Earlier this week, my colleague Marc Higginson compiled this little infographic. In case you haven't seen it, check it out. Stats do not include today.

It has stopped rainingpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

12:16 GMT 26 December 2015

As the tractor drags the rope round the outfield, news reaches us that play will resume at 12:18 GMT. Very precise.

Image source, Getty Images

One of the accusations levelled at Nick Compton in the nine Tests he played before he was dropped was his pedestrian scoring rate - he managed only 34 runs per 100 balls. But his obduracy has been invaluable for England today. He has faced 45 balls for his 12, and struck one boundary in 18 overs at the crease after coming in at 3-1. Most importantly, he has an asterisk next to his name on the scorecard.

Just what do they look like?

That's Stuart Broad and Joe Root if you hadn't realised already. The pair sat down with BBC Sport recently to discuss England's Ashes victory for a special 5 live programme.Watch it here.

Before I get bombarbed by angry tweeters, I'm only kidding. But what do make of England's new-look batting line-up? Were South Africa right to bowl first? And just how good is Dale Steyn? Get involved using#bbccricket, emailtms@bbc.co.ukor text81111. 

So while we wait for the rain to stop, what have we learned today? Alastair Cook can't bat for toffee, Alex Hales is not up to Test cricket, Joe Root is on the slide, Dale Steyn is pretty good.

There's a big blob of rain on the camera that's perched on top of the cherry-picker crane high up above the ground. Hands up who wants to give the lens a wipe...

Rain stops playpublished at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

11:58 GMT 26 December 2015

Eng 55-3 (21 overs)

Image source, Reuters

Oh dear. Just as it was getting interesting, the rains starts to fall again. The fact the players are merely ambling off tells us it's not heavy, but that's not what anyone wanted.

Spare a thought for Dane Piedt - one over, one wicket, one run, then: "Take a blow."

A short leg comes in to Taylor, whose response is to produce the shot of the day, a firm pull off the world's number one bowler that fizzed to the square-leg fence. Emphatic. Dale, shall we say, doesn't look best pleased.

Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"It looks like Hashim Amla has recognised that another wicket could be a game-changer by bringing back Dale Steyn. If there is one man who can get that wicket it is Steyn. The last thing you want to do is use Dale all the time. He is not that kind of bowler. Other people have to work for him so you can use him at the right time."

Phew, Morne Morkel is off. Oh, what's that? Dale Steyn is back on? Out of the frying pan and all that...

Abbott is finding a hint of swing back in to Taylor, who defends stoutly, albeit with a hint of bottom hand as he works it to leg. The oohs and aahs from the South Africa slip fielders can be heard after every ball. Gripping cricket - no freebies on offer here, Christmas or no Christmas.

Neil Manthorp
BBC Test Match Special

"This England line-up is amazing. It's as though they bat down to number 12."

James Taylor, playing only his fourth Test, replaces Root. England are in the mire. 'Titch' has shown he's got the ticker for international cricket from what we've seen, but this is another level altogether. He's off the mark by using his feet to Piedt. The 50 up for England.

Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"That is a big boost for Amla and Piedt as well. For a spinner to roll up first delivery and take a wicket, especially a man in form like Root, takes an awful lot of pressure off you as a captain."

Image source, Getty Images

Would you believe it?! With his first ball, Piedt finds turn. Root plays back. The ball strikes him on the back pad. And the umpire's finger is up... Root reviews it.

So, 18 in and we have spin in the form of offie Dane Piedt - the man who many thought would not play today and if South Africa had plumped for four seamers.

Graeme Smith
Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"South Africa just need to be patient, use your short balls effectively and play to your plans. But other than that you need to make life difficulty for someone who is in form like Root. You need to try and make him take something on that he otherwise wouldn't."