Catch up on Root's dazzling century

1. Bad light ends play
2. Root 106* - his ninth Test century
3. Stokes c&b Morkel for entertaining 58
4. Cook, Hales, Compton & Taylor out cheaply
5. Stokes (3-53) finished South Africa's innings

Au revoir

And you thought we'd finished for the day! Mark Wood (see below) has answered one of the main questions of a day when the UK put a man in space.

There'll be more insight from Mark Wood on the BBC Sport website later, but it's goodnight from me.

Remember to join us from around 07:45 GMT tomorrow for an early start. Night.

Mark Wood Q&A

Will Barber: What single crisp could you throw the furthest? My pick is a twiglet. A quaver would be useless

MW: "Right. I’m thinking something like a cheese ball. Or a monster munch. But you’d have to throw it like a spiral, not with the hole in the middle. Technique is crucial, it’s all about the technique. A hula hoop is nice and weighty, but if you throw it wrong, the hole will disrupt you. That’s why I’m thinking monster munch, because it’s got them fingers. If you throw it down the fingers, almost like a tyre, so the middle bit goes straight."

Who's winning?!

The new Botham?

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"After 22 Tests, Botham had 1068 runs at 36.82 and 118 wickets at 19.27. Stokes currently has 1340 runs at 34.35 and 50 wickets at 40.48."

Mark Wood Q&A

Gareth Jones: What would players think if each session lasted 30 overs. This might hurry the fielding side up if they ended up with 20mins for lunch or no tea!

MW: "Definitely not for the lunch break. I’d be bowling backwards if I had no energy. I’m a skinny lad as it is! Good idea, but I don’t think it’s practical."

Harry Ridley: What's your favourite ground in the world?

MW: "Trent Bridge."

George Thornton: What is your idea of a perfect Sunday?

MW: "Jogging pants on, Forrero Rochers, Zulu on the telly. Bang."

Rex Features

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"South Africa have an inexperienced attack and they struggled in the heat of the pressure of a Test match. England have a great chance to get a lead and then in the third innings sometimes people don't bat very well when under pressure."

Mark Wood Q&A

Duncan Johnson: For young fast bowlers, what one tip/hint would you give them to help them improve and progress ?

MW: "Strengthen in the right areas, practice, practice, practice, and have plenty of fire in your belly."

Stuart Robertson: Would you rather fight an imaginary horse-sized duck or 100 imaginary duck-sized horses?

MW: "Hmm. [gives this a lot of thought]. 100 duck-sized horses. And I could control them, make them my own and build an army."

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This was the best horse-duck picture we could come up with

High praise for Root

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"At times England were scoring 10 an over. Stokes is a game changer. And at the opposite end, Root was playing magnificently. He's got the lot and batted beautifully."

Mark Wood Q&A

Lydia Jane – would you rather have a pet unicorn or a pet dragon?

MW: "Dragon. Any day of the week. Especially with weather like this, to blow away the snow and that. Defrost the car, easy peasy, back in the cage."

Freddie Hatchett: Important question here, Woody: Biggie or Tupac?

MW: "Tupac. Changes is a song that gets played in the dressing room a lot, so yeah, Tupac."

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Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Stokes came in and counter-punched again. He's like a boxer in that you can hit him two or three times but he bounces back. He seriously gives it a clonk and he's off and running before you know it."

Ah yes... that catch from Temba Bavuma was special. He deliberately parried it into the air at short leg to ensure he had extra time to catch it. Instinct or has he been coached that?

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Alastair Cook may play differently next Test and get two hundreds because he's that good but he got strangled down the leg side again. Compton was doing all right but then got out to a good ball, a corker that he had to play, and was caught. Taylor got bat and pad to a lovely catch by Bavuma and England were wobbling again."

Mark Wood Q&A

Matt Darwood: Woody - what one piece of advice would you give my 10-year-old son who plays for Northumberland U11s as he starts his career?

MW: "He's obviously already got the talent if he's from Northumberland. Have fun, enjoy it, results don't matter, but take notice of your coaches. They do actually know what they're talking about."

Matthew Slight: What's the best dressing room prank you have ever played?

MW: "In club cricket, one of my mates put a paving block into a teammate's bag. He didn't realise and carried it round for three months, thinking his bag was very heavy."

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A man in the best of form

Just a quick note on Joe Root... his most productive shot was the on-drive. It brought him 23 runs today. I'm fairly certain that I've heard people more educated than me suggest you're in good form if you're hitting the on-drive well.

Rex Features

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"England's batsmen didn't get off to a great start with Hales out in the same way again. He's asking for trouble in any cricket, including club cricket, unless he solves his technique, no matter how good his hand-eye coordination is or how hard he hits the ball."

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Ben Sutton: So it seems earlier reports of our demise, see 10.56, have been greatly exaggerated.

From the press box

Close-of-play scorecard

England 238-5 from 52.4 overs

Batsmen: Root 110, Bairstow 4

Fall of wickets: 10-1 (Hales 1), 22-2 (Cook 18), 74-3 (Compton 26), 91-4 (Taylor 7), 202-5 (Stokes 58)

Bowling figures: Morris 13-1-62-0, Rabada 14.4-5-48-2, Morkel 14-0-63-2, Viljoen 11-0-57-1

South Africa first innings: 313 (Elgar 46, Stokes 3-53)

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

Anyway, shall we see what Geoffrey thought about it all?

Early start on Saturday

A quick heads-up, play will start at 08:00 GMT in the morning as we look to make up for some of the 25 overs we lost today.

From the press box

Play called off for the day

Go and have that pint, Staffan!

For those who can't grab an early cut, we'll get Geoffrey Boycott's thoughts on the day shortly...

Rex Features

Mark Wood Q&A

Earlier we asked you for your questions for injured fast bowler Mark Wood. You didn't disappoint. 

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Charlie Godden - Other than cricket, what sports do you love playing? 

Anything going. Squash, badminton, football, I even had a go at rugby, but I tried to tackle a bloke nicknamed Shrek once, and he flattened me. So that was my last game of rugby. I love boxing and Conor Mcgregor in the UFC. 

Maxi Kelly - Who's the worst footballer in the team? In the coaching staff, it's Ottis 'gammy knee' Gibson. As a player, I'm going for Adam Lyth, because he never passes. 

Graeme Smith Q&A

BBC Test Match Special

"South Africa have three inexperienced seamers in this game but they need to look at the next top-order batters. Dean Elgar has stamped his authority on one slot but they need to find the next generation.

"Selection and leadership are crucial now and they need a strong coach to identify the players to move the team forward."

From the press box

Graeme Smith Q&A

BBC Test Match Special

"I just raised that it was off-putting. I didn't raise a fuss behind the scenes but mentioned it to the umpires and it was up to them to make the decision.

"He's been outstanding in this series with his pace, and he's got the outswinger going too."

To answer your question, Staffan, we don't know! We think the cut-off time will be 15:30 GMT. The covers are coming on so it's not looking good.

Perhaps go for a Friday pint and follow via the BBC Sport app?

See what I did there? Oh, and mine's a lager.

AP

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Staffan Vowles: Any chance of any more play, or can I safely leave work and go for a Friday pint?

Quiz answer

Earlier we asked you what Dennis Amiss had in common with Julie Walters, Joan Armatrading, Chris Tarrant, Trevor Francis and The Archers.

Well done to Sean Ranson and Simon Richardson who got the answer...

They've all been awarded a place in Birmingham's Walk of Stars. Amiss has just had his name added to the pavement in Broad Street. 

(Other names underfoot include Lenny Henry, Ozzy Osbourne, Jasper Carrott, Noddy Holder, Murray Walker and Frank Skinner).

Amiss was born and brought up in Birmingham, and scored 102 centuries in 658 first-class matches before he retired in 1987, going on to serve as an England selector. 

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Graeme Smith Q&A

BBC Test Match Special

"Herschelle Gibbs was an instinctive player, right-handed too, and I think our styles complemented each other. He took the game on and took pressure off me. Neil McKenzie was a great character with a great sense of humour. And then Alviro Petersen came in and performed well."

Amir makes his return

In case you missed it earlier, Mohammad Amir was booed on his return to international cricket after a five-year ban, but took a wicket as Pakistan beat New Zealand in a Twenty20 match.

Amir, 23, was playing for Pakistan for the first time since his suspension for spot-fixing ended.

Pakistan beat their hosts by 16 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with Mohammad Hafeez scoring 61 as they reached 171-8.

Amir opened the bowling, taking 1-31 from four overs, but did not bat.

More on that here.

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Graeme Smith Q&A

BBC Test Match Special

"Jimmy Anderson was always the grumpiest. We had a lot of battles and I used to find ways of irritating him by tapping on his follow-through marks because I felt he got too close to the wicket. He used to go back to his mark muttering away."

Sorry Alan, but you have had 22 years...

Alan Peevers: I haven’t seen The Lion King. You’ve spoiled it for me now.

Graeme Smith Q&A

BBC Test Match Special

"I didn't see myself as stylish like Kallis or De Villiers but I scored runs as an opening batsman. That was my job and I guess there's a few people that would like to be as ugly and effective as me with the bat."

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David Payne: For Joel Fentem; no need to check Joe Root's passport, he's not English, he's from the People's Republic Of Yorkshire. Ask Geoffrey.

Quiz question

Here's a question. What does Dennis Amiss have in common with Julie Walters, Joan Armatrading, Chris Tarrant, Trevor Francis and The Archers? We'll answer in a while....

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Graeme Smith Q&A

Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I get asked about that a lot. I don't take pride in others' disappointments. It's just how it happened in those series with the build-up in pressure in home Tests.

"Nasser Hussain tried to put me under the pump and I didn't think too much about it because I was only 22, but Michael Vaughan's resignation resonated with me because I was a more experienced captain by then. And then there was Strauss in 2012 at Lord's when he resigned."

Test Match Special are using the delay to put some of your questions to former South Africa captain Graeme Smith. They're coming up now - as are some of your Q&As you submitted for Mark Wood earlier.

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Lee Eagling: Stokes and Root together - the bowlers get Stooted around the park.

And so we come to now. After Ben Stokes fell on his sword, Joe Root ploughed on and brought up his century with the the classiest of cover drives. All top hat and tail. Phwoar.

We're currently off for bad light, with play scheduled to finish at 16:00 GMT.

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Then a Rooster happened.

A Rooster is the name we've given to a Root and Stokes partnership.

They put their foot down in exhilarating style - whacking boundary after boundary to turn South Africa's lion-hearted bowlers into mere kittens. Their partnership of 111 came at seven an over.

It was blow-your-mind stuff on a track which is sporting to the bowlers and with a dirty, dark cloud hanging overhead.

The name's GC... not Hardus!

South Africa's 313 all out looked further away than a Kevin Pietersen recall when England fell to 91-4. Alex Hales and Nick Compton nicked off to the slips and Alastair Cook was caught behind. James Taylor also fell cheaply as the tourists stuttered.

The Proteas unleashed fast bowler GC Viljoen on England and he roared in like a furious lion - much like when Simba gets his revenge on Scar in the Lion King.

He was rapid and fearsome... getting Cook with his first ball in Test cricket.

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Peter M: Re Jack Lennon-French - I am grown up and I still want to be Ben Stokes.

Jeremy Leese:@BeefyBotham wears Ben Stokes pyjamas! #legendinthemaking

If you're just joining us after a busy afternoon at work, let me recap what's happened. It's been good.

First of all England took three wickets this morning to end South Africa's innings for a grand total of 313. Ben Stokes, as Ben Stokes does, took just one ball to take the one wicket needed when he came on to bowl. Special.

From the press box

Get Involved

I don't know if it's because I just finished the last of the office mince pies (well past their best before date) or if this is actually quite funny... but it made me giggle.

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Rob: Top, top knock from Joe Root. The guy always gets his runs when it matters.

Tom Mansell: Super hundred from Joe Root keep it going.

Joel Fentem: Someone needs to check Joe Roots passport as he can't be English. We don't produce players as good as this, utterly astounding

Rumours (started by me) that Joe Root walked into the dressing room and said let there be light. And there was light.

Simon Mann

BBC Test Match Special

"It's been a chastening afternoon for South Africa. They were on top, but then came Stokes and Root."

Latest scorecard

England 238-5 from 52.4 overs

Batsmen: Root 110, Bairstow 4

Fall of wickets: 10-1 (Hales 1), 22-2 (Cook 18), 74-3 (Compton 26), 91-4 (Taylor 7), 202-5 (Stokes 58)

Bowling figures: Morris 13-1-62-0, Rabada 14.4-5-48-2, Morkel 14-0-63-2, Viljoen 11-0-57-1

South Africa first innings: 313 (Elgar 46, Stokes 3-53)

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

Bad light stops play

Hmmmm. It's dark. Dark enough for the umpires to take the players off for bad light. The decision was made while Root was getting his helmet changed. Maybe a player taking one to the head got the umpires a little twitchy.

Eng 238-5 (trail by 75)

I've just had visual confirmation that Joe Root is human after all. He's sconned by a Kagiso Rabada bouncer and the ball runs for four (he edged it on to his helmet).

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Tristan Watson: England have been in some bad situations over the years in Test cricket. Just think how it would have been without Root!

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Eng 232-5 (Root 105, Bairstow 3)

Joe Root celebrated his hundred by shaking his fist and then embracing his long-time mate Jonny Bairstow. This was certainly one of the best of his career.

He backs it up with a delicious four back down the ground. He's playing shots which are more beautiful to the eye than a portrait of my children.

Well, almost. I may be getting carried away. Possibly. 

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Simon Mann

BBC Test Match Special

"That is a magnificent hundred from Root in really tough circumstances."

Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"What a knock from Joe Root. He's looked a class above on this surface, with energy and intensity. He's pounced on anything loose."

100 for Joe Root (off 126 balls)

If I ever walk in to bat against a rampant South Africa team in a ground nicknamed the Bullring, and seize the initiative with a counter-attacking innings, I'd like to think I'd bring up three figures with a dreamy cover shot to the boundary. Gorgeous.

It's going to rain...

Eng 223-5 (Root 96, Bairstow 3)

AB De Villiers is stood at mid-off with his shirt trailing out of his trousers. It's not often you see a Test captain without their shirt tucked in. AB's pre-occupied with all things Yorkshire at the moment though - Joe Root taking a quick single which puts him within a boundary of three figures.

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MG: Great game of cricket. England giving the world's top team a game in their own back yard, yet people are still critical?

Kyle Fitzpatrick: 'Root and Stokes stand revives England'.. I think this is going to be the overall strap-line of England Cricket for the next six years.

Eng 221-5 (Morris 12-1-53-0)

This has got absolutely nothing to do with Test cricket, but I think England have a fantastic chance of winning the World T20 with players like Joe Root, Ben Stokes in there - plus the specialists like Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler.

Root, however, is almost toast when he is close to playing on. He deserves a century. Don't give it away, Joseph.

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Stephen Giles: Taylor goes at 222 runs short of SA total and then Stokes at 111 short. Who says there's nothing in this superstition business?

Eng 217-5 (Root 91, Bairstow 2)

Can you ever remember a lazy wicketkeeper? They're always busy, athletic sorts aren't they?

I suppose it's part of the job description. Anyway Jonny Bairstow is in the 'busy' category as he gets off the mark with a single into the leg side. I can't imagine he spends his Sunday mornings lounging on the sofa with the papers and a big plate of toast,

Gett

Neil Manthorp

BBC Test Match Special

"The storm is very close. It's quite dramatic looking out the back of this box, where it's very dark."

Eng 213-5 (Root 89 off 114)

R+15o+t=runs.

Rooooooooooooooot.

A winning formula, eh? More runs follow when Morne Morkel pitches the ball up and it's sent back through mid-off with interest.

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Andrew Morrison: Curses to all you mockers fiends with your talk of #benjo@benstokes38 "just playing T20 for longer" - disaster #mockers

Chris:@BBCSport that one is on you for tempting fate!

Eng 207-5 (Root 84, Bairstow 0)

There's plenty more batting for England, with Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali the next two men in. The former joins his Yorkshire team-mate in the middle and watches in awe as Kagiso Rabada is clipped behind square for four.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"It's been a masterclass in how to grab control of a situation and change the course of a Test match in an hour and a half. The South African attack was looking at each other as if they were wondering who wanted to bowl."

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"There's no shame there, he's played brilliantly."

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

"You can almost hear the audible sigh of relief from South Africa."

WICKET

You know when you get that hollow feeling at 11.55pm on Christmas Day because you know the fun is all over for another year? It's a similar feeling felt by all England fans when Ben Stokes is deceived by Morne Morkel and pops up a return catch to the bowler.

It's been good, Ben. Let's do it all again soon.

Unlike Christmas Day, I'm sure we won't have to wait a year.

AP

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JoElle: Forget Brangelina. I'll take Benjo any day.

Charles Duncan: Stokes doesn't play Test cricket, he just seems to play T20 for longer.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"This is a captain's worst nightmare. The ball is whistling round, the bowlers aren't making a difference, they have no control."

Eng 202-4

Ben Stokes could not be in better form here. First he punches two down the ground, then he belts four over extra cover. He then smiles to his batting partner.

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"This is the second hundred partnership between this pair. In the 12 innings that they have batted together, the run-rate is 4.56."

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Jack Lennon-French: When I grow up I want to be Ben Stokes.

Zippy Hawkes: Few stokes stats - he is the highest test run scorer of 2016, by far the most 6’s & an average of 165. Is 2016 a #stokeyear? 

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"It's the first time that Ben Stokes has made a Test half-century at quicker than a run a ball."

Eng 196-4 (trail by 117)

These partnerships between Joe Root and Ben Stokes are happening so frequently, we need to coin a new term to describe them.

Is it fair to say South Africa have been clobbered flush in the face by a Rooke?

Root adds another boundary to his massive collection, but is happy to see an edge drop short of the slips. You earn your luck and all that.

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Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"There's not many teams who can play like this. There's a bit of genius about it. Ben Stokes has got a Gilchrist and Sobers-like ability to change a match."

50 for Ben Stokes (off 46 balls)

He's magic, isn't he?

Ben Stokes reels off another Test half-century - the sixth of his career - with a pull to the boundary off GC.

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While Joe Root has some treatment on his leg injury, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and AB De Villiers talk tactics.

Eng 186-4 (partnership 95 off 84)

How long you'll have cricket tonight is anyone's guess. That cloud overhead is filthy. Not that Joe Root is bothered... Morne Morkel digs in a half-tracker and it's pulled for four by Yorkshire's finest (sorry, Geoffrey).

Reasons to follow the live text at work

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

"It has been amazing, compelling cricket. It looked like a rearguard action all the way through when England were four down but Stokes pulled that six off Morkel early on and it's been scintillating stuff since then."

Thanks Stephan. What have I missed?

I hope you haven't been letting Shemilt wind you up?

Eng 181-4 (trail by 132)

If you're going to flash, flash hard. And only to people you know. As the sun takes us by surprise by reappearing, Stokes eyes some width from Viljoen and gives it the beans. An edge goes through the gap between second slip and gully, running for four. When Viljoen drops short, Root goes on the hook for four more. Not great from Hardus. What is great, though, is the return of Marc Higginson.

A storm is brewing...

Eng 172-4

Morkel to Stokes is a tasty battle. Two big stags locking horns. Morkel digs in some chin music, which gets Stokes into a tangle, but then another short ball is ridden for a single. Darker than an outhouse in Johannesburg. They'll be batting in miners' lamps soon.

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Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"I think South Africa's inexperienced bowlers have been better than England, but it's now where they have to prove themselves now the counter-attack is happening."

Eng 170-4 (Root 66, Stokes 40)

According to Wikipedia, Viljoen was named GC after his uncles Gavin and Charlie. That sounds like the sort of thing put in there to wind me up. Anyway, if you still don't believe me that his name really is GC, have a look at his Cricket Archive page. It is Viljoen under the darkening sky, tempting Root into a pretty ugly pull shot. Ooohhh, this is close. Short single to AB de Villiers, who gets the throw away so quickly. If the throw had hit, Root wasn't in the picture.

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"They look like they've been working on Joe Root at tea because he was running hard between the wickets then."

Eng 167-4 (trail by 146)

The sky is angry, a lead blanket filled with the wet stuff. Michael Vaughan reckons he's seen some lightning in the distance. Root, who was struggling before tea, pushes down the ground and scampers three. There are plenty of gaps in this field now, so five come from the over with minimal fuss.

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Tim MacNamara: First Test in ages I've been glued to - battle between bat & ball & game finely balanced. Give the groundsman a medal!

Eng 162-4

The gladiators stride back into the amphitheartre. It's gloomy, so the floodlights are on. Morne Morkel has the ball.

England in charge?

Some people just don't want to listen, do they?

Anyway, it's nearly time for the Root & Stokes Show to resume.

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#SlowCoach: Hardus Viljoen calls himself that so that people like you don't embarrass yourselves further trying to pronounce Gerhardus.

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Lord Andrew Dennett: Sorry The Rock but Ben Stokes is now the most electrifying man in sports entertainment!

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I seem to be taking some stick about Hardus Viljoen, with some suggesting that Hardus is short for Gerhardus. It's not. His first name really is "GC".

You think Tim Peake is currently having a nervous walk? 

On the Test Match Special facebook page, you can watch a video of the walk through the Wanderers tunnel that the players make when going out to bat. 

Test Match Special facebook page

Tea scorecard

England 162-4 from 39 overs (were 27-2 at lunch)

Batsmen: Root 60, Stokes 38

Fall of wickets: 10-1 (Hales 1), 22-2 (Cook 18), 74-3 (Compton 26), 91-4 (Taylor 7)

Bowling figures: Morris 11-1-49-0, Rabada 11-5-31-2, Morkel 9-0-40-1, Viljoen 8-0-35-1

South Africa first innings: 313 (Elgar 46, Stokes 3-53)

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

It's been wonderful cricket. South Africa were bossing it for 60% of play today. 

The ball's not done a lot - just a little bit. England's strength is that middle order. It's so dangerous. It's no often you have four players who can take the game away from you so quickly.

Tea - Eng 162-4

Everyone relax. England calm down for five, South Africa regroup. It's tea, the end of a breathless session. England have scored 135 runs since lunch, but the four wickets suggest South Africa are just ahead. If Root and Stokes carry on, though, England will run away with it.

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Gary Jones: Don't you just love positive intent? Whatever the sport it is just lovely to see. Good on Stokes for bringing a huge bag of it to the wicket with him.

Close!

No, no, no! Almost an absolute calamity for England. Ben Stokes wants a single, Joe Root sends him back. Stokes turns like the QEII, dives and make his ground as Dane Vilas drops the ball. I probably needed a direct hit. Stokes stares as Root, the look of a man who has found Joe chatting up his girlfriend.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

That was four as soon as he hit it. It's what we call a 'hit-me ball'. A buffet ball. Help yourself with my mum's stick of rhubarb.

Eng 158-4 (trail by 155)

Chris Morris, limbs controlled by an invisible puppeteer and the hair of Tintin, is charged with halting this England stampede. No dice, Chris, as Root clips wide of mid-on for four more. "Rooooot" is the din in the Bullring. It's tea in an over or so. The break can't come quickly enough for the Proteas.

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Hamzah Patel: Joe Root and Ben Stokes batting together is probably the best thing ever. #CounterAttack

Eng 152-4 (Root 54, Stokes 34)

I'm pretty sure that Hardus Viljoen doesn't actually have a first name. He's listed as GC Viljoen. No words and I don't think the GC stands for anything. Where did Hardus come from? Did he choose it himself? "I'm rock hard, so call me Hardus". Meanwhile, Joe Root is limping and Ben Stokes is whipping through mid-wicket for four more. Is he in another Cape Town mood?

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Simon: If you want people to watch more Test cricket you only need three things. A good cricket pitch, fast bowlers & exciting batsmen.

50 for Joe Root

The first half-century of the match goes to Joe Root, reached with a drive for four off the returning Hardus Viljoen. 77 balls. He and Stokes are making batting look a totally different proposition to anything we've seen over the past day and a half. It's like we're watching a different sport.

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Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

See how the game's getting away from South Africa? With England's late order batsmen (the top order's not so special), there are players there who, if you give them an hour's play, can take the game away from you. You don't want to go and make a cup of tea! 

Eng 141-4 (Root 47, Stokes 30)

It's wonderful from Stokes, who stands up a belts Morris through the covers with the flourish of Garry Sobers. I'm not sure if Sobers ever edged over the keeper for four, but that's what Stokes follows up with, bringing up the 50 partnership in only 35 balls. If international sport is the entertainment business, then Ben Stokes headlines the Variety Show at the London Palladium.

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Sean Ranson: Real chance for Stokes and Root to dig us out here. No two batsmen you'd rather have in right now.

Adam Sewell: Not very sporting if Morkel claimed a touch that didn't happen. A bit like celebrating a catch you know didn't carry.

Eng 133-4 (last 10 overs 62-2)

This really is remarkable. Root and Stokes are reversing the momentum of this match in a heartbeat. This time it's Root, who take back-to-back boundaries off Morkel on either side of the wicket. They have put the pressure back on the Proteas, forced mistakes and are bumping the score along. The match is rattling along, all with clouds gathering in the distance.

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Jay: Now that Stokes is in, I'm going to add 200 to the score to see how it's going. Still looks a bit worrying.

Eng 121-4 (Root 35, Stokes 22)

Stokes is ticking here, flicking the returning Chris Morris through mid-wicket for four, then guiding a loose delivery to long leg for another boundary.Stokes has 22 from 17 and this pair have added 30 in 23 balls. Counter-attack.

Multi-tasking

Eng 111-4

Heart-in-mouth time for Joe Root when Stokes drives the ball back and into the non-striker's stumps. For a minute, it looks like Morkel is claiming he got a touch, with Root well out of his ground. Are you teasing us, Morne? Yes, you are. About as funny as athlete's foot.

Get Involved

Zigzag: Surely England must regret not having Plunkett available to pick from on this pitch?

Eng 110-4

It's as if someone has hit the turbo button. One delivery is a bullet, fraught with danger, the next is being carved to the boundary. Root joins in the plan to fight fire with fire, cutting Morkel to the fence with a rapier thrust. Morkel punches back with a nip-backer than almost gets Stokes on Little Ben.

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Ask Woody

Ever wondered why Mark Wood starts his run-up the way he does? Or what his favourite flavour of crisps are? 

We're going to have a word with him a bit later this afternoon, and will put your questions to him. 

Send us anything you want to ask via email on [e-mail] or use #askwoody on Twitter.

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Eng 103-4 (trail by 210)

Is this the Bullring or the Colosseum? There's definitely lions, but they are the ones in danger at the moment. The few that are in attendance are captivated, humming a soundtrack. Oooohs and aaaahs from the crowd when Stokes throws his hands at a wide one and gets four over gully. This is Test cricket, right here. Batsman clawing for everything, bowlers prowling. Brilliant stuff.

Get Involved

Matt: I am being very pessimistic, but can't see Stokes lasting too long here.

Eng 98-4

Stokes changes his bat. He asks for one that is about 6ft 2in tall so he can stand behind it, but there's not one available. Rabada the bowler - take that! Short, Stokes swivels on a hook for six. Do not take your eyes off this. Every ball is an event.

Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"That rattled Ben Stokes. It was aimed straight at his jaw."

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"That really was a nasty ball."

Eng 92-4 (Morkel 7-0-20-1)

Whoosh! Welcome to the crease, Ben Stokes. That is a real jaw-rattler from Morkel, one that nearly takes Stokes' head off. Stokes just gets a bit of bat or helmet in the way, otherwise he'd have been wearing leather. Real tough times for England here, the sort they write country music about.

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Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"In many ways, this is where South Africa have struggled in this series. They've not been able to push through the Stokes, Bairstows and Moeens."

Eng 91-4

Could Taylor have done better? He was playing half-forward to a ball not that full. Should he have been back? It was almost like he trying to turn the ball on the leg side. Curious. As for Bavuma, he had his revenge for the flying bat. Ben Stokes the new man.

Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Temba Bavuma did so well, he knew he couldn't get it first grab so he parried it and bought himself time. Brilliant fielding - you've got to love the buzz and the energy Bavuma brings whatever he does."

WICKET

England edging nearer and nearer to the deep end. James Taylor goes, inside-edging the returning Morne Morkel on to his pad. The ball loops to short leg, where Temba Bavuma has to stretch every sinew to get his right hand to the ball. We wondered how good South Africa's total was. We are finding out.

Gett

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"James Taylor is replacing his gloves, that'll be the reason why his bat flew out of his hands."

Eng 91-3 (trail by 222)

I've just seen a replay of that Compton wicket. It really was a nothing shot. Mile wide off the off stump, short, Compton playing with a straight bat and trying to force. Catching practice. Rabada to Root, three slips and a gully. Good line, Root defends, then tries a very iffy upper-cut to one short of a length. England never far from danger.

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Eng 91-3

Flying bat alert! James Taylor, trying to cut Viljoen, has let go off the blade and sent it flying to mid-wicket. Laughs all round, but spare a thought for short leg Temba Bavuma. He almost took a bat to the bonce. Bavuma returns the bat and I think challenges Taylor to a fight. Strawweight, I think.

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Eng 90-3

If you were reading yesterday you'll know that Marc Higginson asked his council for a new bin. He's had a reply. He can pay £27.50 or have a man come round for an assessment. What's he going to do, live in the bin like Oscar the Grouch? Pop up every time Higgo puts his empty pizza box in? The mind boggles.

On the field, Root twice takes Rabada through mid-on for boundaries. Punch and counter-punch. Soak up the punishment, hit back.

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

They've bowled well today, good lengths, good lines. They've been really excellent. 

Drinks break

The players are just taking drinks. Root and Taylor might need something stiff. Hardus Viljoen is having a can of spinach.

Neil Manthorp

BBC Test Match Special

There was a smoothness about that shot from Taylor - he just punched it away towards the boundary. A lovely way to bring up your first boundary.

Eng 81-3 (trail by 232)

Here's a show, the hulking Viljoen to the tiny Taylor. It's like an under-13 playing his first match of senior cricket. Then again, Taylor will be used to being outsized and he leans into a sweet cover drive. For every little win is a reminder that danger lurks - this time it is in the shape of one the beats the outside edge. It's compelling stuff to watch.

Eng 75-3 (Rabada 8-4-11-2)

What is going on out there? England look a little spooked by the spice in this track. Compton had no need to play, James Taylor is hopping around and Joe Root has just slashed and missed. England need to get their nose to the grind, because this match could be lost by tea.

Get Involved

Sipech: Straight Out, Compton.

Eng 75-3

Right, I know what you're thinking. 'Shemilt comes on and England lose a wicket'. Let's nip this in the bud right now. It's nothing to do with me, there is no twist of fortune linked to the change of the live texter. In fact, blame Nick Compton - that was a flat-footed prod. James Taylor is the new man.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Rabada looks a magnificent prospect, he gets that little extra bit of bounce. 

Compton will be disappointed with that. He just dangled his bat, and dabbed at the delivery. 

WICKET

Gone! Nick Compton had a life at second slip before, but Dean Elgar doesn't give him a second let-off. Kagiso Rabada the bowler, Compton pushes at one that is just back of a length. Thick edge into Elgar's safe hands. England's recovery stopped in its tracks.

Get Involved

Simon Godfrey: I'm sat here working on a document and there's a guy at the cricket in SA carrying 16 beers to his mates, where's the justice?

Eng 71-2 (Compton 26, Root 18)

One off the over. Viljoen reminds me a bit of Kallis as he bustles up to the crease. 

Although it slightly troubles me that he bowls with a massive white watch on his left wrist. Surely he's not already got a sponsorship deal on Test debut? Is he really that eager to constantly know the time? 

Anyway, enough of my frippery. Stephan Shemilt is taking over. Toodle pip.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"You have the feeling that whoever has a real bad hour in this match will lose it. That will be the difference."

Simon Mann

BBC Test Match Special

"It feels like there will be result in this match, unless the weather intervenes. If we're given a fair crack, someone will win this match."

Eng 70-2 (Compton 25, Root 18)

A decent over from Rabada, four leg byes the only addition to the score. 

Compton and Root are looking to go quickly between the wickets here, as Root's "Yes... NO NO NO!" echoes round the Bullring.

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"Every ball is a challenge. This is how I thought England might have bowled yesterday morning."

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The sun is shining and it's all quietening down, but there's still plenty of dangerous deliveries out there."

Get Involved

Nick Birkett: For Compton to make his average he'll have to face another 230 balls!

Eng 66-2 (trail by 247)

Viljoen back into the attack, but he's not got his radar as soon as his did in his first spell. 

Compton has moved up through the gears slightly, driving and then pulling consecutive deliveries for four, edging his strike rate tantalisingly close to 40.

I'd been wondering why people in the crowd have their beers in a plastic cup with a handle, almost like a measuring jug. 

The reason has just become apparent, as one spectator is shown carrying an estimated 16 (sixteen) beers back to his mates, using the handles to stack them.

Simon Mann

BBC Test Match Special

"Whoever gets a hundred in this match will be on the winning side: it's got that feel to it."

Eng 57-2 (Root 17, Compton 17)

Remember when South Africa kept playing and missing yesterday? England have started doing it today. Compton's just flashed at a wide one and missed. 

What's going through his mind when playing those shots? They're entirely out of kilter with how he usually plays. It's not as if he's had success with it so far this innings, either.

Eng 56-2 (Root 17, Compton 15)

Just one off the over, an ambitious single, but Root is quick enough between the wickets to get there in time. 

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"This is tense, good cricket. It's not rocket science - whenever you can get the bowlers in the game, you get a wonderful contest. Suddenly the batsmen realise they could get out and try and score runs quicker. It makes for a better spectacle."

Eng 54-2 (trail by 259)

Joe Root looks in a touch of discomfort as he wears two consecutive deliveries from Morkel, both banged in short. 

A delicious cover drive from Root for four keeps the scoreboard ticking over, though. 

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"That was straightforward, a regulation catch which carried nicely. That's the first ball which has created a problem for the batsmen since lunch."

Eng 50-2 (Compton 14, Root 13)

Chris Morris is going to be hugely frustrated with that over. A dropped catch, an edge for four, and then a beautiful stroke from Compton driving for four. 

This is an absorbing battle at the moment.

Compton dropped on 6

Compton edges Morris to second slip, where De Villiers moves to his left and puts down a routine catch.

Getty Images

Eng 42-2 (Root 13, Compton 6)

With one shot, Compton doubles his score, cutting a short one from Morkel through backward point.

Get Involved

Michael Head: Tim, I also think of 'that' Chris Morris. Need Peter O'hanraha-hanrahan behind the stumps too.

You've lost the news, Peter! 

Eng 39-2 (Root 13, Compton 3)

England trying to wrest the initiative back from the South African bowlers here. 

By 'England', I mean 'Joe Root', who has the confidence to punish the bad balls, pulling Morris in front of square for four. 

Morris lets out an impressive grunt when he releases the ball. It's not quite Steve Backley-esque, but let's say World's Strongest Man. 

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I love Morne Morkel, he's a lovely lad. He just needs one of the experienced players to stand next to him at mid-off and pitch it up. He'll get more wickets that way.

"That ball which went for four was tripe, a lollipop."

Eng 35-2 (Root 9, Compton 3)

Best form of defence is attack, and all that. 

Root drives Morkel back down the ground for two, then lifts a short wide one almost all the way for six, falling just short of the rope. 

And then, as if to suggest that he wants to face a bit more of the bowling, he steals a single off the last delivery. 

Getty Images

Eng 28-2 (trail by 285)

Morris gets a bit of swing as he finds a leading edge from Compton's defensive in an otherwise uneventful over from Chris Morris. 

Am I the only one who constantly thinks of the Brass Eye frontman whenever they hear Morris mentioned? 

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Nick Compton will be a key player for England if he can do what he did in Durban. He can stick in, wear down the bowlers and take the shine off the ball. He can be the glue who holds it all together."

Viljoen's morning to remember

A few of you have been contacting us to ask about this... 

Eng 28-2 (Compton 3, Root 2)

A penny for Root and Compton's thoughts over lunch. 

I was about to say that they'd been more watchful since the break, but Root chased after the last delivery that bounced up wide outside off stump, but couldn't get any bat on it. 

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"300 is a working total, just as England had in Durban. There's just enough in this pitch to work on the England batsmen."

Another day, another Aussie win down under

AFP

Aaron Finch smashed 71 at the top of the order for Australia

Australia eased to another victory over India, this time by seven wickets in Brisbane.

The tourists posted 308-8, with Rohit Sharma once again smashing a century while Ajinkya Rahane weighed in with 89 and Virat Kohli 59.

The Aussies, in truth, made little fuss of knocking off the runs. Their opening partnership was worth 145 and George Bailey was there at the end with his side's top score of 76 not out.

Easy! Full scorecard here.

Eng 27-2 (Compton 2, Root 2)

The players are back out, and Morkel has the ball in his hand ready to go...

Get Involved

When you handed over to Tim Peach I thought you were handing over to Tim Peake the astronaut. That would have been an extraordinary feat to have him conduct the live text from space. One day?

Matthew Roberts

You're not the first person to make that mistake, Matthew. I had plenty of good luck tweets on the day he blasted off. 

Hoggy's 2005 heroics

The man who caught three of Hoggard's wickets in 2005 enjoyed the lunch interval... 

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"This is where Test cricket is so much harder than county cricket: everybody in the media will be talking about Alex Hales and his technique."

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"I remember watching Alex Hales during the limited overs stuff in the UAE and he kept edging runs down to third man because there were not any slips in place."

Is Hales up to the pace?

Lots of you are questioning Alex Hales's place in the team at the moment. 

He's got 102 runs from his five innings on this tour, including a 60 in the first innings at Cape Town, but the way he gets out has a lot of people concerned. 

John Hatch, on email: There are now only three reasons to persist with Hales as an opener:

1. He was promised a decent run.

2. He diverts criticism from Alistair Cook.

3. He protects team morale: no-one is shocked and dismayed when Hales gets out early because they expect it.

BBC Test Match Special

More from Matthew Hoggard: "It was down to the last 10 overs and thankfully Dale Steyn nicked it behind.

"I wasn't a person that needed the headline - I knew when I bowled well. It's the team-mates you want the accolades from.

"Michael Vaughan said that I was on the shop floor, cleaning up after the rest of them. That suited me."

Matthew Hoggard on TMS

When looking through some archive photos of Hoggard's seven wickets at Joburg in 2005, I came across this one. 

Getty Images

What other way would you celebrate taking a 'magnificent' seven wickets?

BBC Test Match Special

More from Hoggard: "Graeme Smith banged his head against a cool box in the warm-up and wouldn't open the batting.

"It was just one of those spells where everything I did seemed to work."

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BBC Test Match Special

Former England pace bowler Matthew Hoggard: "I was there for Atherton's Test. I was the barman in one of the boxes. As a young Englishman watching that, it was brilliant.

"The Bullring was local to me, but I'd never bowled well there until that second innings in 04-05."

From the press box

How's this for optimism? 

How's stat?!

Viljoen is in illustrious company... 

Bowlers to have taken a wicket with their first ball in Test cricket: Tom Horan, Arthur Coningham, Bill Bradley, Ted Arnold, Bert Vogler, Jack Crawford, George Macaulay, Maurice Tate, Matt Henderson, Dennis Smith, Tyrell Johnson, Dick Howarth, Intikhab Alam, Richard Illingworth, Nilesh Kulkarni, Chamila Gamage, Nathan Lyon, Shaminda Eranga, Dane Piedt, Hardus Viljoen.

BBC Test Match Special

More from Clare Connor: "To have new ways of looking at things with Loughborough University and a south west consortium, we have come really exciting hosts.

"We made it clear that these awards could go to an cricket-minded organisation. Our national performance centre is based at Loughborough so the facilities are excellent and their finances stood out as being strong."

King of the swingers

Still to come on Test Match Special, Matthew Hoggard will talk through his outstanding performance as he took seven wickets at Johannesburg in 2005 to help England to a 77-run victory. 

If you've got any memories of that match, get in touch in the usual ways. 

I was teaching in a school in France at the time, and pretended to have a stomach bug to keep nipping out of lessons to go and check the score on the school computer. 

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BBC Test Match Special

More from Clare Connor: "We wanted innovation, new ways of thinking. 

"A lot of women's county cricket is weak and we want to invest and improve standards.

"We were looking for organisations who would link performance and participation, so we can grow the women's game."

BBC Test Match Special

ECB head of women's cricket Clare Connor: "It's a really big moment. We had a couple of glasses of something nice celebrate yesterday evening.

"It's been 12 months in the planning and all of that work will come to life next summer.

"We had 28 expressions of interest, then we opened up a tender process, which brought 10 full bids."

Women's T20 announcement

Clare Connor, the ECB head of women's cricket, is on Test Match Special now, talking about the new setup for England women's T20 cricket announced yesterday.

Lunch scorecard

England 27-2 (13 overs)

Batsmen: Compton 2, Root 2

Fall of wickets: 10-1 (Hales 1), 22-2 (Cook 18)

Bowling figures: Morris 4-0-12-0, Rabada 6-3-7-1, Morkel 1-0-2-0, Viljoen 2-0-3-1

South Africa 313 all out (99.3 overs)

Fall of wickets: 44-1 (Van Zyl 21), 117-2 (Elgar 46), 127-3 (Amla 40), 161-4 (De Villiers 36), 185-5 (Du Plessis 16), 212-6 (Bavuma 23), 225-7 (Vilas 26), 281-8 (Morris 28), 281-9 (Rabada 24), 313-10 (Morkel 12)

Not out batsman: Viljoen 20 (hit first ball in Test cricket for four)

Bowling: Anderson 25.2-5-60-1, Broad 22-5-82-2, Finn 18-4-50-2, Moeen 16-4-50-1, Stokes 18.1-1-53-3

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

From the press box

Morning session catch-up

Quite a lot to go through from that session, and one that Hardus Viljoen will want to remember. 

South Africa were dismissed for 313 - the lowest ever score when everyone reached double figures, fact-fans. Viljoen ended up not out on 20, having hit his first ball in Test cricket for four.

Alex Hales didn't last long for England, scoring a solitary run before flashing outside offstump and nicking to slip. 

Viljoen then took a wicket with his first delivery in Test cricket, strangling Alastair Cook down legside. 

Compton and Root are still there, but looked constantly troubled. South Africa are in the driving seat. 

Rex Features

Coming up on TMS

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I plea with administrators to have more wickets like this, because it's great for Test cricket."  

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"Root and Compton will be pleased to be going off, because that was torrid stuff."

Lunch

Viljoen looks as if he's bursting every blood vessel as he steams in, full of effort. He gets some decent bounce, too, as Root looks uncomfortable, twice beating the outside edge. 

Mind you, James Taylor looks even more uncomfortable as he watches on with his pads strapped up. 

Just two off the over as Root clips one off his pads, and the players come of for lunch, with the home side having a spring in their step. 

Get Involved

Thomas Knights: Alarming how many times Cook is getting strangled down the leg side.

Andy Donley: Interested to know who the batsman with most legside-caught-wicketkeeper dismissals in Test history is. Has to be Cook.

Eng 25-2 (trail by 288 runs)

What is Compton playing at? He's faced 28 balls without playing a shot, then suddenly decides to flash at a good length away-swinger outside offstump, missing completely. 

Steady, old boy.

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How's stat?!

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Hardus Viljoen is the 20th player to have taken a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket, and the third South African after Dane Piedt and Bert Vogler."

Eng 25-2 (Compton 2, Root 0)

There have been worse first overs in Test cricket. 

Viljoen hasn't stopped smiling after that first delivery, and he asked good questions of Joe Root, including a play and a miss. 

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"You feel unfortunate when that happens, but he did dangle his bat down there. Joe Root - the new batsman - is quite vocal on the pitch and it looks like a few of the South Africans are reminding him of the match situation."

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"What a start. All those people struggle to get a first wicket in Test cricket and you get a caught behind with one down the leg side. Cook will be livid."

BreakingWICKET

What a way to start your Test career. First delivery, and you remove the England captain. He'll be telling people about that one for years to come. 

Cook chases one down the leg side and edges the big man behind. Incredible.

Getty Images

Eng 22-1

Right then, here come Hardus Viljoen for his first delivery in Test cricket...

Eng 22-1 (trail by 291)

Rabada is making Compton look very uneasy. He beats the outside edge with a beautiful length delivery, and is getting some decent movement out there. 

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Nick Compton is being true to himself: he wants to be attritional and wear the bowlers down. Alex Hales appears to be caught in two minds."

Eng 22-1 (trail by 291)

Two for Cook off his pads from Morkel's first slightly wayward over. 

There can't be many times in Cook's career that he's been in a partnership where he's been the more attacking one out there. 

AP

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Alex Hales is England's version of David Warner. He's not of the same standard, but Warner goes out to hit the ball. Hales has to go out there and whack it. If he's timid, he'll get out."

Eng 20-1 (Cook 16, Compton 2)

A testing over from Rabada, who has Compton looking uncomfortable with a short delivery, followed by one that just beat the outside edge. 

You can't accuse Compton of not playing his natural game. He hasn't looked to score any runs yet - the only two he has scored was from a defensive shot, but he's going to have his work cut out here. 

Morne Morkel into the attack now. 

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Hales is in two minds. His front foot doesn't go anywhere near the line of the ball so he just goes with his hands. The real challenge for him now is to remember why he was picked - to be something different, something aggressive. He needs to look to score and hit the ball."

Get Involved

Stuart Owens: Don't judge Alex Hales on a tour of SA. Do so after a few Tests in England. Changing every two minutes isn't helping.

Anthony Hall: I forget why Compton isn't opening the batting. Am I missing something here?

Peter Collins: Is Hales the perfect Test opener? Of course not. Is he one of the better options? Yes. So can we just leave him there a bit?

Eng 19-1 (Cook 15, Compton 2)

Three off that Morris over, a nicely-timed clip off the legs from Cook. A little bit of movement off the pitch for the bowlers.  

Compton stares back down the wicket deep in concentration after seeing off three dot balls. He looks intense. 

Eng 16-1 (trail by 297)

What's going on here? The pitch is playing as it was when England were bowling, but suddenly the ball is plugging in the outfield. Alastair Cook pulls Kagiso Rabada towards the boundary but he only gets three for his efforts.

With England under the pump, we need to turn to a safe pair of hands to guide us safely through the rest of the morning session. Here's Tim Peach.

Get Involved

Dave: I think England will probably reach the follow-on target. Not expecting anything over 200 though.

Eng 13-1 (Cook 9, Compton 2)

In five Test innings, Alex Hales has a batting strike-rate of 36.17. Nick Compton, in 22 knocks, scores his runs at 35 per 100 balls. Make of that what you will, but it suggests Hales is not playing his natural, attacking game?

Or maybe he is and that's why he just nicked off to first slip?

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Morris, Rabada and Viljoen all play their domestic cricket for the Lions. Last season, they played six games together, the Lions won five and the trio took 90 wickets at 19.9 between the three of them."

Get Involved

Francis Edwards: As exciting as he is in one day and T20 cricket, we've learnt that Hales is not a Test opener. The search goes on.

Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"It was the perfect length. Fuller, Hales was caught in the crease and he threw he hands at the ball. Rabada got everything perfect and reaped the rewards."

WICKET

A horrible dismissal and one which will do nothing to quieten those who say Alex Hales is not suited to Test cricket.

The right-hander looks like his feet are stuck in concrete when he tries to drive through the off side and he just nicks off to Chris Morris at second slip.

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Amir helps Pakistan to victory

Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir took 1-31 from his four overs on his return to the Pakistan side after a five-year ban for spot-fixing.

The left-arm seamer, 23, also had two catches dropped but took the wicket of Matt Henry as Pakistan beat New Zealand by 16 runs in the opening Twenty20 international at Eden Park in Auckland.

The visitors made 171-8 and New Zealand were all out on the final ball of their innings for 155.

Scorecard

AFP

Eng 10-0

Alex Hales doesn't seem to have mastered the art of soft hands in the manner somebody like Dean Elgar clearly has... the right-hander lucky to see an edge hit the turf before scuttling through the slip cordon. Testing times.

Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Cook looks like he has developed some technical problems. He's very deep in his crease. South Africa have to bowl full to try and expose the doubt that these problems have caused."

Eng 8-0 (Cook 8, Hales 0)

Alastair Cook's a liar if he says his heart didn't skip a beat when he turned Kagiso Rabada round the corner and watched with relief as the ball dropped well short of the fielder at backward square leg.

The over ends with Cook being squared up and the ball flies through the off side for three more runs. The skipper's looking a bit nervy early on.

Getty Images

Get Involved

Jem Peel: And - right on time - 'severe thunder storm' warning in Jo'burg. You can't tell me that SA don't have a weather machine!

Eng 5-0 (trail by 308)

Kagiso Rabada, who has dismissed Alastair Cook twice for just 10 runs already in this series, shares the new ball ahead of Morne Morkel.

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Ben Stokes took his 50th wicket in his 22nd Test, having reached already reached 1,000 runs. Ian Botham took 21 Tests to do that double. The record is 15 matches by South Africa's Aubrey Faulkner, who played in the early 1900s."

Eng 5-0 (Cook 5, Hales 0)

A nice nerve-settling two for Alastair Cook gets England up and running. Interesting that Cook is facing first - he always used to let Adam Lyth take the first ball. Alex Hales must have chosen not to. 

Chris Morris takes a few balls to find his radar, then delivers a jaffa which pitches on middle and nips in, hitting a jumping Cook in the groin area on its way through to the keeper.

How's Stat?!

• South Africa's total of 313 is the lowest in Test history when every batsmen has reached double figures
• It is also the first time that all 11 batsmen have reached double figures but none have made a half-century

Chris Morris has the new ball in hand. Let's play.

Get Involved

Chad Clifton: That arm-wrestler idea has legs, imagine if each team picks the wrestler from the other team though! Poor Root! 

Harry Sturley: No offence to Steve Finn but I'd definitely go with Ben Stokes for the arm wrestle.

End-of-innings scorecard

South Africa 313 all out (99.3 overs)

Fall of wickets: 44-1 (Van Zyl 21), 117-2 (Elgar 46), 127-3 (Amla 40), 161-4 (De Villiers 36), 185-5 (Du Plessis 16), 212-6 (Bavuma 23), 225-7 (Vilas 26), 281-8 (Morris 28), 281-9 (Rabada 24), 313-10 (Morkel 12)

Not out batsman: Viljoen 20

Bowling: Anderson 25.2-5-60-1, Broad 22-5-82-2, Finn 18-4-50-2, Moeen 16-4-50-1, Stokes 18.1-1-53-3

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

That's ominous from Neil Manthorp, isn't it? The locals say it will swing in the next few hours because there's a thunderstorm on the way. They know the ground best.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"The real game begins when England bat. How will they bat? How will South Africa's inexperienced attack bowl?"

Neil Manthorp

BBC Test Match Special

"There's a job to be done now for England's top order. There's a severe thunderstorm warning for later. The atmosphere that precedes that is really conducive to swing bowling."

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"We've been talking about pitching it up. It sometimes seems too obvious. It's simple stuff. Why would you bounce a tailender?"

WICKET

Great bowling change!

Ben Stokes comes into the attack after Aleem Dar sends an irate James Anderson chuntering back to his fielding position, and takes his 50th Test wicket immediately.

Morne Morkel goes for the glory shot and gets a thick outside edge to Alastair Cook at first slip.

Getty Images

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Every now and again Anderson gets too close because he's trying to swing it but he's had his warnings and he's got to take it."

SA 313-9

Drama. James Anderson has been taken out of the bowling attack for running on to the wicket.

Getty Images

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"He has to catch it. He's got great big gloves on."

Dropped catch

I spoke too soon! Jonny Bairstow has shelled one, putting Morne Morkel down in front of first slip. Poor, old James Anderson.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"That over was a load of rubbish. Broad is just allowing them to stand there and throw the bat at the ball."

SA 313-9 (Viljoen 16, Morkel 11)

I've always thought Stuart Broad and Morne Morkel were very similar - tall, slender fast bowlers who are capable of just enough movement to get the batsman snicking off. They have also always played second fiddle in a devastating new-ball bowling attack behind James Anderson and Dale Steyn. The runs keep coming for South Africa, with a four coming over the keeper's head. Broad is not happy.

How's stat?!

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"That's the 13th time in Test cricket that all players have made double figures. South Africa have done it three times now."

SA 307-9

Hardus Viljoen hits back-to-back fours off Stuart Broad to soar to 15 not out and ensure every batsman in the South Africa line-up has reached double figures. A full house.

Get Involved

Rich Hird: Never doubt Bairstow! He has been so solid behind the stumps this innings!

SA 299-9

Jonny Bairstow is quietly making this wicketkeeping jersey his own, isn't he? Safe hands.

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Two records could go here. The lowest total made when every batsman has reached double figures is 358 made by South Africa against Australia in Melbourne 1931-32.The highest total when no one has made a half-century is 315 by England against West indies in 1956."

And they've got jacuzzis!

SA 297-9 (Broad 21-5-68-2)

A couple of spectators sit on the grass bank, pull a paddling pool out of their rucksack and begin to blow it up. Scenes.

You'd never be able to do that at Old Trafford. Even if you did get a sunny day.

Morne Morkel is frustrating England now, driving Stuart Broad back down the ground for four.

Get involved

Hmmm… I think if SA get to 300 they won’t be too disappointed. I fear England might struggle on this pitch today.

Nigel in Leeds

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"It's a better day to bat than yesterday. The sun is out. I don't think the pitch will change too much. It's all about how they bat. If they get a lead of 100, they will control the game."

SA 291-9

Hardus Viljoen appears to be a decent batsman. He stands on the back foot and pushes James Anderson into the covers for a single. His first-class average is 15. I miss the days of tailenders who can't hold a bat and who run away from the fast bowler. That was far more entertaining.

How's stat?!

BBC

SA 290-9 (Viljoen 5, Morkel 4)

Rather than the pre-match toss, I propose each team nominates a player for an arm wrestle. I'd love to see Hardus Viljoen take on Steven Finn. Between them, they could snap a few arms clean off. Two singles from another good Stuart Broad over.

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Viljoen hit his first ball in Test cricket for four, only the third South African since readmission to do so. Temba Bavuma and Dewald Pretorious are the others."

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"South Africa are still on course to make the lowest total ever made when every batsman has made double figures. It's about 350."

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"If he hits it, it's staying hit. He was probably brought up on biltong."  

SA 288-9 (Anderson 23-5-57-1)

Shot! Hardus Viljoen opens his Test account with an on-drive for four off England's leading Test wicket-taker of all time. He'll take that. Especially off the first ball he faces.

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Six dismissals for Jonny Bairstow in this innings - the 12th time an England keeper has done so. The Test record is seven, jointly held by Wasim Bari, Bob Taylor, Ian Smith and Ridley Jacobs."

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Those balls yesterday were beating the edge. Jimmy just looked to the sky and said 'thank you'"  

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"England should wrap this up quickly now. Anderson beat him twice in succession. That was wider, but Rabada still edged it."

WICKET

England are wasting no time here and James Anderson gets the wicket he deserves for his toils last night. He had Kagiso Rabada on toast last night - the left-hander constantly being beaten on the outside edge - and his reward this morning is a nick behind for Jonny Bairstow to take his sixth catch of the innings.

Rex Features

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Look at the size of Viljoen. If he gets hold of one, this ground will not be big enough for him."

That wicket brings Hardus Viljoen to the crease. He's a monster of a man.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Good line, good length, dead simple. Broad went a bit wider of the crease and angled the ball in, then it seams and goes away. It's a simple catch for Bairstow. I said yesterday that the outside edges will come."

WICKET

Textbook from Stuart Broad. He pitches the ball up, utilises the extra bounce and finds a bit of nip away from the right-hander. Chris Morris tickles a catch behind. Eight down, two to go.

Rex Features

This is a proper stat!

SA 281-7 (Morris 28, Rabada 24)

Let's be honest. If you're a South African tailender, who do you want to face this morning? James Anderson or Steven Finn?

Steady stuff, and Anderson does find Chris Morris' edge, but the ball drops short of Ben Stokes at gully.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"There are runs leaking. The eight byes, a couple of misfields. England have to win this session."

SA 278-7 (21 extras)

Mmm... that's an interesting and possibly correct assessment from Michael Vaughan. Are we seeing the beginning of the end of Jimmy's reign? I must admit, seeing somebody other than Jimmy taking the new ball on the first morning of a Test would feel more alien than putting a lead on a cat and taking it for a walk (I've seen that happen!).

Out on the field, the 50 partnership is brought up when Stuart Broad concedes eight byes from a pacey, if wayward, opening over.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Jimmy Anderson is bowling nicely and consistently but it's not very threatening. Finn and Stokes got more out of the pitch because of their extra pace. They might be able to get something to happen. The decision to bowl Anderson seems to be based on reputation."

SA 268-7 (Morris 26, Rabada 21)

Unless Ben Stokes is batting, the first over of any new day is generally gentle in pace. Bowlers blow out the cobwebs, batsmen readjust to the conditions and fielders psyche themselves up in different ways: some are vocal, some silently ponder. Even the spectators keep things simple.

It's the cricketing equivalent of getting up and putting the kettle on. One from the over.

Overnight scorecard

South Africa 267-7 (89 overs)

Batsmen: Morris 26*, Rabada 20*

Fall of wickets: 44-1 (Van Zyl 21), 117-2 (Elgar 46), 127-3 (Amla 40), 161-4 (De Villiers 36), 185-5 (Du Plessis 16), 212-6 (Bavuma 23), 225-7 (Vilas 26)

Bowling: Anderson 20-5-46-0, Broad 17-4-58-1, Finn 18-4-50-2, Moeen 16-4-50-1, Stokes 18-1-53-2

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

SA 267-7

James Anderson gently tweaks his field and then roars in for the first ball of the day. We're up and running.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The pitch is going to offer something more today but will South Africa's inexperience cost them? Having said that I would prefer to have the runs on the board, having looked at the indentations on the pitch."

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"How will South Africa adapt when they come to bowl?

"England have to not make the mistakes that South Africa have and not gift their wickets away.

"They have to get their heads down, get used to the bounce and make the bowlers work hard. They must remember that even if it is tricky when they first arrive at the crease, this is a lovely pitch on which to bat if you get in. The ball comes on to the bat and you get value for the shots you play.

"England's plan will be to wrap up the South Africa innings as quickly as possible on the second morning, then apply themselves for as long as possible with the bat."

Read more of Jonathan's views here.

Listen to Australia v India

If you're more interested in the shorter forms, or perhaps you're an Indian or Aussie, you can listen to the second one-day international in Brisbane here.

Australia are 50-0, chasing 309 to win.

Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"South Africa have gone for all-out pace but if you get it wrong it's a fast-scoring ground and you can get hurt. That's the unknown factor for South Africa - can the bowlers put pressure on England's long batting order? 

"There are a lot of question marks about today and that makes it very interesting."

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Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"South Africa will feel they've left something in the shed and could have cruised through the day with only four or five wickets down but they gave some wickets away.

"If South Africa had Steyn, Morkel and Philander I'd say England would be in trouble today but we don't know what this inexperienced attack will get out of the wicket."

Pitch report

Graeme Smith

Ex-South Africa captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Finn's spell yesterday was great to watch but Broad and Anderson's lengths were poor and their decision-making in how they bowled, especially at the left-handers, wasn't great."

'We expect some resistance'

England fast bowler Steven Finn, speaking to Sky Sports: "After being asked to bowl first on a wicket which nobody knew how it would play, to have them seven down we were happy last night. We expect resistance from South Africa and we'll do our best to finish them off this morning.

"It will be interesting to see how they bowl with the new ball in our innings because it is an interesting wicket. There is some trampoline bounce if you don't get the right length."

BBC Test Match Special

Speaking of gladiators, we have some heavyweights of the broadcasting world to keep you entertained. Join Aggicus, Boycrelius and co on Test Match Special now. Listen via this page or on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

Watch out for Hardus

Getty Images

Once England have taken three wickets and padded up, they will be facing a South Africa debutant with a fearsome reputation.

He's as tall as a tree, as wide as a bus and bowls as fast as Allan Donald.

His name sounds fittingly gladiatorial: Hardus Viljoen.

Alastair and Co... you have been warned.

Weather report

In the balance

Morning all, and welcome to day two of the third Test at a ground they fondly refer to as the Bullring.

South Africa, after winning the toss, will resume on 267-7 knowing a wagging tail could well and truly knock England off their stride.

The tourists have the second new ball in their possession on a pitch which is giving equal assistance to both batsmen and bowlers.

It should be good - so quickly grab a brew and settle down for another big day.

Morning

Reuters

You wouldn't normally catch me using that age-old cliche that today's first session is crucial, but...