Image source, AP

Still Anderson, who is yet again wearing what I think is a tracker or heart-monitor under his shirt with straps that look like a sports bra. Side-parted hair, zinc on the cheeks, Anderson kicks in and tests Amla with the old in-in-out. Amla up to the task. It might be time for a change.

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

"It's been a gritty performance from South Africa - they are really laying a platform."

England have been unchanged since lunch, so, despite the increasing threat, there might not be too many more overs for Stokes and Anderson. Stokes comes round to Elgar as a drum bangs inside the Bullring. Some lift, a flash, a play and miss. "Great pressure," is the chirp. It might be, but there's nothing to show for it.

Alex Herries: Should have thought of this before: 3 week old Rebecca finally dozed off to the dulcet tones of Blowers, Vaughany, et al. on TMS. Thanks chaps!

Although she's crying now, presumably due to the lack of wickets. Perhaps a Twenty20 sort of girl?

"Great work this Jim," is the chat from behind the stumps as Anderson forces Elgar into a tangled pull shot. He's just starting to feel it, Anderson, now beating Amla with one that shapes away. It's like when Stella got her groove back. Ooofff, Amla almost chops on. Anderson chunters. Good cricket. 

Jack Waldis: That's where the review system is seriously flawed. How can England lose a review when the ball is shown to be clattering middle.

Mark Kelly: You can understand India's reluctancy to use technology when decisions like that are upheld as not out.

Douglas Elder: Not hurting the umpire's feeling > Getting the decision right

Image source, Rex Features

There's steam coming out of Stokes' ears now. First ball after the review, Amla inside-edges past the stumps for four. Bowlers don't like the Chinese cut at the best of times, let alone when they feel aggrieved. He's pushing 90mph now, the Durham man. Wound up and bowling gas.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"England will feel like nothing's going their way today. They've bowled so well after lunch but if they keep bowling like this, they will create other opportunities."

Would you believe that? It's trimming the bails, but not taking enough wood to overturn the decision. Umpire's call. Ben Stokes is shaking his head as he stomps back to his mark. That's the curiosity of the DRS. If Amla had been given out, the batsman wouldn't have got that overturned either.

Image source, Getty Images

Line looks good. Too high?

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"Once it's been given not-out, I always wonder if it's going to be a bail-trimmer and therefore an umpire's call decision."

Image source, Getty Images

Close, very close. Ben Stokes to Hashim Amla. Lbw shout turned down. Stokes is convinced. Cook's listening and fancies it too...

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Rex Features

"Dean Elgar is grinding England down. He knows how important this first day is and that the ball is now 33 overs old."

A half appeal from Anderson as Elgar misses a hook at a short ball. Glove? Bat? Nothing, the umpire right to turn it down. It was the short ball that caused the excitement, but Anderson looks much more threatening on a length. That spot 8-10ft in front of the bat. Find it, pitch your tent, unroll the sleeping bag and get the kettle on. Camp out.

Image source, Getty Images

I'd heard some chat about a record crowd at the Wanderers for this match, but the Bullring is sparsely populated. There's a few in, but there's many more empty seats. Stokes to Amla, England's morning in microcosm. A short ball hooked for four, a full ball flashing past a loose drive. When they get it right, there's something there. That's not often enough, though.  

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"England desperately need a breakthrough. They definitely need Hashim Amla out. We've seen on numerous occasions what he can do if he bats time."

Yep, there's the perfect example of England losing the length. Anderson, running towards a steepling stand that looks like a block of flats, is too short, allowing Amla a cut for four. It's a lovely shot, but one that he is allowed to play. Some all-sorts being served up by England at the moment.

Neil Burton: After Fergus Leathem’s comment about surreptitiously following at work, I thought I should share this tip I learned on these hallowed pages.

• Open an Excel spreadsheet and create a new workbook.
• Click the DATA tab and select the From Web option.
• When the New Web Query box appears, paste the URL of this page into the Address box and click Go.
• When it’s loaded click Import
• When the box appears, click to put the data in cell A1.
• Click refresh to update the page.
• Keep up with the cricket whilst appearing to work.

You can thank me later!

Marc Higginson has just told me that he needs to apply for a new waste bin. His council have just changed their collection schedule. First World problems. Oooffff, that's a trimmer from Ben Stokes, shaping away past the grope of left-hander Elgar. England haven't found that length quite enough today. When they do, there be monsters.