Hello, what's happened here? Du Plessis has temporarily lost his mind. A skip, a shovel, the ball lofted high into the cloudless sky, earning four down the ground. At the end of Root's set, the bowlers get together and take the applause of the crowd for sending down a collective total of 150 overs. Not really, but they should.

Image source, AP

England's bowlers deserve some credit here. They'be been at it for three days, but they have not lost their discipline. Their accuracy has contributed to the slow scoring, that and the Proteas' desire to play an attacking stroke only when absolutely necessary. Moeen to Amla. Another maiden.

Alison Mitchell
BBC Test Match Special

"It's hard to see where any wickets are going to come from..."

Image source, AP

Spin from both ends as Joe Root comes round the wicket to this pair of right-handers. England could well use the slow men to hasten the arrival of the next new ball. Just a single from it. This stand has been in progress for 55 overs, but they are still only scoring at 2.4 an over. I'll be honest, it's not a great spectacle.

Image source, Getty Images

The longest innings in Test history lasted 335.2 overs, when England made 903-7 declared against Australia in 1938. We're not even halfway there. We are, however, approaching the third new ball. If South Africa bat for the rest of the day, we might get to a fourth new ball tomorrow.

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

"You can't think there are going to be any fitness sessions after this Test for the bowlers."

Injured pace bowler Vernon Philander is in the South Africa dressing room, working the room with some elaborate handshakes. How long might South Africa want to bat for? At this scoring rate, they still won't be level tonight. England could end up fielding for four days. How long before Alex Hales bowls again? Alastair Cook has a Test wicket. According to Cricinfo, James Taylor bowls leg-breaks. 

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

"Anderson hasn't picked either of the two he has dropped, it is almost like he panics because it is coming so quickly. You can't catch by throwing your hands at it."

Du Plessis dropped on 61published at 09:41

09:41

SA 390-3

A chance? It's the closest thing we've come to a wicket today, so I'm going to say that it is. Du Plessis plays a big drive at Moeen, edging between keeper and slip. It goes so quickly to James Anderson that it almost takes his head off. He half throws out a hand, half gets out of the way. In the end, it's four runs.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Rex Features

"For so long we have seen teams who have replied to a massive total fold but I am really enjoying the fight from South Africa."

Tom Burridge: I remember being at university in Nottingham and captaining my club in Frinton in Essex. Long train journeys back for games!

Peter: Once scored two in a 100-run partnership. The other guy was then out, and I doubled my score in hitting the winning runs.

Mike Bell: Dhanawade's innings? Not bad, but my late Dad once accumulated an undefeated 2454 against my bowling in back garden (I was 9).

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"I don't think Jonathan Agnew would like a bowl on this, because this is not fun. They keep messing about with the balls but I don't think it would make much difference - it ain't going to move!"

Thanks for that, David. The live text isn't just for cricket, we give advice that could save your life. England decide that trying to out-wait Hashim Amla will be as successful as shopping for tartan paint, so change the plan. Leg-side field stacked, Broad bowls at the stumps. Amla shows the maker's name to take us to drinks. You're unlikely to see a more uneventful hour of Test cricket. 

Image source, Getty Images

David Wignall: Re: Geoffrey's comment on bear attacks. I lived in Western Canada for 10 years and heard a lot of advice on this topic. Always wear bear bells and carry pepper spray.

How you react to an attack depends on whether you are in black bear country or grizzly bear country. You can tell this by examining bear poo. Black bear poo is dark brown and contains berries. Grizzly bear poo contains bear bells and smells of pepper spray.    

Too short from Moeen, allowing Du Plessis to cut for a couple. It's hot out there, hot enough to make a praying mantis cry. In the South Africa dressing room, AB de Villiers looks ready for a nap. He's probably thinking of the double century that went begging. 

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"All the edges seem to be going into the ground. That was a big drive from Amla and it went straight down."

An edge! Calm yourself, because it goes straight to ground. Amla, the zen master, has his shirt buttons undone and his beard folded neatly in his chin strap. He looks like a man who could bat for another 10 hours. If Broad keeps bowling wide of off stump, he won't have to hit the ball for 10 hours. 

Jonty Jenner: Dad and sister drove from Jersey to Perpignan (and back) 2,100 km to bring me back for a big game vs Guernsey.

Graeme Love: Fair play to Pranav Dhanawade, personally I think my 40 ball duck up at E&G 4 years ago is up there with the grittiest innings.

Rob Johnson: Five not out in 28 overs, hit a four second ball then played for the draw after losing wickets at the other end.