How's stat?!published at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015
Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician
"That's Alastair Cook's first duck since Perth 2013 against Australia - he went 22 innings without a duck."
Summary
Taylor 70, Compton 63*; Steyn 3-29
England recover from 12-2 and 49-3
Rain delays start; bad light ends play early
SA won toss; four-Test series
How's stat?!published at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015
'Not sure what Cook could do about that'published at 08:43 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Getty Images"It just bounced a fraction. It was around off stump and just left him a bit. I'm not sure what he could do about that. It was one of those, when common sense returns after sitting in the dressing room, I'd wonder if I could have played that any differently?"
WICKETpublished at 08:40
Cook c Elgar b Steyn 0 (Eng 3-1)
Image source, Getty ImagesOh Skip! Why are you playing at that?
Alastair Cook nibbles at the ball outside off stump like a reindeer would a carrot on Christmas Eve. A tentative push into the hands of Dean Elgar at second slip and the Proteas erupt. Dale Steyn almost bursts a blood vessel such is the ferocity of his send-off.
Australia run hot...published at 08:37
Australia v West Indies
Image source, Getty ImagesAustralia, not for the first time this winter, are enjoying themselves with the bat.
They ran up 345-3 on the opening day of the second Test against West Indies in Melbourne. Opener Joe Burns made 128 and Usman Khawaja - back after a hamstring injury - 144, his third hundred in three Tests.
The only surprise for Australia, who beat New Zealand 2-0 in November and lead West Indies 1-0 in this three-Test series, is that David Warner managed only 23.
Eng 3-0 (Cook 0, Hales 2)published at 08:36
That'll do nicely! Alex Hales is off the mark from his first ball in Test cricket when Kyle Abbott gets too leggy and the right-hander flicks a couple off his pads. The Notts man is also solid in defence early on. Promising.
'No pace from Steyn'published at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015
Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special"If I'm sat in the England dressing room watching that from Steyn I am pretty happy. There was no pace whatsoever. The keeper was taking them at kneecap height."
Eng 0-0 (Cook 0, Hales 0)published at 08:32
Lots of chat from the South Africa fielders as Alastair Cook exercises some early caution outside off stump against Dale Steyn, who delivers the ball and then does an aggressive shuffle in his follow-through. A maiden to begin with.
Eng 0-0published at 08:29
Image source, Getty ImagesDale Steyn delivers the first ball of the series to Alastair Cook. It starts wide and finishes even wider.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 08:29 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015
#bbccricket
Chris Jones:"There's been a lot of one sided Test cricket this winter. a competitive series with pitches suited to both bat and ball, please."
Sam Goldman:"Would have played Footitt and Buttler for Woakes and Bairstow but we shall see."
Totum:"Toss lost, green pitch, overcast, Steyn & Co ready, Hales opening. My hangover & I have taken up our positions behind the sofa."
Postpublished at 08:29
Image source, Getty ImagesRight then, ladies and gentlemen. Let's get this show on the road.
The story so far...published at 08:28
Image source, BBC SportPostpublished at 08:27
I tell you what... there's some big cracks on that Kingsmead pitch. If we get a bit of sun on it, it might be Waca-esque.
'South Africa must start well'published at 08:25 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special"I think the series is 50/50 at the moment. I think South Africa need to start well. If they don't I think England will have the run of it for the series. The messages that have come out of the South Africa camp since India have shown a lack of confidence. The decision-making has been uncertain."
Postpublished at 08:24
I always like to see the random football shirts in the crowd at the cricket. My first spot today is Bradford City fans.
There are usually Bournemouth and Bury flags wherever England go too.
Must be something to do with 'B' clubs.
Postpublished at 08:22
Image source, Getty ImagesGraeme Smith's looking well. Almost like the Brylcreem boy himself, Denis Compton.
Here come the players, lining up for the pre-series national anthems.
Smith opens for TMSpublished at 08:21 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015
Eyes on the prizepublished at 08:21
Image source, Getty ImagesTune in nowpublished at 08:20
England's top order problempublished at 08:19
Did you know that nine of the 25 most prolific openers in Test cricket history, external are English - more than any other nation.
So why are England struggling to find a solid partner for Alastair Cook?
BBC Sport's Stephan Shemilt asks that very question inthis excellent feature.
'Hales has to get the basics right'published at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015
Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special"The two losses on both teams will be James Anderson and Vernon Philander. In these conditions Vernon Philander would have been snaking it around.
"In tough conditions you have to fall back and rely on something. Hales has to work out what his basics are and get that right. His natural attacking game will come through."