Josh Cook: Love how @root66 is growing a beard to make sure people know he's the first team captain and not the u-19s captain

Ollie Davies: Seems very odd looking at the pitch to keep Dawson in the team. TRJ must be fuming!

Aidan Thorpe: I've got tickets for day 4 at Trent Bridge so I'm in the curious position of wanting England to do well, but not too well, today

Image source, Reuters

England have a quick huddle, arms wrapped around cable knit jumpers, as Joe Root passes on some final instructions. Dean Elgar and Heino Kuhn stride out, looking slightly circumspect.

James Anderson to open the bowling for England

Image source, Getty Images

England seem to relish playing at Trent Bridge where many a touring batsman has struggled against the seam and swing.

Their last outing here was a thrashing of Australia in 2015, when Stuart Broad took 8-15, while James Anderson has more Test wickets in Nottingham than any other bowler. England have not lost a Test here for 10 years.

Skipper Joe Root said: "We have some great memories here. Stuart is excited to get another opportunity to bowl on his home ground.

"We've played some good cricket here over the past four or five years and we want to make sure that continues this week."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

It's a strong decision from Faf du Plessis to bat first. You have to look longer term in the match. Getting runs on the board puts pressure on England. Yes, it'll be difficult this morning but he's backing his batsmen.

Image source, Getty Images

South Africa have made three changes from their defeat at Lord's. Faf du Plessis returns to captain the side after missing the first Test to attend the birth of his child.

Chris Morris and Duanne Olivier are also included in the XI with JP Duminy and Theunis de Bruyn left out while Kagiso Rabada is suspended following his expletive-laden outburst.

South Africa: Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Chris Morris, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Morne Morkel.

South Africa captainFaf du Plessis: "It's a tricky decision because there's clouds in the sky. The first hour will be a challenge but we'll be ready for it. It was different watching from the sidelines in the first Test but I got some valuable insight from the commentators!"

England captain Joe Root: "I'd have had a bowl. Hopefully the cloud cover will bring our seamers into the game. If you look at the bowlers' previous performances at this venue, they've had a lot of success."

Image source, Getty Images

Joe Root flicks the coin in the air, and South Africa captain Faf du Plessis calls tails. And he calls correctly.

Despite a bit of cloud around and overcast conditions Du Plessis elects to bat first.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Trent Bridge

Fresh at Trent Bridge, breezy, even a hint of rain in the air. The pubs outside the ground (and there's a lot of them) are well populated and there's a heavy amount of on-foot traffic from the direction of the city centre. One chap has already won the fancy dress. He's fully padded up. Whites, gloves, the lot.

Image source, Getty Images

England have kept faith with the same side that beat South Africa in the first Test.

Spinner Liam Dawson retains his place which means Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones will have to wait a little longer for that first Test cap.

England team: Joe Root (capt, Yorkshire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Keaton Jennings (Durham), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Jonny Bairstow (wkt) (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Mark Wood (Durham), James Anderson (Lancashire)

Image source, Getty Images

Joe Root had a dream start to life as England Test captain with a a 211-run win at Lord's in the first Test.

But the 26-year-old, never one to rest on his laurels, will be all too aware that the hard work starts.

In the past two years England have only won successive Tests on three occasions. Root will be desperate to build some momentum and make winning a habit.