Relive Cook's 'gorgeous' century on SA debut

1. Cook hits 115 on South Africa debut
2. Amla 109 - adds 202 with Cook
3. Bavuma 32*, De Kock 25* from 274-5
4. Two wickets for Moeen
5. England lead 2-0 in four-match series

Goodbye

Well, that's it. This final Test is very finely poised but South Africa will feel they just about have their noses in front. England, however, will be very confident of making inroads with the new ball in the morning and putting themselves in a winning position. Join us tomorrow to see how it pans out. Until then, goodbye.

Who is on top?

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Very definitely South Africa. England's bowling was flat - woeful - this morning and not that much better this afternoon. South Africa made hay bit in the evening."

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"When the new ball was taken I am afraid whatever we tried we were just too short.

"Bavuma looked fantastic - he hits his off drives crisply - and we bowled too short at De Kock. They got 46 off the 10 with new ball so they finished the day in South Africa’s favour."

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Greg Russell: Whilst SA team may not be a classic it's not a shocker. De Villiers, Amla, Morkel surely all considered greats. Great series win.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"De Villiers is the best in the world but when you first get in got to play yourself in. If you can bowl it in that channel you get people out. Broad got him fiddling outside off stump but we didn’t bowl it there often enough."

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Ian Shepherd: Honours even so far. England have responded well.. Need 2 knock em over for 400 or less.

'Gorgeous' Cook

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"His footwork was immaculate, absolutely gorgeous. He got right back and what you have to with the short ball is get high and keep it down.

"His shots were nice touch shots. He just played nice cricket and I thought,  'Wow, where has he been?' They have airy fairy opening batsmen in but where has he been? For 90 runs he looked an excellent opening batsmen."

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Ian Bradley: Evidence mounting, England have an Anderson shaped hole to fill before the next Ashes series.

Ian Joyce: Why we haven't given others a game is beyond me.

'Woakes is a fill-in bowler'

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Woakes does his best but there's a bit missing - he's steady, has got a nice action and moves the ball a little bit. But as a batsman there's nothing to worry about - he's a fill-in. There's a little nip missing to make him a really good Test bowler."

Player reaction

England batsman Joe Root on Sky Sports: "We weren't quite at our absolute best, but I thought the way we applied ourselves in the last two hours was a great effort. I wouldn't say we lacked intensity, but sometimes you can have a bad day. 

"South Africa played well, but when you get behind the game, the important thing is how you react and we reacted well. James Taylor is a freak and if he keeps taking them like that he'll get a reputation as the best in the world."

'Ordinary' Anderson

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Jimmy Anderson looked very ordinary. He had no pace, no nip. I don’t think he needs a break; he needs lots of bowling. He looks so rusty and unfortunately he gave that impression with body language."

Player reaction

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Stephen Cook, who made 115 on his South Africa debut, on Sky Sports: "I didn't feel too much different this morning - I was relatively calm. I'm a fairly level-headed guy. But there was an extra twinkle."

"There were a couple of nervous moments in the 90s. There was a referral on 98 - I have never been so nervous in my life. I though, 'I've waited for so long to be here, but if I had to wait for another hour so, I'll do that'."

On his century: "There wasn't a lot going through my mind. I was really happy to go and make three figures - to finally cross over."

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"England looked out of the game at tea but they came out after and started to pressurise both batsmen with off-side fields, bowling wider and wider. Stokes and Broad bowled particularly well and make it very difficult for them to score.

"Amla got out through the short stuff. He didn't get right forward to Stokes and he nicked it on to his stumps. Stokes made something happen when they were in difficulty.

"The lad played really well for 90 runs - he looked an excellent opening batsman. The nervous nineties got to him."

Father reaction

Former South Africa batsman Jimmy Cook, father of Stephen Cook, on Sky Sports: "I couldn't be prouder, he's put in so much dedication and hard work. I was due to go to Dubai but my younger son cancelled my ticket. 

"He's stuck to the way he plays and I was pleased to see him go up a level and do well. He couldn't have asked for a better partner than Hashim. I always encouraged to keep persevering. 

"I always encouraged him to play overseas but he wanted to stay and play for South Africa. I thought it might never happen for him but he never gave up hope."

Day one summary

So, a see-sawing first day but South Africa will feel they just about have their noses in front having won the toss and chosen to bat.

The hosts were dominant in the first two sessions, with debutant Stephen Cook and Hashim Amla both posting superb hundreds.

England's bowling was lacklustre, and their fielding was mixed - with James Taylor taking a blinder at short leg to dismiss Dean Elgar but Cook and Amla both missed at slip.

But the tourists fought back in the evening session to reduce South Africa from 237-1 to 273-5, with Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali taking a wicket apiece before De Kock and Bavuma's late cameo.

Get Involved

Ian Bradley: Evidence mounting, England have an Anderson shaped hole to fill before the next Ashes series.

Close-of-play scorecard

South Africa 329-5 (90 overs)

Batsmen: Bavuma 32* (53), De Kock 25* (31)

S Cook 115 (218 balls), Amla 109 (169)

Fall of wickets: 35-1 (Elgar 20), 237-2 (Amla 109), 328-3 (De Villiers 0), 271-4 (S Cook 115), 273-5 (Duminy 16)

Bowling figures: Anderson 21-4-70-0, Broad 18-1-65-1, Moeen 17-4-53-2, Woakes 16-2-74-1, Stokes 18-2-57-1

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"A pretty hard day out there for England. Not quite a day of two halves, but for two thirds of the day I thought England were below par."

Close of play - SA 329-5

Ben Stokes is given the ball for the last over of the day. But it's South Africa who are finishing this topsy-turvy day with their hand on the tiller, and Bavuma has the final word by square-driving for four. That's stumps.

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"It has been a really enjoyable day's cricket. It is always nice when someone comes in and does well in their first Test."

SA 323-5

Bavuma knocks a single and that brings up a rapido 50 partnership between these two. Just when England seemed to have the momentum, these two young thrusters have pinched it.

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"That’s an exquisite shot, he really does play that well. There was a bit of Tendulkar about that."

SA 322-5 (Broad 18-1-65-1)

Bavuma keeps the momentum flowing South Africa's way with a brace of fours. The first is brutal, crunched down the ground; the second is pure eye candy: getting his foot to the pitch of the ball and unfurling a velvety drive through the covers. So good-looking you could pin it to a teenager's bedroom wall.

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Greg: With the new ball in their hands our bowlers have lost their heads. Poor bowling.

SA 313-5 (Bavuma 16, De Kock 25)

De Kock puts the hammer down! The cherubic stroke-maker is getting his ODI groove on. He takes Jimmy Anderson for a trio of fours: punching down the ground, slashing off the back foot and then clobbering a pull over midwicket. This partnership, in no time at all, has accumulated 40.

Chigumbura resigns as Zimbabwe captain

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News from elsewhere in the cricket world: Elton Chigumbura has stepped down as Zimbabwe captain in all forms of the game.

The 29-year-old all-rounder has captained Zimbabwe in 62 of his 196 ODIs and 18 of his 41 Twenty20s.

Although he has been Test captain since Brendon Taylor quit internationals after the 2015 World Cup, he has not led the side because Zimbabwe have not played a Test since November 2014.

Chigumbura said: "I still believe I have more years of playing in me and of winning games for the team."

SA 299-5

De Kock clips Broad into the leg side for a single. Meanwhile, up on the balcony, Jimmy Cook - father of Stephen - has cracked open the bubbly. 

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"England need another wicket to make it a comparable day. They gave them a 100-plus start before they have clawed it back a bit."

SA 297-5 (Anderson 20-4-56-0)

Bavuma pokes through backward square for a couple. The floodlights are on...

SA 295-5 (Bavuma 14, De Kock 10)

What do you reckon - are we having that from De Kock? How do you hurt yourself walking the dog exactly? It sounds like one of those excuses you'd make your mum write in a note if you wanted to get out of games. Has anyone from Cricket SA checked what he was up to during the third Test? He's back now though, and announcing himself to Stuart Broad with a crunching pull through the leg side for four.

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"Anything under 400 will be a massive disappointment to South Africa. After lunch, England would have said if we could bowl them out for under 400 then we have done a fantastic job."

SA 291-5

Quinton de Kock, you may recall, missed the last Test with one of the more bizarre excuses in cricket history - he apparently hurt himself walking the dog. It's just as well Dane Vilas didn't make a hundred in his absence - he might have stubbed his toe kicking the poor mutt. De Kock defends to mid-on for a single.

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Charlie Latto: In the space of a day we've gone from being a great team, to having an awful bowling attack, back to being pretty good again.

SA 290-5 (Broad 15-1-50-1)

Whoah there, some absolutely prodigious movement from Stuart Broad, wide and De Kock can't resist a dart - he's lucky not to snick as it curves into the hands of first slip. The average first innings total at Centurion, I'm told, is 350, which makes this pretty much a par effort by South Africa so far. Mind you, there's work to do yet to get up to that total. 

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"It is a big moment for England. If they can nick a couple here, and get them seven down, they can go to bed thinking, 'we can have a big lead here'."

New ball taken

Yes, unsurprisingly, the new ball is taken straight away, and entrusted to the craftsmanship of Jimmy Anderson. Plenty of shape for the Lancashire seamer early doors, but Bavuma responds with some geometry of his own, pinging a four straight through point.

Taylor's Australian adventure

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England's Sarah Taylor says her game will improve enormously from her experience of playing men's cricket in Australia.

The wicketkeeper-batter made history in October by becoming the first woman to play Australian first-grade cricket, appearing in two matches for Adelaide's Northern Districts under the captaincy of Australia batsman Mark Cosgrove.

Taylor told BBC Sport: "It was intense, probably one of the best experiences of my life.

"The guys were absolutely brilliant. It was the hardest thing I've done on a cricket field, but equally as rewarding."

England's Sarah Taylor believes her own game will improve enormously from her experience of playing men's cricket in Australia.

Read more

SA 283-5 (Bavuma 9, De Kock 3)

Moeen with what you'd imagine will be the final over with the old ball. The new cherry rests, primed like a red leather grenade, in the hands of the fourth umpire. De Kock works a couple off his hips.

Get Involved

Tom Littlewood: The pendulum is swinging now, all out for 340 would be fantastic for England.

Luke Swales: We need this lot 6 down by close to have any chance of a win.

Jay: SA doing a decent job of trying to emulate India's dramatic collapse from a few days back.

SA 281-5

Glorious from Bavuma - yet another four-ball in a very ordinary day from Woakes and it gets the treatment, carved through backward point for four.

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

"This game has taken a sea change since the interval."

SA 275-5 (Moeen 15-4-49-2)

So, Quinton de Kock comes to the party. He's immediately off the mark, but make no mistake, England have fought their way back to parity in this match, especially with four genuine tail-enders to come. Has that leaky outfield proved a bit of a turning point?

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"Oh dear. It’s a short ball, it may have scuttled a little low. It looked plump from here. Duminy will be devastated."

WICKET

Rex Features

Oh JP, what have you done son? Horrible, horrible moment for the newly recalled batsman, desperate to finally stamp his place in this side, as he aims a wild pull at a Moeen delivery that keeps low and hits him right in front of the stumps. The umpire's finger goes up, and this is suddenly looking like an even day.

SA 273-4 (Duminy 16, Bavuma 2)

Bavuma gets off the mark with a drive into a gap for two. A bit of a mix-up with the running almost gets him in trouble, but he's OK.

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"England have pulled themselves right back into this game. They have managed to bring the run rate down and have picked up three wickets."

SA 271-4

A good, tight over from Moeen keeps the pressure on South Africa.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"From that first ball, when he got a leg stump half volley from Jimmy Anderson, Cook just looked like he knew his game."

SA 271-4

Temba Bavuma is the new man and all of a sudden England are right in this Test match. New ball, De Kock the next man, one wicket away from the tail after that.

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"It doesn't matter how you get them but somehow, from the middle of nowhere, Woakes has a wicket without anything special."  

WICKET

Getty Images

Gone! Stephen Cook's brilliant innings is finally over, Woakes offering a tempter outside off and the opener has a flash and gets an inside edge onto the timbers. He looks absolutely gutted for a man who has just made a hundred on Test debut - a sign of a man with serious appetite for big runs. Big wicket for Woakes, who has bowled poorly today but will be geed by that scalp.

SA 269-3

Another freebie from Moeen - dragged down and begging to be hit. Duminy - who has been given a bit of a jump start by England - obliges by pasting it through midwicket.

BBC Archive: Apartheid and sporting boycotts

BBC

Apartheid in South Africa was one of the most contentious issues of the 20th century. 

So when South Africa-born Basil D'Oliveira - banned from playing for the Proteas because of the colour of his skin - was named in England's squad to tour his native country in 1968, cricket crossed the sporting boundary into the political sphere.

England's tour to South Africa was cancelled as the ruling National Party refused to accept D'Oliveira's presence in the England squad.

The incident culminated in a ban on sporting ties with South Africa that would last for years.

Click here to watch how it unfolded

SA 264-3 (Anderson 17-4-49-0)

Streaky from Cook, outside-edged past Joe Root at gully for four. Anderson has got the double-teapot on, but he has only himself to blame for the next boundary, on Duminy's pads and flicked away for four.

Simon Mann

BBC Test Match Special

"That was absolutely horrendous - a horrible waist-high full toss. It just slipped out of Moeen’s hand."

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Duminy has got a real problem against off-spin."

SA 255-3 (Cook 107, Duminy 8)

Change-up after drinks - Moeen Ali to bowl to some off-spin, and his first ball is an absolute doozy: bit of drift in, and sharp turn past the outside edge of Duminy. Still, as seasoned observers of Moeen will know, as sure as night follows day, a bad ball will follow his good one. Sure enough, a rank beamer slips out of the hand and is dispatched to the boundary by Duminy.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"The pitch might get a bit quicker tomorrow. That is why South Africa have to make it count - they need to get 400 on here."

Drinks break

Is it just me, or when commentators talk about bowlers 'slipping themselves', does anyone else think they've done themselves an injury? Sounds painful to me. Anyway, Anderson sends down a maiden to Cook, and it's time for drinks.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Getty Images

"South Africa have got to be positive and make sure the scoreboard keeps ticking on. If you add two wickets to the score now, it is a good turnaround from where it was."

SA 251-3

Duminy - who is coming off an unbeaten 260 in South African first-class cricket - gets off the mark with a bash through the covers for four.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"They have just bowled better areas in the session. They have been more consistent and they have bowled into the surface. Broad has been the stand-out."

SA 247-3

Cook blocks out a maiden to Anderson.

Simon Mann

BBC Test Match Special

Getty Images

"Cook has looked the part today, he really has."

SA 247-3 (Cook 107, Duminy 0)

It would be fair to say that getting a debut hundred isn't exactly a guarantee of future success. Adrian Barath, Hamish Rutherford and Stiaan van Zyl are some of the less illustrious recent names on the list. But Cook really has looked the real deal. He punches one through the covers, Duminy remains stuck on nought.

Get Involved

Karl Reynolds: Surely I'm not the only one that noticed it's a century of debut century makers and it's come at Centurion?

Good spot Karl!

SA 246-3

Cook, now loosened up, flays a four through midwicket on the pull. Meanwhile, up the other end, the new man is JP Duminy, who is back in the side after being dropped mid-series and then making a double ton for his franchise side. He blocks out his first two balls.

SA 241-3

So, Stephen Cook becomes the 100th man to score a hundred on Test debut, and the fourth-oldest. Brilliant achievement. Could he enjoy a Chris Rogers-style Indian summer in the Test side? We shall see.

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

"A tremendous effort. The pressure that was on him at the end. Well, well, well what can you say? Well Done Stephen Cook."

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"That was splendid. He played beautifully up to 90 then it was agonising. It just shows that so much of the game is in the head."

100 for Cook

Rex Features

He's done it! What a great moment for Stephen Cook, an hour in the 90s but finally the 33-year-old who thought his chance would never come gets one on his pads and glances it into the leg side for two. The boyhood dream is finally realised.

Lovely scenes in the stands as three generations of the Cook family - father Jimmy, and Stephen's wife and daughter - join in the rapturous applause. Well played sir.

SA 238-3

Oooh, he's just got away with it. The Yorkshire Oracle was right, umpire's call on leg stump. Jimmy Cook is twirling that moustache with the tension of it all...

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I think it's going to be hitting part of the stump. He'll get away with it."

Umpire review

Has Stokes got another one? Big appeal for LBW against Cook, turned down on the field, but England want another look...

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

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"AB de Villiers is walking off briskly like someone who knows he has got to walk the plank."

WICKET

AP

And another! Get one, get two, they always say, and that maxim holds true for England. Bouncy outside off stump from Broad, AB can't resist a fidget at it, and he ends up fending a sharp catch to a flying Joe Root at second slip. England back in the game!

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

"What a formidable achievement from a really great batsman."

SA 237-2

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Still, it was an absolutely superb innings from Amla - full of his trademark gossamer-wristed cover drives. He is now the leading run-scorer in this series, just ahead of the man who dismissed him. AB de Villiers the new man.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

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"Stokes earned that wicket. He bowled sharp and a lot of short balls at both batsmen. They have had to stay back and not push forward. That was a good length; he has not got out of the crease."

WICKET

Getty Images

What do we always say about Ben Stokes? He makes things happen. Case in point here: England looking flat as a pancake, and suddenly the strawberry-blond talisman breaks through with a good delivery which clatters the stumps via Hashim Amla's inside edge. Breakthrough.

Get involved

Francis Edwards: Big weakness for England, cannot bowl when it's not swinging and cannot bowl on spinning pitches. Major concern for future.

SA 236-1 (Cook 96, Amla 109)

Reuters

Hashim Amla is flowing like a burst water main at the moment. He's in full torrent. Stuart Broad serves one up outside off stump and he flays it through the covers for a four that brings up the 200 partnership. What a superb stand it's been from these two.

SA 232-1

Right, the Bridezilla. So I was having lunch and the woman sitting at the table next to me was obviously on some sort of pre-wedding reconnaissance outing with a couple of friends. 

"I never thought I'd be one of those nightmare brides," she said. 

"But ultimately, this is a project and I'm the co-ordinator. Someone's got to make sure stuff gets done."  Except she didn't say stuff.

Test cricket: apparently not the only activity that demands all-white dress and military precision.

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

"Umpires send everything upstairs these days. That is the one problem with the DRS system."

SA 232-1

He's fine. He moves on to 96.

Umpire review

Getty Images

We've got a run-out review here, but I'm pretty sure Stephen Cook is home comfortably.

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"They are making him work pretty hard but he is a patient guy. He knows his game well, he will be prepared to wait a long time for his first Test hundred."

SA 228-1 (Broad 11-1-37-0)

Cook, inching his way towards the target, retains the strike with a dropped single into the leg side. You'd imagine he'll be thinking of getting there in ones at the moment. But who knows? After all, this is the universe where Nick Compton got out trying to win a match with a six. All things are possible.

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"This could be an interesting session. South Africa at the moment are in a dominant position. The rate is just over four an over. Maybe there is an opportunity for these two to press on a bit."

Nervous 90s

Stephen Cook is in the nervous 90s. Let us console ourselves that he was once out for 390 in a first-class match – so there is a possibility of four phases of nervous 90s.

Paul Hannaford

SA 225-1 (Cook 92, Amla 102)

Oooh, heart-in-mouth moment for Stephen Cook. He pokes to cover and sets off for a very sharp single. Broad whizzes a throw past the timbers and Cook's rueful smile tells you he was well short if that had hit.

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

Getty Images

"Broad is looking like he is having a long day already. His knees are not really kicking up at the moment."

SA 224-1

So, Stuart Broad gets us going after tea. Immediately he draws the edge of Amla but the ball drops agonisingly short of Cook at first slip. "Oh you're joking," says Broad in disgust. Deadly serious I'm afraid Stu.

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"I am not sure who spotted it in the first place because it is not like a geyser - it was just bubbling up to the surface."

Get Involved

Paul: Play suspended due a burst pipe at the cricket. Water catastrophe...

I'm sorry, that is the most ridiculous solution I've ever seen. They've basically dumped a sandpit on the problem area at square leg and hoped no-one will notice. Anyway, we're going to resume...

Dare I say I haven't seen a section of cricket pitch this well irrigated since England's post-Ashes celebrations at the Oval in 2013...

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"People are looking on bemused there is no announcement anywhere. This is where cricket lets down the viewer."

Well well, what an extraordinary turn of events. I've not seen water that colour since my hotel bathroom flooded on a particularly ill-fated holiday. I do hope they threw those towels away...

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"An irrigation pipe has burst. There's various men out there in big boots out there. What a shame Andy Caddick isn't playing, he could turn his hand to anything. We need a plumber."

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"It's a strange one. We badly need water in this country, yet we've got water on the field."

Burst pipe alert

Disappointingly, we don't have a specialist graphic for this. But yes, incredibly, it appears that some sort of pipe has burst beneath the playing surface and brownish water is now oozing onto the outfield. 

And the players are now going back off! Scenes. What a way for Stephen Cook's march to a debut Test century to be halted...

Thanks Stephan. I'm not getting married, I hasten to add. Just a little anecdote for you. But before that...

James Gheerbrant's pre-evening session sprint to the chair beside me is becoming something of a live text tradition. He's here to talk you through the rest of the day, possibly with some chat of a Bridezilla. Enjoy.

Get Involved

Jonathan Shields: Woakes and Co cafeteria now open.....please help yourselves...

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

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"England have given them a 220-run lead. Can they fight back and win? If they can't win, can they fight back to draw like South Africa did at Cape Town? There's a lot to play for some of these players."

Tea scorecard

South Africa 224-1 (58 overs)

Batsmen: Amla 102*, S Cook 91*

Fall of wickets: 35-1 (Elgar 20)

Bowling figures: Anderson 14-2-40-0, Broad 9-0-34-0, Moeen 11-3-38-1, Woakes 13-2-65-0, Stokes 11-2-37-0

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

BBC Test Match Special

To remind you, Test Match Special will be talking to Ian Bell during the tea break. Bell was appointed Warwickshire captain yesterday, but he insists he still wants to return to the England team. Have a listen.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"England tried to bowl the golden ball all morning instead of bowling with patience. There have been dropped chances and a few fumbles in the field..."

Simon Mann

BBC Test Match Special

"Another session won emphatically by South Africa."

Tea - SA 224-1

That's the break. Ben Stokes pounds the whole of the last over into the deck, with Amla happy to get out of the way. At tea, South Africa are bossing proceedings. England have been pretty woeful.

Get Involved

Richard J Law: The England bowlers are bowling at SA almost like the result of this match doesn't matter. Oh wait...

SA 223-1

A slight victory for England - South Africa's run-rate has dipped below four an over. A touch of spin before the break, with Moeen accurate enough to probably prevent Cook from reaching three figures before tea. Maybe only one over before the players head for a brew and a biscuit.

SA 221-1 (Stokes 10-1-36-0)

I didn't spot it myself, but I'm told that James Anderson has been warned for running on the pitch. He was taken out of the attack for just that offence in Johannesburg. Ben Stokes comes on for Anderson, now with just one slip in place. A few bumpers, Amla ducking and swaying to get out of the way.

How's stat?!

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"It's Amla's fourth-quickest hundred, his fifth at Centurion and his sixth against England."

SA 221-1 (Amla 101, Cook 89)

Getty Images

Just remember, though, Hashim Amla was dropped on five. England's bowling has been pretty poor, but how much of a boost might that wicket have given them? The same goes for the life given to Stephen Cook. Speaking of Cook, attention now turns to his hunt for a ton on debut. Will he get there before tea? There's about 10 minutes before the break.

Simon Mann

BBC Test Match Special

"Amla has batted so fluently. It's been a controlled innings, yet aggressive."

100 for Hashim Amla

AP

What a fantastic innings from Hashim Amla, who has been released from the shackles of the captaincy and is batting beautifully. A feature has been the cover drives - wonderful stroke after wonderful stroke. So easy on the eye. He brings up a 25th Test ton with a single to mid-on, giving Centurion the excuse to erupt.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Getty Images

"The bowling has been very very average. Only one spell by Stuart Broad has been any good."

SA 218-1 (Amla 99, Cook 88)

As the Barmies sing, England are just about managing to string together a couple of quiet overs. Hang on, I spoke too soon. Too short from Woakes, Stephen Cook on it in a flash to pull through mid-on for four. Alastair Cook once again puts his head in hands. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that we could be witnessing the end of Chris Woakes' Test career here.    

Get Involved

Bhavin Shah: Broad gets the plaudits for Jo'burg but you can see that England really miss Finn. Need that hit the deck express bowler.

Ellis: Shame no Footitt, variety in the attack very important in shorter formats, soon Tests? England caught behind a trend again?

SA 213-1

Amla is made to wait. Or rather, he chooses to wait as he's not drawn into the Anderson game of cat and mouse. A maiden.

SA 213-1

Real test of wills here. Amla on 99, Anderson bowling so far outside off stump that he'd need a broom to reach it. Three leaves.

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Interesting you should say that, Rob. Woakes has seven wickets in six Tests at an average heading towards 60. Jordan has 31 in eight Tests at an average of 36.

SA 213-1

The DJ plays Stayin' Alive. Aimed at England?

SA 213-1 (Cook 83, Amla 99)

Amla gets a bit flirty with a single that suggests a loopy catch to mid-on, only to fall short. Woakes is the bowler, all side-parting and frustration. In the stands, the trumpeter has been playing non-stop for some time now. No sign of being out of puff. Woakes manages to get the ball outside off stump, with Cook leaving alone. Amla to face on 99...

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"England have got to try and pull the run rate back, even if they're not taking wickets, just to create some pressure."

SA 212-1 (Cook 83, Amla 98)

Even when the England plan works, South Africa are the ones to benefit. Anderson drags Cook into a drive outside the off stump, but the batsman's feet are nowhere. He gets an inside edge, but the ball scoots past the diving Jonny Bairstow for four. Amla, meanwhile, moves to 98.

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"Alastair Cook is setting a field on the off side, saying to the bowler 'Bowl outside off stump for me', and the boundaries are coming on the leg side. It's very frustrating for a captain and at this rate England could be staring at 340 in a day."

SA 204-1 (Woakes 10-1-59-0)

England pack the off side once more, but Woakes struggles with both the line and length. Ooooffff, a chance, but from another bad ball. Banged in, Amla hooks and cue-ends, almost to gully. Woakes ends the over with a leg-stump half-volley that Amla whips for four. There are seven men on the off side, two on the leg and Woakes bowls on the pads. No wonder Cook has his head in his hands. Village.

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Rob Hastings: Woakes is a classic example of a good quality county pro but one who's simply not good enough at the very highest level. Some make the transition seamlessly like Root whilst others have opportunities that they're not good enough to take.

SA 197-1

This an almighty mother's meeting between the England team. Five of them - Cook, Root, Broad, Anderson and Woakes, who he been entrusted with the ball once more. So far, he's bowled nine over 0-52.

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SA 197-1 (Amla 91, Cook 75)

Bizarrely, there's a hospitality box at the ground that is being served by what can only be described as buff waiters. These chaps aren't wearing shirts, just waistcoats and bow ties.I'm told it's ladies' day at Centurion. Do ladies want buff men in only waistcoats? The sun pops out as Anderson explores the channel. Just a single from it. 

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"If you're going to see one cricket shot this year, make it that Hashim Amla cover-drive. The weight, the timing, it was just an absolutely beautiful shot. That's a little highlight of the series for me."

SA 196-1 (Amla 91 from 113)

AP

There's some buffet being served up now, this time in the shape of a Moeen full toss that Amla skims down the ground for four. It's hard to overstate just how easy batting looks at the moment. To prove the point, Amla laces yet another cover drive for four. The former skipper has now scored 51 runs through the covers. 51!

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SA 188-1

James Anderson's familiar run-up kicks in to Amla, who is batting with the calm of a Zen master. No swing for Jimmy, no real inspiration from England. It's the Ashes at The Oval all over again.  

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"It's the first time in this series I've watched England bowl and thought they don't seem to be bowling to a plan."

SA 187-1 (Cook 74, Amla 82)

Moeen after the break, but his beard looks to have fewer answers than Amla's. The former skipper has bullets in his bat, leaning in to a cover drive that scorches the turf despite Amla barely moving his bat. 

Pietersen leads Stars to Big Bash final

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Meanwhile in Australia, Kevin Pietersen has blasted 62 off 36 balls to Melbourne Stars into the Big Bash final.

KP hit five fours and two sixes in his innings as the Stars made light work of overhauling the Perth Scorchers' score of 139.

The Stars - who also have former England batsman Luke Wright in the team - will play the Sydney Thunder in Sunday's final.

Read more here

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David: Why do England persist with Chris Woakes? Never shown any ability to be a Test bowler.

Mark: Would have preferred to see what Footitt could do in this game, we know what Woakes offers....sadly not a lot.

Craig Moore: I thought everyone had already agreed Chris Woakes wasn't up to international standard? Surely Foottitt needed a go.

Drinks break

James Anderson, not quite the Jimmy we're used to, is back. He and Alastair Cook have whipped up a plan for Amla, who has been intent of playing come cover drives. There are now two catchers on the off side. A 7-2 off-side field in total, so Anderson can't quite attack the stumps. A quiet over before drinks.

Neil Manthorp

BBC Test Match Special

"This pitch now looks incredibly benign, especially to the short ball."

SA 180-1 (run-rate 4.19)

AP

Tap, tap, lift, lift, shuffle, shuffle. Stephen Cook nudges anything remotely straight on the leg side. Whilst Cook accumulates, Amla is a highlight reel. This time he's snapping into a pull shot that rockets into the boundary. Ben Stokes, the bowler, might combust. You could fry an egg on his forehead.

SA 175-1 (Cook 71, Amla 73)

Hashim Amla has wrists of rubber. When Moeen is on the pads, Amla flicks it through mid-wicket in a whir of willow. He really does look in imperious touch. England have given him one life, remember. Could be very, very costly.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"England are trying hard, but it's comfortable for the batsmen now. Stokes is the only one who's finding any swing through the air. You've got to get them early in these conditions."

SA 171-1

The first sound of the trumpeter today, our musician arriving with the Great Escape. England might yet need one of those. Stokes slips in with the traffic of Centurion off in the distance. Twice Stokes goes full and leggy who be worked by Cook, who gets the glare of the Durham man. Don't get angry, Ben. Get even. 

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Ben in Southampton: Spent last night praying that Cook would get some runs in this test, but forget to let God know that I was talking about Alastair. Feeling guilty now.

162-1 (last 10 overs 54-0)

Moeen has been flirting with bowling round the wicket, but is over to Cook. Back round to Amla, possibly to stop him from shuffling across and using the spin. There's a degree of control from Moeen, but singles are on offer.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"You can't see where a wicket is coming from. The bowlers can't do much with the ball. It's going to take a lot of character, quite a bit of discipline, bowling outside off stump."

SA 158-1 (Cook 66, Amla 61)

Reuters

Stokes, a grimace through his ginger stubble, is getting the ball to swing, but it's too wide to tempt Cook to play. On the England bench, Steven Finn wears the shades of a man now on holiday. Cook, a heavy bat-tapping shuffler, jams down on one to get a single through square leg.

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Tracey Harris: Re. cricket related book. Try Cricket Kings by Wiliam MacInnes, it's nostalgic, whimsical but most of all laugh-out loud funny.

Harry Mills: How about Hurricane Hamish? Story of a West Indian fast bowler found washed up on the beach in an MCC towel and plays barefoot.

SA 157-1 (run-rate 4.13)

Spin, the return of Moeen Ali, England's only successful bowler today. Gloomy, but not chilly. No players in sweaters, spectators happy to bare some flesh. Amla is a man looking to cover drive anything that comes his way - blades flashing. Moeen is tighter, though. Two from it.

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Simon Goodall: Problem is that 150 will keep Bairstow in the team for the foreseeable future. He's not that great a keeper.

Usman: Why does Bairstow always move to the left when the ball is pitched a foot outside off stump and edges go to the right?

SA 155-1 (Cook 65, Amla 59)

Chris Woakes, an economy rate of almost six an over, is withdrawn in favour of Ben Stokes, who himself serves up another half-volley for Cook to square drive for four. England desperately need something, anything. If it was football, they'd be begging for a goal off someone's backside.

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

"It's clanger after clanger from Jonny Bairstow. He's making his brilliant scores lose some of their shine."

SA 151-1 (Cook 61, Amla 59)

England, being the astute professional cricketers than they are, have figured out that Stephen Cook likes the leg side. He's scored two third of his runs there. They post two catchers. However, that doesn't mean they should feed him. Any chance of some off-stump channel? When Broad fires one down past the hip of Amla, Bairstow appeals. Probably just celebrating not dropping it.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"England have just got to try and bowl some dots. The rate is up at 4.2 and they've got to try and get it down. The way Woakes is bowling, he won't get a run in the side."

SA 148-1 (partnership 113)

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Lots and lots going on here, more plotlines than an episode of 24. England seem to have a hangover, South Africa are resurgent. The Proteas have a number three batting beautifully after being freed from the captaincy and an opener making the most of a long overdue pitch. Stuart Broad still looks in a purple patch, James Anderson underdone and Chris Woakes not up to it. Meanwhile, off the pitch, I've discovered just how well-loved the Glory Gardens series was. A good day.

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Hashim Amla likes batting at Centurion. He now has 995 runs at this ground at an average of 90.45, with four hundreds and five fifties."

50 for Hashim Amla

Reuters

Oh, Hashim Amla. That is a seductive way to go to a half-century. Perfect cover drive, melted chocolate dripping off a spoon. And again! Someone tell Chris Woakes to stop bowling half-volleys. Amla is feeling it, Cook is making up for lost time and England are all over the shop. 

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Cook is the third South African opener since readmission to make a fifty on debut. The others were Andrew Hudson and Alviro Petersen, and they both went on to make hundreds."

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"What a way to bring up his 50, caressing the number one bowler in the world through the covers. Stephen Cook looks like his game is suited to batting long periods of time, which is handy for Test matches. Anyone who watched his body language over the two hours of the morning session would have thought he'd played 50 Tests."

50 for Stephen Cook

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Well batted, Stephen Cook. A half-century on Test debut for a man who has waited a long time for his chance. The 33-year-old had made a stack of first-class runs and now, given his chance, he looks like he's been playing Test cricket for years. He's scored a lot of runs on the leg side, but reaches 50 with a cover drive off Woakes and follows up with four more to third man.

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Hannah Rich: Surely I can't be the only one who grew up reading the Bunbury Tails. (I think my dad may have wanted a son.)

Ed Broderick: Hurricane Hamish, the Calypso cricketer. Bare foot bowling at it's best.

SA 128-1 (Cook 49, Amla 48)

It's a curious one for Bairstow. He's had an excellent series with the bat, but there are still questions over his keeping. He has a slight technical flaw in that his left foot moves towards the leg side, making it harder for him to move right for catches, which has happened twice today. Broad screamed to the sky. You can't blame him.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"It just looked like Bairstow's left hip didn't turn quick enough. He's just static and then he dives down."

Cook dropped on 47

Dropped? No, because I'm not sure Jonny Bairstow has got a glove on this. Stephen Cook edges Broad, this time much closer to Bairstow than the one he dived for earlier on. He dives, thrusting out a right hand, but the ball is through. Looking again, he did just get the fingertips to it. Should have been taken. In fact, he made it look much harder than it was. 

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Vaughan Try: James Taylor could catch a cold in a vacuum.

Laura Cooney: Dr Richard Kimble. #ThingsJamesTaylorCanCatch

Alex Hollingsworth: Taylor would have caught Frank Abagnale in Catch Me If You Can.

SA 120-1 (Cook 46, Amla 43)

What? There are eight Glory Gardens books? That means there's two I haven't read. Is it OK for a 30-year-old to seek them out?

Interesting from England after lunch. It's Chris Woakes, rather than James Anderson. He immediately serves up a half-volley that Amla eases through the covers for four. Very end-of-term from England today. It's like they've been allowed to turn up in their normal clothes and play board games. Or watch Mrs Doubtfire.

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Jacob Webster: Glory Gardens! I always fancied myself as a bit of a Marty Lear - express pace down the hill. Still read 'The Glory Ashes' now.

Sam Robson: There were eight Glory Gardens books in the series as two were written later on including the Glory Gardens Ashes!

Guy Cooper: Sloggers was a cricket version of Jossy's Giants. Both written by the late, great Sid Waddell. 

SA 108-1 (Cook 46, Amla 35)

It's a heavy atmosphere, the sort you would think is suited to swing bowling. The ball, though, has played the straight man. Ernie Wise, if you will. Broad is still bang on it, full to Amla. Only at the end of the over does Amla jam an inside edge for a single.

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Ben: Always considered Woakes an ODI bowler in that he can bat a bit. Finn is a strike bowler. Footit is direct replacement for that.

SA 107-1

Anyway, if you've got any more children's TV shows or books based on cricket, do let me know. I'm feeling nostalgic. The players are back out for the afternoon session. Stuart Broad has the ball.

And, on the subject of Sloggers, I used to enjoy a series of books about the Glory Gardens cricket team. I think there was six in the series about an under-13s side. Their captain was called Hooker.

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Tom O'Neill: I hear that in 2002, Tom Hanks enlisted James Taylor to catch Leonardo Di Caprio #thingsJamesTaylorcancatch

Tony Howe: Lord Lucan #thingsJamesTaylorcancatch

In fact, while we're on the subject, wasn't there a cricket-based kids drama called Sloggers? I think one of the players batted in a bicycle helmet.

Thank you, James. Now go and look up Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego, Next you'll be telling me that you've never heard of Agent Z and the Penguins From Mars, or the Queen's Nose. 

Right, time for me to hand over to Stephan Shemilt, who will take you through the afternoon session, and pour scorn on me for not knowing obscure children's television characters.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"If I was Bayliss I'd be saying 'stand still and listen, you don't deserve any lunch'. The only one deserves to eat is Broad. Anderson was so flat, it was military medium."

Morning summary

So, a session of mainly fruitless toil for England - illuminated by one moment of magic from short-leg ninja James Taylor.

He somehow managed to pocket a brilliant catch off the bowling of Moeen Ali to remove Dean Elgar.

But Stephen Cook has batted with assurance on Test debut, while Hashim Amla has looked back to his fluent best as the hosts have coasted to a hundred.

Will England be getting a rocket from Trev at lunchtime?

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"That was a wonderful session for South Africa. Cook looks solid. If that's what you can dish up in your first Test, it was pretty good. The selectors will be thinking they made a big mistake in not picking him earlier. Very impressive. Amla looked supreme too."

Lunch scorecard

AP

South Africa 107-1 (29 overs)

Batsmen: S Cook 46*, Amla 34*

Fall of wickets: 35-1 (Elgar 20)

Bowling figures: Anderson 8-1-26-0, Broad 5-0-16-0, Moeen 5-3-12-1, Woakes 6-1-30-0, Stokes 5-1-17-0

South Africa won toss

Full scorecard

Simon Mann

BBC Test Match Special

"A very good morning for Stephen Cook. He's played very nicely. England have been flat, not quite at it."

Lunch - SA 107-1

Moeen Ali rattles through another over, and that will be lunch. A job very well done for South Africa after winning the toss. England meanwhile have been stuck in first gear.

Neil Manthorp

BBC Test Match Special

"Stephen Cook earned the right four years ago to be in this team. I've written many columns about him getting a Test call-up. He has a theory that he suffered from being Jimmy Cook's son, even though Jimmy is not a controversial character in any way."

SA 106-1

How good does Stephen Cook look? He looks like he's been the opening the batting for years, which in a way of course, he has - just not in Test matches. A rare foray on the off side adds two more to his first international score.

SA 104-1 (Cook 44, Amla 34)

Some interesting points raised by Matt. For what it's worth, Chris Woakes hasn't bowled well this morning, but I reckon the decision to pick him was fair enough. He's ahead of Mark Footitt in the pecking order. Meanwhile South Africa continue to pile on the runs. Cook brings up the 100 with a three down to short leg, then Amla whips one through midwicket for four.

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I was at Cape Town and Jo’burg Test matches and, especially in Jo’burg, we hardly got out of the blocks in the first hour. I know we are two nil up, but we seem to lack that professional arrogance associated with winning cricket matches. When other teams are winning, everyone knows about it. When we’re winning, we pick players like Chris Woakes and let the opposition have a polite test match rather than striving for 3-0.

Matt

SA 96-1 (Anderson 7-1-24-0)

I've shocked the BBC cricket desk by revealing that I don't know who Carmen Sandiego is. Am I a cultural philistine for not getting that reference? Jimmy A, who has been creaking a touch this morning, tightens up with a maiden.

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Adam Norris: Rumour has it James Taylor caught Carmen Sandiego but let her go as it was too easy #thingsJamesTaylorcancatch

SA 96-1

There appears to be some sort of complementary mini swimming pool in one of the hospitality areas. A few patrons wallowing contentedly, cups of lager in hand. Imagine that at Headingley in May. Bracing. A better over from Stokes, just a couple of singles from it.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Anderson is not there. If I was a selector, I'd be started to wonder if it's the end. They should be worried. I'm concerned. The end comes for everybody."

SA 94-1

Anderson returns. We were expecting a revved-up performance from Anderson this morning after those mischievous AB de Villiers comments, but Jimmy hasn't really got going. Amla, who looks in superb touch, blazes him through the covers for four.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"It's been a sloppy morning, not bad. Anderson has bowled some buffet, Broad has been very good, Woakes hasn't quite got it and Stokes hasn't got his line right."

SA 89-1 (Cook 40, Amla 23)

AP

Stephen Cook is an opener who ticks a lot of the classic opening-batsman cliches. Compact. Organised. Knows him game inside-out. Those epithets can be backhanded compliments, used to damn a batsman who is solid rather than spectacular, but goodness me his solidity looks welcome at the top of the South African order. Another leg-flick for four keeps his score moving.

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Laura Cooney: You know you're paying too much attention to the live text when you notice everyone has new thumbnail photos.

SA 83-1

Not happening for Chris Woakes at the moment. Not in the slightest. Cook times him through mid-on for four, then Amla leathers him through the covers for another boundary.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"England aren't at the races this morning. I think the coach might give them a volley at lunchtime."

SA 71-0 (Stokes 3-1-9-0)

Reuters

South Africa have got some incredibly youthful-looking players in the team, haven't they? The host broadcaster have just shown a graphic with photos of each of the batting line-up and that 6-7-8 of Bavuma, De Kock and Rabada wouldn't look out of place in an under-12s team. Cook grits out a maiden to Stokes.

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Ed Morgan: I'd love to see stats on how many catches have been dropped off Ben Stokes in Tests.

Greg: How many times have we dropped Amla in this series? Charmed.

Jimmybrigg: Wicket keeper should only dive across 1st slip if they are certain they are going to take it. Otherwise trust slip to get it.

SA 71-1 (Cook 30, Amla 15)

Stephen Cook likes a sideways shuffle, but it can get you into trouble. The opener crabs over to the off side and it struck in front of the stumps by Chris Woakes. Big shout, but correctly adjudged to be sliding down by umpire Dharmasena.

Broad recalled to ODI squad

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Interesting news from the England set-up.

Stuart Broad has been added to the England one-day squad for the five matches that follow this Test series, replacing Liam Plunkett, who has a thigh strain.

Broad, the number one Test bowler in the world, has not played an ODI since last year's World Cup.

Read more here

SA 70-1

Hashim Amla is getting into his work here - he looks in the mood to make England pay for that dropped catch. Stokes overpitches and Amla, all silky wrists and effortless timing, eases him through point for a boundary. Stokes, already simmering after that drop, boots the turf in rage.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Woakes didn't do anything wrong in Durban, so you've got to be fair. I don't think Footitt has been pulling up any trees in practice."

SA 65-1 (Cook 29, Amla 11)

Not there Christopher! Too short from Woakes, sitting up nicely for Amla and getting the treatment through point. The next ball, he strays down the leg side and it brushes off Amla's pads for four byes.

Michael Vaughan

Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I think this is going straight to Cook. Bairstow goes late and takes Cook's eyes off the ball."

Dropped catch

Oh, that's a chance! You know what they say about Ben Stokes making things happen? Well, he's at it again here, inducing a notable event, as he draws the edge of Hashim Amla with a perfect tempting length. It's straight at first slip but Jonny Bairstow flings himself at it like a bodyguard trying to take a bullet intended for the president. He doesn't get anything on it but he does enough to put off Alastair Cook, who shells the chance. How costly will that be?

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Chris Bamford: All the talk of Jimmy Cook, Stephen Cook's dad, makes me think of a hybrid Jimmy Anderson and Alastair Cook. Just imagine that.

SA 50-1

Stephen Cook: likes it on his legs, it would be fair to say. Nothing wrong with that though - Graeme Smith built a career on it. Woakes the villain this time, straying on to the opener's pads and getting eased to the fine-leg boundary. Fifty up for the hosts.

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Grant Kennett: Poor old Belly...Compton has slotted nicely into the number 3, and now Taylor is snatching worldies in his field slot. Ta Ta...

SA 45-1 (Moeen 3-2-4-1)

Moeen finally concedes a run off the 17th ball of his spell when Cook shuffles across to off stump - as seems to be his wont - and flicks Moeen off his pads for four.

SA 41-1 (Cook 20, Amla 0)

Stephen Cook is settling in nicely. He's an hour into his Test career now and by now those early-morning Test-debut jitters have been shaken off. He's playing on instinct, not the occasion now. Chris Woakes overpitches and he treats it just as he would in any other match: with a booming square-drive to the fence.

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

"Moeen Ali is a bit of a grunter. The Sharapova of off-spinners."

SA 36-1

Moeen rushes through another over. The bad news for England is that Hashim Amla averages a princely 85 at this ground - they'll be desperate to get him early. He's still to get off the mark after eight deliveries.

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Charlie Rhodes: James Taylor are you kidding me! Unbelievable bravery to take that catch!

Jay: I don't think there's any decent way to state where Taylor has pulled that out from.

Jack Blackburn: James Taylor you beauty. The sort of haphazard genius that village cricket players dream of. Worth his place as short leg alone.

SA 36-1 (Cook 15, Amla 0)

The ridiculous thing about that Taylor catch was the anticipation. As soon as Elgar moved to play the shot, he was ghosting into position, following the batsman like his own shadow.

Now then, Woakes to bowl his first over, and a decent one it is too. Just a wide off it.

SA 35-1

So, Moeen the partnership-breaker, although in reality Taylor must surely claim 80 per cent of that wicket. Hashim Amla is the new man.

Henry Blofeld

BBC Test Match Special

"He's a magician in there."

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

Reuters

"That's the catch of the series so far. He was looking to attack and it got the inside edge of the bat. It's gone into his stomach, off his leg."

WICKET

Getty Images

He's done it again! Can you believe it? Moeen into the attack, Elgar looking to attack, dances down the track and flicks into the leg side. Taylor moves to cover the shot, manages to deflect the ball up off his leg and onto his stomach, and then as the ball comes down, he squeezes his thighs together like Xenia Onatopp to trap it in there and prevent it hitting the floor. After much checking of all the available angles, it's ruled a catch and Elgar has to go.

Umpire review

Has James Taylor pulled off another worldie at short leg? I think he might have, you know, but the umpires want another look...

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Nick Johnston: Glorious weather looking from my office window in Centurion, looks like a day to bat.

SA 35-0 (Broad 5-0-16-0)

Lovely shot from Cook, getting nicely on top of the bounce and nudging a Stuart Broad delivery fine off his hips for four. He already looks a much tougher customer at the top of the order than Stiaan van Zyl. I'm told that of the 35 runs this morning, 31 have come on the leg side. The spirit of Graeme Smith lives on!

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

AP

"There's not been much swing and the wicket has been slow. Anderson has been searching for swing but it hasn't been there. South Africa have capitalised on the bad balls."

SA 28-0 (Cook 10, Elgar 18)

Jimmy Cook, the erstwhile Somerset opener and father of Stephen, is watching on from the stands. You may remember him as the possessor of a rather fine moustache, and you'll be pleased to know the old soup-strainer is still there, albeit in slightly streamlined form these days. Young Stephen favouring a slightly more modern facial hair style, three-day stubble on upper lip and chin. He adds two to his score with an open-faced shot through backward point.

Are England right to pick Woakes?

Simon Field: Great to see @chriswoakes getting another crack. Only fair after his good display in the first Test!!

Dan Gee: I like it when we play Woakes. Gives me hope that I might get a go, with a dodgy radar, a gippy knee and a batting average of 3.

JacobNT-D: At this rate Footit will be on the "Best players who never played for England" list. Will he ever get a chance?

SA 26-0

Reuters

Elgar is definitely looking the more fluent of these two batsmen this morning and Broad helps his cause by digging in a rather half-hearted bouncer that Elgar seizes on and hoicks to the cow-corner boundary. This new opening partnership have safely ticked off the first half hour.

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Dave Payne: When you've been embarrassed on home soil in a Test series, maybe focusing on your own side's failings would be a better option.

Rich Adams: England might have cracks, but with 5 changes SA has deep ravines akin to the Grand Canyon.

George Gray: Poor start for Jimmy today 3 leg stump half volleys in 3 overs... Maybe AB was right?

SA 22-0 (Cook 8, Elgar 14)

Chris Woakes into the action with a sprawling, goalie-style stop at third man to prevent a four from an Elgar pull shot.

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Last time South Africa had five changes between Tests in a single series was 1949-50 against Australia."

SA 19-0

There's a man in the crowd wearing - I think - an improvised watermelon helmet on his head. I pass no comment, merely offer it up for your information. Broad finds Cook's inside edge and the batsmen run two.

Jonathan Agnew

BBC Test Match Special

"It's going to be a noisy Test match. We've got the Barmies and someone who fancies himself as a nightclub DJ."

SA 17-0

Here's the news you don't want to hear if you're an England bowler: Dean Elgar and Stephen Cook have batted together four times in first-class cricket, and average 73.5 in partnership. Still, Test match cricket, different animal and all that. Elgar clouts another Anderson freebie to the fence for four.

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Stephen Cook has 35 first-class centuries, the ninth most by a Test debutant. His father Jimmy is joint-second with Graeme Hick on that list, with 57. WG Grace had 62, but his career began before the first Test match."

SA 13-0 (Cook 6, Elgar 7)

Not sure about Stephen Cook's repertoire of shots, but he's certainly got the full range of opening batsman's facial expressions. There's the cheeks-puffed-out, 'ooh I say that was close' look as Stuart Broad whizzes one a little closer than expected to the top of off stump. Then we see the exaggerated, 'nowhere near my bat' look of innocence as Anderson appeals for a catch down the leg side.

Geoffrey Boycott

Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

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"Anderson doesn't look like he's enjoying his bowling. There's no great ooomph, just the odd great ball."

SA 12-0

Cook and Elgar of course present a new challenge for the bowlers, as they're a left-hand right-hand combo. Not so easy for Jimmy et al to settle into that groove outside off stump. Elgar tucks a single into a gap at midwicket.

Cook v Cook

Andrew Samson

BBC Test Match Special statistician

This is the fifth time opposing opening batsmen have shared the same surname in a Test. The full list:

• Frank Hearne (SA) & Alec Hearne (Eng), who were brothers - 1892
• Bruce Mitchell (SA) & Arthur Mitchell (Eng) - 1935
• Alan Turner (Aus) & Glenn Turner (NZ) - 1977
• Graeme Smith (SA) & Devon Smith (WI) - 2005
• Stephen Cook (SA) & Alastair Cook (Eng) - 2016

SA 11-0

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Stuart Broad now to deliver his first over as officially the world's best bowler. That's got to put an extra pep in your step, hasn't it? In public, Broad has greeted the news with admirable modesty, but I bet in private he's been crowing all week. "Jimmy, could you pass the salt to...the world's NUMBER ONE Test bowler please?"

Anyway, I digress. Just a couple of singles off his first over.

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"I don't believe in dead-rubber games. There's a long history between these sides - there's a lot of pride at stake. It's not a great feeling losing a Test match. England will want to get on the plane knowing they have won this 3-0."

SA 9-0 (Cook 5, Elgar 4)

As Jerusalem rings out around the ground, Jimmy Anderson makes a rather sedate start, drifting a gentle loosener onto Stephen Cook's pads. Cook gets his international career off to a rollicking start by clipping it off his legs for four. That alone will earn him at bragging rights at the Cook family Sunday lunches: father Jimmy lasted only one ball on his Test debut. 

Anderson, in generous mood this morning, offers Dean Elgar a leg-side half-volley to get him started too. Another four results, and the hosts are off to a flyer.

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"It will be nervous times for South Africa this morning."

So, a big day for Stephen Cook and, right on cue, there he is, out in the middle. Jimmy Anderson, well and truly revved up by those fighting words from AB de Villiers, has the shiny new ball in his hand. Let's get down to business...

MVAUGHAN40

Who is SA debutant Stephen Cook?

Mark Boucher

Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"He's similar to his dad - he likes to cut and pull. He'll be nervous so it will be interesting to see how England bowl at him."

Too many Cooks

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It's a big Test match for England's Alastair Cook - the skipper is 117 runs shy of becoming only the 12th batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs and the first player to do so for England.

Meanwhile, South Africa also have a Cook at the top of the order: Stephen Cook, who makes his Test debut at the ripe old age of 33. He's got a solid first-class record behind him, with 35 hundreds and an average of 41.

The latter Cook is himself the son of Jimmy Cook, the former Somerset and South Africa batsman.

Are England right to pick Woakes?

Pete Hardy: England want 3-0 so have gone for Woakes as the experienced player to bring in for the injured Finn.

Joe Mannick: Absolutely gutted for Footitt! Guess England see Woakes as a like for like replacement when Anderson hangs up his boots.

Broad the best?

After his heroics in the third Test, Stuart Broad has now officially vaulted to the top of the ICC Test bowling rankings.

The Nottinghamshire seamer now sits above India's Ravichandran Ashwin and South Africa's Dale Steyn.

Sir Ian Botham and Steve Harmison are the only other England bowlers to have been ranked number one.

Test Match Special on air

Fighting talk

The normally reserved AB de Villiers was in feisty mood at yesterday's news conference as he poured a bit of kerosene on the smouldering embers of this series.

In what was widely interpreted as a dig at Jimmy Anderson, the Proteas skipper said: "Their bowling is experienced but some of the guys have lost some pace over the years."

He added: "The batting is not 100% best-in-the-world material, there are areas we can expose if we start well with the ball. We can find cracks. They are not unbeatable.

Miaow.

Get Involved

Tong Park Esholt CC: Safe option Woakes, would've liked to have seen what Footitt could do - more of a Finn replacement too.

Dan Armstrong: Good to see Woakes getting the nod again, has had an incredibly unlucky Test career so far.

Line-ups

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South Africa: Dean Elgar, Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers (capt), JP Duminy, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Piedt.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Alex Hales, Nick Compton, Joe Root, James Taylor, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffaney

TV umpire: Rod Tucker; Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle; Reserve umpire: Shaun George

Team news

Good lord - AB de Villiers reveals South Africa have made a whopping five changes to their side. As predicted, opener Stephen Cook comes in for his debut, with bowlers Dane Piedt and Kyle Abbott returning to the XI. Keeper Quinton de Kock and batsman JP Duminy round out the changes.

For England, just the one adjustment - Chris Woakes replacing the injured Steven Finn.

'We've got to do a lot of hard work'

England captain Alastair Cook: "We would have batted, but there is a bit of tackiness in there. We've got to do a lot of hard work in this first innings. There's a lot of personal things, this is the week a lot of guys can stamp their place in the side."

'My gut feel tells me to bat'

South Africa captain AB de Villiers: "It will be a tough first hour or so but my gut feel tells me to bat first. We want to do the basics well and apply the pressure we had at the Wanderers for longer than we did there. We've got tot do the small things right."

South Africa win toss

Watched on by a giant mascot lion, AB de Villiers calls correctly and South Africa will bat.

Changes afoot?

England will be making at least one change to their winning formula after fast bowler Steven Finn was ruled out of the rest of the tour. Chris Woakes and Mark Footitt fighting it out for that spot.

For South Africa meanwhile, more substantial renovations are required. There could well be a debut for 33-year-old opener Stephen Cook, while bowler Hardus Viljoen and keeper Dane Vilas are set to drop out.

Test Match Special on air at 08:15 GMT

Good morning

Hello and welcome to live coverage of day one of the fourth and final Test between England and South Africa. England, as we've mentioned, have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

The venue for this one is Centurion, and the toss is coming up very shortly indeed.

Plenty to play for

Yes, I know, I know, it's a dead rubber. But chances are, if you're reading this at 07:50 in the morning, you don't really believe in dead rubbers, and quite frankly, nor do we.

For England, the series may be won, but there is still plenty on the line. Alastair Cook and Jonny Bairstow both have records in sight. Stuart Broad is looking to nail down his newfound status as the world's best bowler. Jimmy Anderson will be revved up after AB de Villiers had a cheeky pop. Alex Hales and Nick Compton are still trying to secure their place in the side.

And if all that wasn't enough, the chance to stuff the world's best side 3-0 in their own backyard doesn't come around too often, does it?