All-rounder Dwaine Pretorius is on for the first time today and brings about the first serious lbw appeal of the morning with this first ball. It's too high, though. It has actually hit Pope's elbow.

Pretorius took a nasty blow trying to take a catch yesterday. Apparently he split the skin on his finger so badly that you could see bone. Ew.

Another good delivery ends the over with Root driving and missing.

Vikram Solanki
Ex-England batsman on The Cricket Social

To not play a spinner, in what is an inexperienced attack, is a questionable decision.

Yes, this pitch is one which generally your seamers will operate on. But you need to give them a rest with a holding player and Maharaj has played that role many times in his career.

It's slightly different in England's case because Root can deliver that role.

These two have run pretty well too. They have stolen singles where others may have not. On one or two occasions it has been quite tight but nothing too alarming.

Another one to Pope's name brings up the hundred partnership. It has come in just 138 balls. That's a very good pace.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Johannesburg

It has been a good innings here by Root who has, to some degree, played second fiddle to Pope.

50 for Joe Rootpublished at 09:37 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

09:37 GMT 25 January 2020

Fifty number 47 (FORTY SEVEN) for Joe Root. Ollie Pope may have caught the eye more this morning but this has been a really good innings from England's skipper.

Don't forget about him just yet.

Image source, Gett

Andy Zaltzman
Test Match Special statistician on The Cricket Social

At the start of this day, Joe Root was the 40th highest Test run scorer. Already today, he has gone past Desmond Haynes, Clive Lloyd and Mark Taylor.

This series is starting to feel like the last Ashes series Down Under with England playing the role of Australia. Remember when England's bowlers would get into a decent position but when the game was in the balance Australia would find a big partnership and take the game away? It might be happening for the second match in a row here.

Root ramps another predictable bouncer over the slips for four.

Daniel Norcross
The Cricket Social

It's all getting a bit predictable from South Africa, they're just trying to bump out Joe Root.

Is Root getting jealous of all of the love for Ollie Pope? He plays an emphatic pull off the quick Anrich Nortje, keeping it down and crunching it to the boundary.

That was almost a 'don't forget about me' kinda shot.

Vikram Solanki
Ex-England batsman on The Cricket Social

Anybody that has come across Ollie Pope, right from schoolboy cricket, will have been impressed by him. Not just his ability with the bat but his character and personality. He's an impressive young man who is desperate to succeed and to work hard at it. He deserves all the success that comes his way.

Better from Root as he plays a late cut through the gully. He had to arch his dodgy back to get the ball away as it came back into him before using his hands to beat Temba Bavuma. Good shot.

Pope, looking the calming presence in his seventh Test at the age of 22, gives his skipper a pat on the back to say "well played".

Tony: Are we seeing the passing of 'the best English batsman' mantle from Root to Pope here? So good to watch.

Andy: Another Ollie Pope 50. This young lad is already very, very good. He will be a superstar in all three formats for England if he keeps improving.

But that's what South Africa are after. Root is not in control playing another Nortje bouncer and almost chips to deep mid-wicket. Faf du Plessis has his hands on his head at slip. That was almost the wicket he was planning for.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Johannesburg

Terrific innings by Pope, it really is. He came in during a bit of crisis yesterday but he makes batting look so easily. He plays the ball so late, picking up runs behind square and covering the pace.

I suspect Joe Root loves batting with Pope because they both like scoring at the same pace. I like this combination.

50 for Ollie Popepublished at 63.2 overs

63.2 overs

Ollie Pope can do no wrong at the moment. His stock just keeps rising and rising.

Nortje bangs it in short but he pulls smartly for four to bring up his third 50+ score of the series.

It's really hard not to get excited about Ollie Pope.

Image source, Getty Images

Niall O'Brien
Former Ireland wicketkeeper on The Cricket Social

South Africa are just searching for something here. But there isn't too much energy in the field, they're just going through the motions.

Faf du Plessis wants more fire. It's time for a change of approach. Anrich Nortje is going to thunder in with some short stuff with catchers in place.

Paul Farbrace
Ex-England assistant coach on The Cricket Social

Root for me is one of the best players in the world because he rotates the strike so well, he has the ability to knock it into the off side and get singles from good balls but put away the bad balls for boundaries.

And it's exactly the same with Pope, he's the same. They put the bowlers under pressure and don't let bowlers dominate them.

Dane Paterson and Anrich Nortje are bowling now. Root and Pope have seen off the first spells of South Africa's first two bowlers. That's a tick.