297-5 (Root 150, Moeen Ali 38)
Scenes. Root, on 149, runs past one from Maharaj and de Kock has the bails off. Good ball, that; genuine spin to take it past the outside edge. But there is just one problem: he's overstepped. For the second time today, South Africa's chronic no-ball problem costs them not only a run but a wicket. Extraordinary. Root immediately refocuses and collects an easy single to reach a 150 that appeared to have been lost.

JE Root 150: 192 balls 21x4 1x6

Over 74: England 294-5 (Root 149, Moeen Ali 37)
Root now has 1000 Test runs at Lord's, and in just 17 innings. That's an all-time record, two innings quicker than Andrew Strauss and joining a nine-man list that also includes Pietersen, Cook, Bell, Gooch, Boycott, Stewart and Gower. Gooch the only one of the nine to go past 2000, but you'd make Root a short price to join him in that gang. Root's average of almost 67 also the best of the nine.

Over 73: England 292-5 (Root 148, Moeen Ali 36)
Maybe England are right with their six bowlers after all. Four certainly looking like not quite enough for South Africa right now. Maharaj putting nothing on these deliveries now, and Root just drops to his knee and powers a sweep shot well in front of square to take the boundary rider out of the equation. His 21st four to go with one towering six, and it brings up a 107-ball hundred partnership. Two more singles complete another profitable over for England, who are edging towards a position of full control here.

Over 72: England 286-5 (Root 143, Moeen Ali 35)
Elgar has another rummage around for a part-time fill-in bowler and comes up with Temba Bavuma and some extremely gentle outswing. Still, one over for one run is a tidy return at this stage. Even goes past the bat, Moeen unable to resist a big whoosh outside the off stump.

Over 71: England 285-5 (Root 142, Moeen Ali 35)
Long, leisurely drinks break. At the end of it, the Proteas' 12th man trots on with some short-leg clobber. Umpires do nothing. If you want to solve slow-over-rates instantly, don't bother fining the captains; fine the umpires. And talking of fine, Root smacks another boundary, sweeping hard to square-leg. Great segue that, for this stage of the evening. Credit where it's due: to me.

Over 70: England 277-5 (Root 137, Moeen Ali 32)
South Africa have slipped into the "waiting for new ball" holding pattern very early here. De Bruyn continues, and Moeen helps himself to a single before Root defends through point and shows his commitment, fitness and awareness to immediately spot there's the possibility of a second as deep cover comes in to field. Scampers back easily. A full-toss is whipped between midwicket and mid-on for four, and more hard-running forces a misfield at third-man and another second run. Root running South Africa absolutely ragged now. Everyone stops for a drink; South Africa's need the greater right now.

Over 69: England 268-5 (Root 129, Moeen Ali 31)
Just a single from Morkel's over, Moeen nurdling through the legside.

Over 68: England 267-5 (Root 129, Moeen Ali 30)
I'm all about the hot takes, and here's one for you: Theunis de Bruyn is not good enough to bowl at Joe Root with well over 100 runs to his name. After Moeen collects a leisurely three for a typically attractive cover-dive - might even have gone for four with a bat that wasn't purchased for £6.99 at the seaside - Root twice just swaggers across his stumps and helps himself to sweetly-timed legside fours off the part-time medium-pacer.

Over 67: England 255-5 (Root 120, Moeen Ali 27)
Morkel and his pirouette return. Root knocks him calmly into one of the now vast infield gaps and jogs through for his 120th run of an enormously satisfying day. Just 23 overs to be bowled in the remaining 87 minutes today. "LOL," as the kids absolutely do not say. Back to Moeen's bat, and Tomas suggests an all-too plausible scenario, one we've all heard from countless team-mates who are about to utterly ruin the thing they have probably spent the thick end of 200 sheets or more to own: "It's pre-knocked in, mate. You can use it right away." No it isn't, and no you can't. Tomas knows.

Over 66: England 254-5 (Root 119, Moeen Ali 27)
A Root single takes England to 250, and they have got themselves right out of dodge here. But taking 20 wickets on this is starting to look like hard work unless it deteriorates in a way 21st Century Lord's surfaces very rarely do. Root offers half a chance with a toe-edged sweep that hits de Kock on the helmet (stop it, we're all grown-ups here) and loops away past a wrongfooted Elgar at slip for a couple. Think I'm right that the keeper's helmet is treated the same as any other fielder's in the Laws, and therefore from the moment it clanged off de Kock, Root couldn't be dismissed anyway.

Over 65: England 249-5 (Root 115, Moeen Ali 26)
Good-looking but poorly-timed (that bat, seriously. Wants setting on fire) drive brings Moeen a couple, and he adds a single to midwicket. Hint of reverse for Philander, but Root equal to everything South Africa can throw at him now and nurdles it calmly away for a single.

Over 64: England 245-5 (Root 114, Moeen Ali 23)
Could be a long 100 minutes or so before stumps for South Africa here. The ball is old, the pitch is flat, the bowlers are weary. Moeen drives a very full delivery from Maharaj out to deep point for a couple before going downtown over mid-on for four. Didn't quite time it with that horrible plinky bat he's got, but it has more than enough on it to reach the rope. The partnership passes 50 in barely nine overs.

Over 63: England 238-5 (Root 114, Moeen Ali 16)
Philander, by a wide margin the best bowler on show today, is back into the attack now. Moeen works to leg for a single before the no-ball tally climbs to 11 thanks to Philander's latest overstepping. That, harrumphs every retired fast bowler of all time as one, is 11 too many.

Over 62: England 236-5 (Root 114, Moeen Ali 15)
Root not mucking about now. Runs greedily down the pitch at Maharaj and smashes him high over the ropes at long-off, possibly disturbing some of the members attempting to sleep off a couple of afternoon ports. Another paddle-sweep brings four more despite the best efforts of a weary Rabada, who got to the ball in time, but flicked it back into his trailing hand.

Over 61: England 224-5 (Root 103, Moeen Ali 14)
Moeen's bat sounds awful. Really plinky. Working well-enough, mind, as he rattles a pair of cover-drives to the boundary as Rabada overpitches having earlier collected two for a top-edged but safe hook.

Over 60: England 213-5 (Root 102, Moeen Ali 4)
There it is! Root joins Archie MacLaren, Allan Lamb, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and some bloke called Alastair Cook in making a century in his first Test as captain. With the field all in to cut off the single, a clever little paddle-sweep brings three runs and a chorus of "ROOOOOOOOT!" from the Lord's faithful. Moeen celebrates by thrashing a sweep to the square-leg fence to get off the mark.

💯 JE Root 100: 150 balls 15x4

Over 59: England 206-5 (Root 99, Moeen Ali 0)
Root knocks another one on the head down to third-man, but there are - unusually - no vacancies down there. It is the start of the busy holiday season, I suppose. Just a single, and Root on to 99. Rabada to Moeen, and we're all - not least of all Moeen - waiting for the surely inevitable short ball. Duly arrives with the last ball of the over, but it's not really short enough to cause real problems. Moeen drops the hands and watches the ball pass him at chest height. Over to Root...

Over 58: England 205-5 (Root 98, Moeen Ali 0)
Powerful cover-drive from Root, but Hashim Amla is patrolling the fence out there and the England captain moves only a single run closer to that century.

Over 57: England 204-5 (Root 97, Moeen Ali 0)
Root accelerating towards three-figures here as he quite deliberately and quite straightforwardly steers successive deliveries to the unguarded third-man boundary. Elgar finally admits defeat, and there's a man there when Root plays the shot again next ball.

Over 56: England 195-5 (Root 88, Moeen Ali 0)
Too short from Maharaj, and Root is too well set to miss out now. Rocks back and expertly picks the gap between point and cover to pick up four more. A quick single to mid-on takes England's new captain within a dozen runs of a memorable hundred in his first innings as the top man.

Over 55: England 190-5 (Root 83, Moeen Ali 0)
Wicket-maiden for the persevering Rabada.

WICKET! Stokes c de Kock b Rabada 56

From nowhere, a breakthrough for South Africa. Short ball from Rabada, who probably deserves some reward for his endeavours today, and Stokes goes after it. Big swing of the bat, but just the faintest of edges through to de Kock. A furious Stokes has to drag himself off chuntering all the way.

Over 54: England 190-4 (Root 83, Stokes 56)
Slight mix-up but no real harm done as Root turns down a single after hitting to a deep-lying cover-point. Puts it behind him by paddle-sweeping the last ball of Maharaj's over fine for four to move into the 80s and DANGER.

Over 53: England 186-4 (Root 79, Stokes 56)
Rabada warned for running down the pitch before Stokes administers his own form of street justice with a crunching back-foot thwack past the despairing dive of the point fielder. The first runs of the session, and it's four. Cracking finish today in the County Championship at Edgbaston just now, by the way: Middlesex beating Warwickshire by one wicket. Somerset have also won at Scarborough to add to the Bears' relegation-haunted woes.

1559: We're back for the evening session. It's going to be two-and-a-half hours. There will still be overs left unbowled. Meanwhile, several (okay, some. Okay three) tweets saying it's right that fielding teams get their reviews back after a no-ball because the umpire should have spotted it before a review was even considered. It's a reasonable point, and one I'm therefore going to dismiss out of hand.

☕️ TEA: England 182-4 (52 overs)
First session very much South Africa's; second very much England's. The bat-dominated nature of that session more likely to be the norm for the next couple of days at least, one suspects, but South Africa still have only themselves to blame for not having made further inroads. England back in to odds-on now at 4/5, with the draw also on the move with the pitch looking flat; it's 3/1 from 9/2 with the Proteas 5/2. Root 4/11 to reach three-figures despite a record that suggests it's nowhere near that certain.

Over 52: England 182-4 (Root 79, Stokes 52)
Stokes celebrates his actual 50 after working de Bruyn behind square-leg for a hard-run two. Maintains his proud Lord's Test record of always either getting nought or reaching 50. The 50+ column edges into a 4-3 lead.

BA Stokes 50: 95 balls 7x4 1x6

Over 51: England 177-4 (Root 77, Stokes 49)
Root clips to leg for two more as the hundred partnership comes up. Definitely. Morkel's current spell the very definition of mixed bag.

Over 50: England 175-4 (Root 75, Stokes 49)
Stokes plays out a maiden over to stay on 49/53. Which is the funniest and therefore the most correct thing for him to have done. Root, meanwhile, is firmly in the danger zone. He's been out between 70 and 98 a whopping 16 times in his 98 Test innings before today...

Over 49: England 175-4 (Root 75, Stokes 49)
"Surely," tweets Ali Mason, "As Stokes hit it onto the stumps - scoreboard have it right? Anyone?" Did he? I didn't think he did. He might have done. I was mainly laughing if I'm honest, unprofessional as that is. I don't know what's happening any more. Official score still has him on 49. We may need clarification at tea. No, wait, the rogue scoreboard has just taken Stokes back down to 49. We go again. He's definitely on 49. Or 53.

Over 48: England 171-4 (Root 71, Stokes 49)
Theunis de Bruyn on to bowl some Steve Waugh-style mediums. Five dot balls before Stokes whacks him for four and then prematurely celebrates a half-century he hasn't actually scored yet because the scoreboard has erroneously given him the four for the no-ball. Marvellous cricket, this.

Over 47: England 167-4 (Root 71, Stokes 45)
Great moment here. Morkel does Stokes for pace with a pitch-perfect nip-backer that flicks the off bail after bamboozling Stokes to such an extent that he literally falls over. One problem: Morkel has overstepped by six inches. Great cricket. Root adds to Morkel and South Africa's general frustration with a deft and delicate late cut between slips and gully. Four more. This could have been a very different day had South Africa taken their chances. Ha, I've only just realised that the no-ball ricocheted for four runs off the bail as well.

Over 46: England 156-4 (Root 66, Stokes 44)
Slog-sweep from Stokes brings four. Nobody getting anywhere near that one.

Over 45: England 150-4 (Root 65, Stokes 39)
Maiden over from Philander to Root. Really needs to take that jumper off. It's spoiling everything.

Over 44: England 150-4 (Root 65, Stokes 39)
There's a man in close at mid-off now to try and stop Stokes just taking that easy single off the spinner. He just biffs it past him and trots his single anyway. Root carves another gorgeous shot through the offside and looks set to collect four more until Bavuma somehow manages to reel it in, fling himself full length and flick the ball back before he careens into the fence. Great commitment, and a run saved.

Over 43: England 146-4 (Root 62, Stokes 38)
One final point on that earlier Root review/no-ball. If the third umpire had given a no-ball, South Africa would not have lost their review. Daft rule, that. You're not supposed to bowl no-balls. You literally get punished for bowling them, not rewarded. That's the whole point. Anyway. Decent over from Philander, just a single coming from it after Rabada fumbles a routine stop at mid-on.

Over 42: England 145-4 (Root 62, Stokes 37)
Pattern developing in Maharaj's overs. Stokes knocks him down the ground for a single, and Root expertly picks the lock to collect a boundary. All craft again here, as he gets down the pitch to create a half-volley and clip the ball through midwicket for four.

Over 41: England 140-4 (Root 58, Stokes 36)
Stokes fiddles one into the legside for a single. Root going nicely enough now, but still looking ridiculous in the cream shirt, white jumper combo New Balance have saddled him with. I guess we have to hope that the currently box-fresh jumpers will discolour over time, but for now it's nothing short of a travesty.

Over 40: England 139-4 (Root 58, Stokes 35)
Rookie blogging error here. Wasn't paying attention and they've snuck in the drinks break. I'd earmarked that for a trip to the fridge to secure a drink. Now sans beverage until tea or a wicket. Both of which just look a long way off right now. Stokes works Maharaj into the legside for a single before Root gets four in offensively effortless style with a caressed check-drive that fair races across the square.

Over 39: England 134-4 (Root 54, Stokes 34)
A chip into the legside brings Root a single and a half-century in his first innings as Test captain. Was a bit ropey early on, but increasingly assured. Adds four more with a powerful pull shot before making a mess of things against another short ball. The ball balloons off his helmet to gully, and South Africa decide to review Reiffel's not out decision. Nothing on it before the ball reached the helmet, but the bizarre thing is that despite replays showing it's a marginal but clear no-ball, Rabada gets the benefit of the doubt. Would've been interesting if Root had got a scratch on it...

JE Root 50: 89 balls 7x4

Over 38: England 128-4 (Root 49, Stokes 33)
Stokes maneouvres the ball from outside off stump to long-on for an easy single. That's the shot, more than any other, that separates the professional from the clubbie. The ability to make hitting the ball risk-free to deep straight fielders look like the easiest thing on earth is almost more impressive than all that other stuff they do. Quick single takes Root within one of 50.

Over 37: England 126-4 (Root 48, Stokes 32)
Stokes finally decides he's had enough fun and graciously allows Root to join in again by taking a single from the second ball of Rabada's over. Root plays himself back in for the next three balls before trying to work a Stokesian single to leg off the last ball of the over but doesn't get it far enough away from a prowling mid-on. Fifty partnership, by the way, for England's new leadership team.

Over 36: England 125-4 (Root 48, Stokes 31)
Stokes goes aerial against the spinner again, but doesn't get a full piece of it. Keeps a backpedalling Duminy interested but ultimately evades the fielder, who then slides into the boundary cushions as he valiantly but unsuccessfully attempts to prevent four. For the third over in a row, Stokes farms the strike with a final-ball single.

Over 35: England 120-4 (Root 48, Stokes 26)
Elgar has taken to Test captaincy like the proverbial liquid-encountering mallard. Dreadful over-rate, fielders scattered to all parts of the outfield at the first sign o a counter-attack. He'll go far. And talking of going far, Rabada bangs his big size 12 down several inches in front of the popping crease to add another run to England's still rather meagre total. Stokes, a man who can start an argument in an empty room when, say, a locker looks at him funny, briefly threatens to engage in a lengthy discussion on etiquette with Rabada after backing away due to distant movement as the bowler approached the crease.

Over 34: England 118-4 (Root 48, Stokes 25)
Didn't think it would be long before Stokes looked to do something hefty against Maharaj. Two balls all it takes for Stokes to sashay down the track and plonk Maharaj straight back down the ground for the full count. Keeps the strike with a single from the final ball of the over.

Over 33: England 111-4 (Root 48, Stokes 18)
Almost a possibility of a mix-up as Root works one through the legside, but he and Stokes settle in the end on two runs and let's say no more about it. Rabada digs one in short to Root who effortlessly gets on top of the bat and plays the ball down to safety off the big New Balance logo on his bat. That early life in the pitch already draining away. Also, when and how did we allow New Balance to take over cricket? Both teams' kit in this game, and three of England's top six using their gear. Doesn't feel right somehow.

Over 32: England 108-4 (Root 46, Stokes 17)
A controlled pull shot brings Root a single. Stokes leans on to his big front dog to thump a drive back past Morkel for four before collecting his first non-boundary scoring shot with a scampered single to midwicket, where the fielder can't gather as he strains to effect a run out that required not only a clean pick-up but also some kind of time-manipulating technology.

Over 31: England 102-4 (Root 45, Stokes 12)
STAT: When Stokes gets off the mark at Lord's, his lowest score is 87. South Africa's fate was sealed from the moment Philander offered him that leg-stump half-volley first ball. A thick edge over the slips here takes him to 12 not out. His previous Test innings at HQ: 0, 0, 92, 101, 87, 0.

Over 30: England 98-4 (Root 45, Stokes 8)
Morkel blots a tidy over with the final ball, offering just enough width and the length Root wants to jump on the back foot and steer the ball behind point. Nobody reeling that in after it's pierced the infield.

Over 29: England 94-4 (Root 41, Stokes 8)
Four for Stokes, thumped in thrillingly uncomplicated style through the offside as Rabada drops short. 

Over 28: England 90-4 (Root 41, Stokes 4)
Apparently Root took a quid with him down to the toss, because he didn't know a coin was provided and feared being typecast as the stingy Yorkshireman if he turned up empty-handed. No idea if that story is true, but I'm deciding to believe it. What I do know is that Morkel has beaten Root outside off stump again. Last ball of the over is Good Cricket. Full and straight from Morkel, nicely driven by Root, smartly gathered by the bowler in his followthrough.

Over 27: England 88-4 (Root 39, Stokes 4)
Maiden over from Rabada to kick off his afternoon's work, but no dramas for Stokes.

Over 26: England 88-4 (Root 39, Stokes 4)
Root drives Morkel through the covers. No timing, but he'll jog back for two. Root's pounced on anything straight, and does so again here as he works Morkel across the square and into the ropes.

1338: The corks have been cleared from the outfield and we're ready for the afternoon session. Still allowed to bring your own booze in at Lord's, I believe, because clearly you get an altogether better class of drunkard here than one finds in the shires.

1310: Obviously the Lord's Test isn't the only tradition-steeped white-clothed British summer staple going on in That London right now. Follow day four of Wimbledon with our live blog here.

🍽 LUNCH: England 82-4 (25 overs)
Superb session for South Africa, Philander getting it right to extract what early life was present in a pitch that does look like it will flatten out into something very unhelpful to fast bowlers. Slightly surprising for me to see England still favourites here, albeit on the drift from 10/11 to 11/10, while South Africa look a bet still at 11/8 having made four significant morning breakthroughs.

Over 25: England 82-4 (Root 33, Stokes 4)
Root picks up a single with a firm push to mid-on's right hand, leaving Stokes two balls to negotiate before lunch. Stokes deals with the first with one of those big, thrusting forward defensive shots that somehow still seems to be a positive statement of intent. Think Matthew Hayden. Another solid defensive shot to end the over and the session, and it's one that's gone decisively South Africa's way.

Over 24: England 81-4 (Root 32, Stokes 4)
Battle within the battle here as Maharaj tries to race through his over, while Root tries every trick in the book to slow him down with one eye on those Famous Lord's Lunches. Root paddles a sweep, bringing the left-handed Stokes on strike and taking a bit more time out of the game. Strangely, South Africa dawdle a bit, apparently less keen on another over for Philander if it's Root on strike. The elephant on the outfield, of course, is the fact we should be playing another six overs here if this were a sensible sport governed by giving paying spectators what they've paid for rather than making sure some fat, blotchy-faced men in stained ties get lunch at the same time they've always had it. Anyway, there will be one more over from Philander before everyone can tuck in.

Over 23: England 80-4 (Root 31, Stokes 4)
Umpire's call for height, according to Hawk-Eye, but hard to quibble with that decision really. May have been a bail clipper but, unlike Jennings' dismissal earlier, everything about it just looked right. Captain and vice-captain together now for England, and Ben Stokes announces his arrival by pinging full inswinger through midwicket for four. Shades of New Zealand 2015, maybe, when this pair rescued England from the pits of their day-one despair before England eventually won a thriller. Why yes, I will clutch at any and all available straws.

WICKET! Bairstow lbw b Philander 10

What a morning for South Africa now, Philander claiming his third wicket before lunch as Bairstow is hit just above the knee-roll playing back and sent on his way by umpire Paul Reiffel. 

Over 22: England 76-3 (Root 31, Bairstow 10)
Trio of well-judged quick singles from Maharaj's second over. These two capable of running any side ragged given half a chance.

Over 21: England 73-3 (Root 30, Bairstow 8)
Philander returns for a go before lunch. Got a bit of assistance from pitch, batsmen and umpires in a fine opening spell, so it'll be interesting to see if there's anything still there for him now. Not really on this evidence, as Root whips one through midwicket for four off his toes. Can't be desribed as Root's most fluent, assured innings, but he's made his way to 30 not out in good time while trouble erupts all around him.

Over 20: England 69-3 (Root 26, Bairstow 8)
Spin for the first time which, if nothing else, should at least help the over-rate which has already descended towards Angry Broadsheet Column territory. It is a bit rubbish, really. Maharaj is a canny operator, and is now sporting an extremely close-cropped lid which adds an air of menace to what was previously a youthful look.

Over 19: England 69-3 (Root 26, Bairstow 8)
Rabada's been a bit unlucky this morning, but gets what he deserves here as a leg-stump half-volley is summarily dismissed from the England captain's presence through square-leg.

Over 18: England 65-3 (Root 22, Bairstow 8)
This has been an absolute Haddin of an innings from Root. Another outside edge, this time bouncing short of third slip and ricocheting away for a single.

Over 17: England 64-3 (Root 21, Bairstow 8)
Dropped! Charmed life for England's skipper this morning. Root drives hard at Rabada but is still on the move as he gets to the ball, succeeding only in sending a thick head-high outside edge quick but catchable to gully, where Duminy can only tip it over the bar and down to the third-man rope for four. Root adds a well-judged quick single before a genuine edge from Bairstow lands short of JP. Root went hard and got away with it, Bairstow benefitting from softer hands, and letting the ball come to him.

Over 16: England 59-3 (Root 16, Bairstow 8)
Root clips Morkel through square-leg for an easy single. Bairstow, for the second time, squared up and beaten by one that zips through to de Kock at head height. It's an odd pitch on this early evidence. Generally lifeless, but with the odd one just going through. Suspect that's the early moisture Elgar hinted at after the toss, and when it goes - which won't take long - we're going to be left with something that means a lot of hard yakka for the bowlers. Last ball of a good Morkel over is pure filth. Short, wide, smacked behind point for four by Jonny B.

Over 15: England 54-3 (Root 15, Bairstow 4)
Jonny Bairstow squared up and beaten first ball but ends Rabada's over with a controlled steer wide of the slips and down to the boundary. Don't think we're being too generous there.

Over 14: England 49-3 (Root 14)
Big problems now for England, and that's the worst possible dismissal for Ballance, trapped on the crease failing to get forward to a full delivery. It will not quieten any of the noise around his recall.

WICKET! Ballance lbw b Morkel 20

No doubts about this one. Ballance trapped on the crease and hit in front of absolutely everything. To compound the error Ballance, having played his part in Jennings' earlier non-review, now goes upstairs for one hitting middle-and-leg two-thirds of the way up.

Over 13: England 48-2 (Ballance 20, Root 13)
Swing and a miss from Ballance at a wide one from Rabada to start a maiden over. That'll be drinks after a good hour for South Africa but one that could have been better for either side had Jennings reviewed an lbw shocker from S Ravi or Markham not wandered from his post when Root top-edged that hook.

Over 12: England 48-2 (Ballance 20, Root 13)
Morkel back already for his second spell of the day having opened at the Nursery End and now replacing Philander at the Pavilion End, giving all parts of the ground the chance to get a good early look at his pre run-up pirouette. Good man - it's one of the greatest sights in this the greatest of games. Root nurdles a single, before Ballance picks up his second sumptuous boundary off the cover drive this morning. Neat clip off the pads brings two more before another cover drive brings three. I don't want to get ahead of myself, it's already clear that Ballance is going to score absolutely all the runs. Third time's a charm.

Over 11: England 38-2 (Ballance 11, Root 12)
Let-off for Root, who is way out of control as he top-edges a hook off Rabada.  But long-leg has come in off his perch and realises with horror all too late that he can't get back. The ball goes over his head, and bounces inside the rope for four. Every boundary fielder's nightmare; to make matters worse it's Markham, on as a sub, who's the guilty man. Could be a big moment, that. Root picks up three more with a punchy punch through point.

Over 10: England 31-2 (Ballance 11, Root 5)
Ernie Els and Kevin Pietersen are in the house. If the Big Easy loves cricket anything like as much as KP loves his golf then he'll be in his absolute element here. The run of maidens comes to an end as Ballance nudges a half-drive past extra-cover for a couple. That was evidently a dry run for a more full-blooded effort that pings away to the cover fence.

Over 9: England 24-2 (Ballance 5, Root 5)
We need to talk about this new England kit. The cable-knit is back properly, unlike that half-cable abortion adidas have served up in recent years, but the colour's not right. It's too white against the cream of the shirt. Root and Ballance look like Sunday players who've moved clubs during the winter and haven't properly sorted out their new kit yet. It's a bigger problem than losing both openers in the first half-hour, for mine. Cook has a big woosh at one outside the off stump, trying to free his hands and finding himself uncomfortably cramped at the last moment and lucky not to make contact.

Over 8: England 24-2 (Ballance 5, Root 5)
It's been a difficult start for England, so let's take solace in the fact that, unlike Australia, at least we've actually got a cricket team at the moment.

Over 7: England 24-2 (Ballance 5, Root 5)
Early look at Root. Early look at Rabada. This is going to be good stuff for the next month or so. Root lands the first blow, taking on the short ball and uppercutting up and over the cordon for four. Rabada strikes back with one that keeps a touch low and beats the England skipper. Honours even in the early sparring then.

Over 6: England 20-2 (Ballance 5, Root 1)
Yeah, it pitched outside leg. And wouldn't have hit leg stump. It's a poor decision not to review, but let's not forget it's an appalling decision from the bloke with the best view. Root off the mark first ball, and Ballance tucks off his hip for two. Commentators have had a very long chat about Jennings' error. They haven't mentioned the umpire's once. And that is why umpires love DRS.

WICKET! Jennings lbw b Philander 8

Hmm. Might have been worth a review. Looked like it pitched outside leg, but umpire Ravi looks for a long, long time and then raises the finger. Even longer chat between the two batsmen, and Jennings trudges off. England in early bother. Captain in to join his mate.

Over 5: England 17-1 (Jennings 8, Ballance 3)
Ballance calmly plays out a maiden over in a style befitting one of England's very greatest batsmen.

Over 4: England 17-1 (Jennings 8, Ballance 3)
Excellent over from Philanders, who as well as the wicket of Cook gets one past Ballance's outside edge before the recalled number three gets off the mark with a thick outside edge worked safely past gully. Last time I can remember wanting anything as much as I want a Gary Ballance hundred here is when the original SNES Mario Kart came out. Come on, Gaz.

WICKET! Cook c de Kock b Philander 3

Nip off the seam from Philander does for Cook, who fiddles unconvincingly outside off stump and feathers one through to de Kock. Great start for the Proteas, not so much for the skipper on his return to the ranks. The narrative suggested we were in for a stack of runs from the great man, now unfettered by the lead weights of captaincy. Second dig, maybe.

Over 3: England 14-0 (Cook 3, Jennings 8)
First boundary of the summer, nicely done by Jennings who lets a short ball from Morkel come to him before helping it on its way to the Pavilion boundary boards. On early evidence, this is a gentle-paced pitch, with De Kock already forced into a neat piece of tidying up around his ankles as Morkel tries and fails to extract some bounce. Four more for Jennings, decidedly Cooklike as he clips it off his pads through midwicket to the Tavern Stand.

Over 2: England 5-0 (Cook 3, Jennings 0)
Philander coming up at 90mph on the speed gun. Let's just say I'd be contesting any speeding ticket I got from that speed gun. Couple of no-balls help England on their way, while Cook clips through square-leg for two as he's done literally a thousand times before.

Over 1: England 1-0 (Cook 1, Jennings 0)
Morne Morkel starts with a good 'un, short and jagging away from Alastair Cook. Beats the former captain on the outside edge. First run for Cook and England comes exactly as you'd expect. Worked into the legside.

1059: The players are out, the sun is shining. Test cricket is about to happen.

1052: Seriously, though. Liam Dawson. Fair play to the lad. They've seen something, and he's obviously A Good Bloke To Have Around The Place. Hope it goes well for him.

1051: You can see my thoughts on the series and first Test betting in more detail here, written in the deep mists of three days ago when Liam Dawson actually playing looked enormously unlikely.

1050: Let's have a look at the odds, then. England are 10/11 to win the first Test with Sky Bet after success at the toss.

South Africa are 5/2 for the victory at Lord’s with the draw at 11/4. I wasn't sure which way to lean, but Pollock's smirk has me thinking that 5/2 has to be the value. I certainly don't much fancy the draw.

For those expecting Joe Root to make a dream start as skipper, the Yorkshire star is a 3/1 Price Boost (from 5/2) to top-score in England’s first innings.

In terms of the series betting, England are the 1/2 favourites with South Africa – who have an excellent away record – at 7/2. A drawn campaign over the four Tests also looks a plausible enough 9/2 shot.

1045: Shaun Pollock is on the TV and he expects South Africa, missing some key players, to produce their best in adversity and rise to the occasion of a Lord's Test as they have so often before since readmission. "I'm also not too unhappy to be bowling first," he says with a glint in his eye and a mischievous smile. He's trying to give us The Fear. It's working.

1043: CONFIRMED TEAMS

ENGLAND: AN Cook, KK Jennings, GS Ballance, JE Root (capt), JM Bairstow (wk), BA Stokes, MM Ali, Liam Actual Dawson, SCJ Broad, MA Wood, JM Anderson

SOUTH AFRICA: HG Kuhn, D Elgar (capt), HM Amla, JP Duminy, T Bavuma, TB de Bruyn, Q de Kock (wk), VD Philander, KA Maharaj, K Rabada, M Morkel

1040: Sky Sports have surely gone too early with the 

SOUTH AFRICA
TO WIN
NEED 22 RUNS
OFF 1 BALL

banter here. There's still 20 minutes until play begins. Like an indie DJ playing Mr Brightside before 10pm.

1038: English cricket is currently in what amounts to a holding pattern as we all just wait for the days when the Curran Brothers take over with their haircuts and all-round talents. What a glorious future that will be. Today, though, the lesser-spotted third Curran gets in on the act as Ben joins the likes of Dawid Malan and Jonty Jenner on the 12th man list. The future is now.

1030: ENGLAND WIN THE TOSS AND BAT. Joe Root a flawless captain thus far. An uncharacteristically nervous Joe Root confirms to Michael Holding that England are as announced. Dean Elgar would've batted too, but sounds an optimistic note about the possible presence of early moisture on a sunny, humid day in NW8. "I'm extremely proud and excited," he confirms as he, like Root, takes charge in Test cricket for the first time. Theunis De Bruyn gets the nod in the middle order.

1025: We've got the toss in five minutes, but one thing we do already know is the England team, which as part of Joe Root's Brave New Era was announced yesterday: Cook, Jennings, Ballance, Root (capt), Bairstow (wk), Stokes, Moeen Ali, Liam Actual Dawson, Broad, Wood, Anderson

1020: Welcome.

Here we go. It's been a long, long time since England last played a Test match.

You have to go all the way back to December 2016, when the world was a very different place. Alastair Cook was still captain, an adult was still president of the United States, Theresa May still had a majority, Leicester were still Premier League champions and people still genuinely thought that hey, at least 2017 couldn't possibly be as bad as 2016.

But whatever else may be troubling you in this crazy, mixed-up world - Brexit, America steering a path that appears to lead inevitably to nuclear catastrophe over a ribald Twitter meme, Liam Dawson - then be cheered by the return of Test cricket to England on the outrageously late date of July 6. They've got seven of these bad boys to squeeze in to the second half of the summer, starting with four Tests against a vaguely new-look South Africa side. No AB de Villiers, no Dale Steyn and, for this Test at least, no Faf du Plessis.

Two rookie captains at cricket's most storied Test ground, then, as Dean Elgar takes temporary charge of the Proteas while Joe Root will hope to be in for a rather longer haul as England's new skipper.

The main talking points ahead of the series have concerned a couple of eye-catching England selections, with most people seemingly more vexated by the return of a man averaging 40  in Test cricket and 100 in this year's County Championship this year than one who can bat a bit, bowl a bit and field a bit.

Personally, I can't decide which is more inevitable over the next five days: Gary Ballance's glorious double-century, or Liam Dawson's five-fer so unspeakably filthy that the famous Lord's honours board, which managed to survive Ajit Agarkar and Marcus North, has to be humanely destroyed.

Either way, it's sure to be a lot of fun. Do stay with us to watch the glory/horror unfold.