Summary

  • SA need Test record 466 to win

  • Root 58, Sibley 44, Curran 35

  • Debutant Hendricks 5-64

  • Injured Philander bowls only 1.3 overs

  • South Africa 183 - deficit of 217

  • England do not enforce follow-on

  • Wood 5-46, Woakes 2-38, Stokes 2-47

  • De Kock 76, Pretorius 37

  • Fourth Test, day three, Johannesburg

  • England lead 2-1 in four-Test series

  1. Postpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    That's us done for today. Thanks, as always, for joining us.

    Here's Stephan's report from the day.

    England are closing in on a 3-1 series victory away from home.

    Will we see any fight from South Africa? Or will the tourist manage to wrap it up with a day to spare?

    Join us tomorrow and find out.

  2. Postpublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Steven Finn
    England bowler on The Cricket Social

    Coming into today, you thought could De Kock and Pretorius hang around long enough to frustrate England? The rest of the lower order fell away meakly.

    With the bat, it was important that England didn't lose early wickets. Even though they have lost wickets, the day has been all England's.

  3. 'A special day'published at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    England bowler Mark Wood, who took 5-46, on Sky Sports: "I'm over the moon - a very special day.

    "I wish I'd changed my run-up sooner. Since I've done that it's been a lot better. I've got a little bit more momentum; it's take pressure off my body. It's been nice to take a load off.

    "I put seven times my weight through my front foot. I'm wrapped up like a mummy under my sock here. It's not the ideal action, but it's something I've learned to live with."

    On playing back-to-back Test matches: "I pulled up a bit sore from the last game. I'm delighted that they made that decision and kept me in the team."

  4. Postpublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Let's hear from Mark Wood who, as always, looks at home with a mic in his hand ...

  5. Postpublished at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Johannesburg

    It has been a good winter for Root. To come through all that madness of the first Test to be in a situation where they will win this series 3-1, with a pretty young turn, is a very good effort indeed. You feel that this is a team that is playing as a unit together. They understand each other.

  6. Postpublished at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    There may not have been a century from the England batting order but the number of wickets we have seen fall today, albeit with tourists approaching this afternoon rather aggressively, has shown that the batsmen haven't had it all that easy on this pitch.

    England have put together been some very important partnerships when needed.

  7. How's stat?!published at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician on The Cricket Social

    Hendricks is the 24th South African to take five wickets in an innings on Test debut.

  8. Postpublished at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Michael Carberry
    Former England batsman on The Cricket Social

    It has been a good Test match. England have dominated. Being hyper-critical, they would have liked someone to get three figures. Joe Root's tactics have been spot on. Mark Wood has been brilliant to watch.

  9. Postpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Johannesburg

    South Africa won't do it. I don't think this game will go beyond tomorrow.

  10. Close of playpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    South Africa need 466 to win

    Dean Elgar and Pieter Malan will come in tomorrow morning chasing a Test record 466 to win. They have two days. But nothing at all so far in this match has suggested that they could pull off what would be somewhat of a miracle.

  11. Postpublished at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Steven Finn
    England bowler on The Cricket Social

    Phenomenal catch.

  12. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Root c Du Plessis b Hendricks 58 (Eng 248 all out)

    What. A. Catch. One of the best you'll ever see. Joe Root slices towards gully and Faf du Plessis, diving to his right, both feet off the ground, takes an astonishing one-handed catch. He was flying.

    Hendricks picks up a five-wicket-haul and can thank his captain.

    And with that, is the end of the England innings, the end of the day.

    Faf du PlessisImage source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Michael Carberry
    Former England batsman on The Cricket Social

    This is happy hour now. England can really put the foot down without having to bowl tonight.

  14. How's stat?!published at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician on The Cricket Social

    That is only Root's fifth six in the last 5,000 balls he has faced in Test cricket.

  15. 6 runs

    Eng 248-9published at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Eng lead by 465

    Jeez! Joe Root has middled Pretorius into cow corner for a six. England can have some fun in the next seven minutes.

  16. Postpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Adam Mountford
    BBC Test Match Special in Johannesburg

    I’m not sure how confident the South Africa TV commentators are about their team getting something out of this game. Those currently off air are sitting in the makeshift green room situated behind us and have turned off the cricket and are instead watching the Tranmere v Manchester United FA Cup tie. Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock is a big United fan and seems to be enjoying the score at Prenton Park more than the Wanderers.

  17. Postpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Johannesburg

    Wood shot across outside his off stump. I'm not going to knock him, but I'm not sure where that was ever going to go.

  18. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Wood b Pretorius 18 (Eng 240-9)

    Mark Wood walks a foot or so over to his right and is bowled behind his legs, the ball hitting the taking out the off stump.

    Pretorius has his second wicket of the innings, Wood came and did what he has to do.

    Stuart Broad is the last man in.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    #bbccricket

    Mike Swanson: Mark Wood to open at T20 World Cup.

  20. 50 runs

    50 for Rootpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2020

    Eng 239-8 (Lead by 457 runs)

    I wonder if you already had these cricketers in paintings in your locker, or you're frantically looking through album after album trying to spot one. Either way, keep 'em coming.

    Mark Wood clears the front leg and punishes Hendricks through mid-wicket. One bounce, four.

    A Root four through covers, followed by a dab and run single brings up Root's fifty. From 89 balls. Slow and steady.

    The England captain has three minutes to declare tonight. Doesn't look like it's going to happen.