Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

I think we can be successful in the Ashes. We have a confident and strong middle order in Stokes, Root, Bairstow, Ali. That's where you score all your runs in Test cricket. A strong middle order like that and you'll rarely get less than 450/500 on good wickets. I'm bullish about our chances.

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This is the last over before the new ball becomes available, and De Bruyn races through it, sticking to the early 70's throughout. At the end of the over there's some arm wafting towards the dressing room, and a Proteas sub runs on with the new cherry in his hand.

John: And so starts the slow dismantling of another England captain by the English moaners with their criticism. Give it a rest.

Jim Partridge: Re: Mike and Root's free ride? (see 17:26 entry) ... third youngest player to reach 5,000 runs, average 53.25, 12 100s and 30 50s.

James Matthews: By "free ride" do we mean "acknowledgement that he's one of the best batsmen we've ever had?"

Bairstow reaches for a cut shot but Maharaj spears it wide, and Bairstow ends up thrashing at the fresh Manchester air. He gets down on one knee to sweep but the ball is a little fuller than he expected, and the ball bounces up to hit the toe of the bat and somehow manages to roll away for a couple.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

There's a more mature air about Stokes' batsmanship - about understanding situations, building innings, going up through gears but then going down again when needed. I think he is turning into a very, very fine Test match batsman.

De Bruyn quickly hustles through another over, with Stokes cutting him square but he's unable to beat the field. The noise has just gone up a touch in what Old Trafford call the party stand. I sense a beer snake...

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

The trouble sometimes with this England side is that they only have one way to play, and they showed some understanding of that at The Oval. If you're 30-3 and your steady batsmen have gone, then the likes of Bairstow, Stokes and Ali have to bat sensibly. I think that is England's problem and the reason for the collapses. They can't just give their wicket away, it's Test cricket.

I find the inability to keep to over rates utterly infuriating. It's one of my cricket bug bearers. Along with people who stand up in the middle of an over. Stokes sweeps Maharaj again, with plenty of oomph in his arms as he picks up a single. You sense that he'd love to smash Maharaj into the stands but the match situation is holding him back.

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Mike: Why does Root get such a free ride? He gets in nearly every innings and converts rarely.

Nick Tyrone: South Africa are bowling at a completely reasonable over rate today. Isn't it weird that that's weird?

Theunis de Bruyn is back into the attack. Describing him as medium pace seems unfair to other medium pacers. It ain't coming down quickly. That's a horrible no ball to get the over going, a rank, low full toss that Stokes tonks past two fielders and away to the boundary. Short from de Bruyn and Stokes pulls, but ends up sending it straight to a fielder, all along the ground, before Bairstow gets into the act with a couple through cover.

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Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

It's a shame England lost those wickets at crucial times, otherwise someone could have tried to take Maharaj out of the attack. You have to be spot on with the line.

It's just starting to grow dark over Old Trafford as Maharaj continues to trundle in. Five dot balls are watched carefully by Bairstow, before he gets down on one knee and hammers a sweep through short leg and away for four. Props to Temba Bavuma at short leg, who jumped up really quickly to avoid getting a nasty whack on the ankle.

Jon, who clearly has too much time on his hands: If Stokes gets out for 51 he will have identical batting and bowling averages. 34.46.

(I love a niche stat)

Olivier continues and he squares Bairstow up, the batsman aiming a sort of shovel drive at a ball that is far too close to his body for that. Morne Morkel comes haring over for a chat with the bowler and a few words of encouragement, as Olivier tries to tempt Bairstow into a big drive. A delivery on middle stump is picked up by Bairstow and whipped away for an easy single.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

It's been one of those days where as a bowler you fancy getting the odd one. Maharaj has done a good job in drying up one end and letting the seamers work on the other.

Drinks are over and done with, and Maharaj throws the ball from hand to hand, waiting for Bairstow to settle himself. Bairstow pushes through the legs of short leg and, despite a hint of hesitation from Ben Stokes, the two dart through for an easy single.

Here is that review against Bairstow. I'll leave it to you guys to make your mind up...

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Always a good view when you're a giraffe.

Maybe we could stick him on third umpire duty, to settle this argument once and for all?

Olivier continues, and Stokes absolutely leathers him through gully for four. That brings up the 200 for England. At the other end, Hashim Amla and Jonny Bairstow aer having a good ol' chinwag about something that's got them both grinning. Stokes sees out the rest of the over, and that'll be drinks.

Well, here's one that was definitely out - Joe Root, caught on the crease by Olivier.