Terry Mahoney: In chess and boxing, rather than suffer an inevitable defeat, resigning is a respectable option. I think that's where we are now.

Christopher Beck: Imagine what the South Africa attack would've done to England had Dale Steyn been fit...

Here's an odd one. Morkel off, the spin of Dane Piedt on.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Marsland: And so ends the brief Test career of Alex Hales.

James Willson: Hales was always going to struggle debuting against the SA pace attack. Give him time to prove himself.

Go-Kart Mozart: Adam Lyth > Alex Hales.

South Africa's answer to Lazarus, Kyle Abbott, is into the attack, fresh from a trip to Lourdes to heal his hamstring. Last night he was out of the game, now he's bowling. Amazing what the physio can do. Or the incentive of winning a Test match. His pace is OK, low 80s, and the line decent. Comtpton half-edges, half guides through third man four.

Mark Boucher
Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"Morne Morkel's tail is up. He knows he can go all out for his captain in maybe five or six overs. He is asking questions with every single ball."

Image source, Rex Features

Hmmmm. If I'm being critical of Cook, it can be said that he was stuck on the crease to a ball of full length. If he's been forward, with his head over the ball, the catch would not have been there to be taken. I think the most surprised man in Centurion was Morne Morkel, who almost kneed himself in his own eye in celebration. Joe Root the new man, immediately playing the most gorgeous back-foot drive for four. He's sickeningly talented.

Mark Boucher
Former South Africa wicketkeeper on BBC Test Match Special

"It was a bit of a lazy push down the ground, and a fantastic catch from Morne Morkel. He is very tall and grabbed it below the knee. That wicket is the one South Africa wanted. Alastair Cook can stick around." 

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Compton just caught Cook's eye and went: 'Was that close?'"  

Close!published at 15:33

15:33

Eng 3-1

Nick Compton, if you want to stay in the team, do not run the captain out. Pietersen-esque Red Bull single from Compton, Cook not even in the frame when the throw misses. Compton sheepishly asks the skipper if it was a good run. Cook just glares back.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"Alastair Cook is in the zone. He's only one off 19 but it looks like he's got himself into a good rhythm."

The problem with the uneven bounce is that it gets into the minds of those who have seen it. That might have even been a reason why Hales was flat-footed. Morkel back over the wicket to Cook, who continues to do a good job of batting without actually using his bat.

Paul Baldwin: Was just about to tweet how great it would be to see Hales just smack it around for an hour or two.

Andy Sykes: Feel sorry for Alex Hales. When your luck is not in you get grubbers like that.

Looking again, I'm trying to decide if Hales could have done anything. His feet went nowhere, but he wouldn't have expected that low bounce. He'll need runs in the Championship early in the summer in order to keep his place. As for England, their task of saving the game has just got harder. Nick Compton the new man. He needs a little score too.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Rex Features

"A desperate disappointment for Alex Hales."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"There's no point in reviewing that. Nipping back, caught on the crease, a perfect start for South Africa. That's Test cricket for you. If you make big errors in the first innings when the pitch is at its best, it's not going to get any easier for you. There wasn't a great deal he could do about that."

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"If England have all their wickets in hand tonight, they'll fancy their chances of saving this."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"It's so far so good for England, they're playing nice and straight. There's been no alarming low balls as yet. With the weather like this, it's fine, I can see them carrying on for a while yet."

There is much soul-searching in establishing the truth over the latest play can go on for - Andrew Samson has it at 16:34 GMT.

The floodlights reflect off the shiny new ball, which is being speared down from a great height by the King of Limbs, Morne Morkel. Cook only plays when absolutely necessary, with a Morkel a touch too wide. No threat to England. Yet. I'm told there are a potential 21 overs left in the day. If we get all of those in I'll do tomorrow's live text with Stephanie Shemilt at the top of the page.*

*if the boss lets me, which he probably won't.