So, England have dethroned the number one ranked Test team in the world. If they keep going like this, it can’t be long before they take that mantle for themselves.
Brilliant performance from England – world class from Stuart Broad and Joe Root. Show-stopping from Ben Stokes. They move on to Centurion for the fourth and final Test next week. That’s all from us. We’ll see you then!
The absolute state of this...
Spell binding from Broad ... pic.twitter.com/PJRYu01bS4
— Dave Bird (@BardDave) January 16, 2016
Stuart Broad is the man of the match.
“We got some help today: the clouds were here, the lights were on. Titchy Taylor took a few great catches.”
Seven times he’s got five wickets in one spell.
“I was quite tired by the end there [he bowled 10 overs on the bounce]. I got in a rhythm and it was just a good day to bowl. I wish I could take that wicket around with us most places, I must admit.”
Great win @englandcricket!!! Broady was top drawer! #EnjoyTheBeers
— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) January 16, 2016
Updated
AB de Villiers is not a happy chappy.
“Broady just got on one his rolls,” says Alastair Cook, who seems a bit confused by it all. “I don’t tell Stokesy to do anything,” he answers, when HD Ackerman asks if he was told to push the rate on.
As for the celebrations: “The director of cricket, Andrew Strauss, told us to have a big one. So that’s what we’ll do!”
Bloody lads.
Match report from a pretty special day of Test cricket can be found here.
Broad, whose magic spells are fast becoming one of the grandest sights in British sport, finished with six for 17 to roll the punch-drunk Proteas for 83 before England’s Joe Root and James Taylor took the tourists to victory. At one stage after lunch Broad had taken five for five in 31 balls for the cost of just one run – and that off a dropped catch.
THIS
Winning helps of course but this England team is stupidly likeable. Just seem to be having a hell of a lot of fun #SAvENG
— Amy Lofthouse (@amy_cricket) January 16, 2016
One of the best feelings I've had!!! 😄😄😄🍻🍻🍻 #SAvENG
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) January 16, 2016
Some on the whistle reaction...
Joe Root faced the first ball of the day and the last. Quite a lot happened in between.
— Simon Mann (@Cricket_Mann) January 16, 2016
Yeeeeeeees!! Well done the lads. Tough tour to win in South Africa! Now sing that team song loud and proud!!!
— Mark Wood (@MAWood33) January 16, 2016
It's also their first series win v SA since Vaughan's side won there in 2004-05
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) January 16, 2016
Updated
ENGLAND WIN THE TEST AND THE SERIES
Joe Root comes on strike and skips down to Elgar to flash him through midwicket to seal an England win by seven wickets!
The 2-0 scoreline, with just one to play, means it is their first away series win in five attempts. Alastair Cook now has two Ashes wins, a series win in India and now one in South Africa to his name.
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22nd over: England 72-3 (Root 3, Taylor 1)
Cook goes to a good ball, Taylor comes out and gets off the mark to midwicket. “I’m getting nervous now,” writes Mark Hooper. TAKE THE LIGHT LADS!
Two to win
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Geoff Lemon, of this and many other parishes, emails in: “Compton got out trying to win it with a six in the hope that one day, in the distant future, you and I could have the enjoyment of saying ‘Remember that time Nick Compton won a Test match with a six?’ The height of selflessness, really.”
WICKET! Cook c Vilas b Morris 43 (England 71-3)
Really good ball from Morris, who nips one away and gets the edge of Cook’s bat.
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21st over: England 71-2 (Cook 43, Root 3)
Picture perfect cover drive from Root is straight to Hashim Amla at cover. A whippy flick off his legs finds square leg. Maiden. Still three...
20th over: England 71-2 (Cook 43, Root 3)
Joe Root, who started the day, comes out and flicks his first ball around the corner for two. Morris strays onto his pads and there’s a single on offer to midwicket, which is taken. Just three more...
19th over: England 68-2 (Cook 43, Root 0)
Compton got out trying to win it with a six. Yep.
WICKET! Compton c Morkel b Elgar 0 (England 68-2)
Compto tries to finish it with a six. Gets caught by Morkel. That was odd.
18th over: England 67-1 (Cook 42, Compton 0)
Nick Compton is the new man, but he watches from the nonstriker’s end as Cook blunts a full toss back to the bowler. An easy drive into the covers gives him three. Seven more...
They're going to go off with England needing five to win here because cricket.
— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) January 16, 2016
17th over: England 64-1 (Cook 39)
Time for some spin before we leave this mother: Dean Elgar with some orthodox left arm. A cut to the man out at backward point brings two and then a lovely drive from Cook races away for four. Got right to the pitch of the ball, waited for it to drop. That’s it for Hales, though. Sweeping across the line and not connecting with anything other than pad.
WICKET! Hales LBW Elgar 18 (England 64-1)
The umpire’s decision is upheld. Hales is off...
REVIEW
Elgar, left arm spin, is the bowler and Hales sweeps and misses. Looks to have been hit right in front but he decides to review. Looks stone dead, for me...
16th over: England 57-0 (Cook 32, Hales 18)
A nice back foot punch from Hales looks to be racing away for four, but great work from du Plessis keeps it to three. Cook then square cuts the next ball for four before taking advantage of some poor work at point to return the strike to his partner. Now that is Alex Hales – picks the length early and hammers one through point. This one goes for four before Faf has turned around to chase after it. A mistimed pull just clears Morne Morkel at mid on for two. Things are starting to go his way...
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15th over: England 43-0 (Cook 27, Hales 9)
Cook plays out a maiden to Morris. Phil Whithall: “At the bottom of my computer screen there’s a thing that say “I’m Cortana. Ask me anything.’ I asked it ‘what the **** is occurring?’ It said nothing. This is a highly confusing situation, I seem to watching peak England and it’s straining me and my computer.”
I do think that if you pick a blocker like Hales at the top of the order, you have to partner him with someone more dominant, like Cook.
— King Cricket (@TheKingsTweets) January 16, 2016
14th over: England 43-0 (Cook 27, Hales 9)
Not meaning to taking the negatives here, but Hales’ playing a peculiar game. Obviously he’s out of form, but, especially at this stage, with just 35 to get, you’d allow him a slap to cover or point in an attempt to hit himself into form. Ah, there it is – a classy late cut for four bisects gully and point perfectly. Make that 31...
Steve Finn has tightness in his left side and will be reviewed tomorrow #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/BA06TX8Zvv
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 16, 2016
13th over: England 39-0 (Cook 27, Hales 5)
Morris, whether he’s meaning to or not, is testing out Cook’s odd weakness down the legside. After seeing the over, I’m happy to assume he meant to: good, probing stuff from the car full of chips.
@Vitu_E listening to England cleaning up from South Beach Miami. Root and Broad stepped up, could lead this side to great things.
— Matt Allison (@MattJAllison1) January 16, 2016
12th over: England 39-0 (Cook 27, Hales 5)
Viljoen starts with four leg byes and then offers Cook a square cut: “Thank you Hardus for leaving me with my favourite food.” Four more. Leg bye for one. 35 to win
11th over: England 30-0 (Cook 23, Hales 5)
Chris Morris replaces Morkel. Cook gets a single, Hales battles on. 44 to get.
10th over: England 29-0 (Cook 22, Hales 5)
A leg bye and Viljoen has Hales to bowl at. The radar isn’t quite right and he fires one down the leg. Ends the over well, putting one on a good length which draws Hales forward and gets bit outside of him.
England were 91 for 4 against 313 little more than 24 hours ago #SAvENG
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) January 16, 2016
9th over: England 28-0 (Cook 22, Hales 5)
Hales happy to leave Morkel well alone, so much so that he does a four-out-of-10 Neo impression to duck under a bouncer. Maiden.
Updated
8th over: England 28-0 (Cook 22, Hales 5)
The different between first class and Test cricket right here. Viljoen pushes a good ball across Alastair Cook from over the wicket: there’s a bit of movement from the hand, a good deal of bounce off the pitch but Cook leaves it alone. As a result, Vijloen pushes one through and at the stumps. Cook brings his bat down and dismisses it to midwicket for four. A moral victory for Viljoen sees him coax Cook into a loose slash and then an edge, which races away for four. Another legside half-volley brings two to finish the over.
46 MORE TO WIN
7th over: England 17-0 (Cook 12, Hales 5)
Cook pushes to the legside for one and Hales continues his struggles with Morkel. He’s getting right behind his defensive shots, but they’re pinning the splice of his bat. Swing for the hills, Alex.
6th over: England 16-0 (Cook 11, Hales 5)
Hardus Viljoen into the attack as AB de Villiers plays that club cricket card that a change of bowler brings a wicket. There’s an LBW shout at least, but the ball is sliding down legside.
Updated
5th over: England 16-0 (Cook 11, Hales 5)
“I think you need to reserve the term “Broad Streak” for future reference,” advises John Starbuck. Morkel’s giving his all but Hales pinches a single down the ground to give Cook the strike. All pretty cool until Morkel squares Cook up and beats the outside edge.
SA are now the only team to be bowled out under 100(in an inns) twice in last 2 yrs. even WI don't have a single 2-figure total. #SavEng
— jigar mehta (@jigsactin) January 16, 2016
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4th over: England 15-0 (Cook 9, Hales 4)
Good work from Cook, nabbing two into point with nothing more than a straight bat dab. I was just about to say that Rabada should aim to bowl a bit fuller to Cook but, just as he does, he’s driven down the ground for four.
@Vitu_E Dear god, dont let Hope in, just don't, she's not only here at the club with Doom, but Crushing Disappointment is at the bar
— AndyinBrum (@AndyinBrum) January 16, 2016
3rd over: England 9-0 (Cook 5, Hales 4)
Dismissive from Cook, who sends a wide ball through point for four. The next is less convincing, as he flicks over the head of short leg, but it’s a single and brings Hales on strike. He’s the subject of an LBW appeal but the ball is travelling down the legside.
Good afternoon to Simon McMahon: “I know it’s not really in keeping with the drama of the day so far, but England could do with Cook and Hales seeing this through by themselves. Keeping the fridge door closed, as it were.”
Stuart Broad for King
— Al Murray the318 (@almurray) January 16, 2016
2nd over: England 4-0 (Cook 0, Hales 4)
Nice shape from Rabada, who is back out in the middle having ended the England innings about half-an-hour ago. The ball starts in and then leaves the right-handed Hales, who follows the third and crashes it through cover for four. He has a flash at the next ball – misses – but ends with a nice solid block. That’ll do, Alex.
Luke Williams offers this over email: “Hope is out there on the dancefloor in cream suit and open-necked black shirt, rolling his arms and throwing the John Travolta shape. Doom is leaning on a pillar in the shadows, watching. Just watching, for the moment….”
1st over: England 0-0 (Cook 0, Hales 0)
Morne Morkel takes the new ball at a gloomy Bullring and he’s beating Alastair Cook outside off stump. Around the wicket, as he does, Cook’s lured forward a couple of times but plays inside the line and then leaves to a chorus of “ooooohs” behind him. Solid first over from Morkel.
“When it swings and seams, there aren’t many better teams in the world.” Do you know which philosopher said that? Nasser Hussain...
Play about to begin again...
Root and Stokes to open imo
— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) January 16, 2016
83 is the 2nd lowest total for South Africa since readmission & their lowest against England since 1957 #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/fWe7ieq9VG
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 16, 2016
“You dont often get a chance to shoehorn in some Physics to sport,” says Karl Massey. “But I honestly think this England performance has wandered into the realms of the Ontological Principle.”
“Or put in laymans terms [editor: yes please] is the light still on in the fridge when you close the fridge door?
“Are England only able to perform with Godlike determinism when nobody is watching? Is the very act of watching them preventing their success? If so, I’m never going to watch them on the telly ever again.”
74 to win. That's 67.3% of a Joe Root. Says a lot. #ENGvSA
— Phil Makepeace (@AlteredCourse) January 16, 2016
SOUTH AFRICA SKITTLED FOR 83 - ENGLAND REQUIRE 74 TO WIN THE TEST AND THE SERIES
WICKET! du Plessis c&b Broad 14 (South Africa 83 all out)
Incredible from Broad: Faf tries to charge him and ends up smashing the ball into his own foot. The ball pops up and Broad adjusts his followthrough to dive forward and take a brilliant one-handed catch. Absolutely stunning from him:
12.1 overs – SIX for 17.
Updated
33rd over: South Africa 83-9 (du Plessis 14, Morkel 4)
Faf is struck in front by Anderson. Cook backs up his bowler with a review, but the ball is missing, high and wide down the legside. Five at Morkel start with a four through the offside. He’s around the wicket for the final two deliveries.
Du Plessis going full Chanderpaul with these singles
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) January 16, 2016
It isn’t – NOT OUT
REVIEW
Only Anderson appeals for an LBW against du Plessis but he does enough to convince Cook that umpire Rod Tucker’s decision of not out is incorrect...
Updated
32nd over: South Africa 78-9 (du Plessis 14, Morkel 0)
The over starts with a ball from Broad that goes through the bat and pad. Everyone, Dar included, thinks there’s an inside edge, but Faf reviews and proves them otherwise. A single means Morkel has two balls to survive. He does.
'The Burnley Scream'. #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/xsYGIuh7A2
— Hannah (@hannah_itfc) January 16, 2016
NOT OUT – we go again.
Updated
REVIEW
Not for the first time today, a batsman is cut in half. Faf is the batsman, Broad is the bowler and Dar gives him out. Faf immediately sends it upstairs. Rightly, too - looks like nothing but bat hitting the back pad...
31st over: South Africa 77-9 (du Plessis 13, Morkel 0)
James Anderson takes the ball and finds the shoulder of Viljoen bat. The ball’s in the air but well short of point. Then, the worst bit of cricket from England for a while as a routine push into the legside results in overthrows for an ALL RUN FOUR. Anderson’s ticking and, next up, traps Viljoen in front with a peach of an outswinger that has the debutant beaten on the outside edge and trapped right in front of middle.
WICKET! Viljoen LBW Anderson (South Africa 77-9)
Missing leg, missing off – doing unspeakable things to middle. South Africa lead by 67
Updated
REVIEW
Anderson traps Viljoen in front and the umpire gives him out straightaway. Still, Viljoen reviews optimistically...
30th over: South Africa 73-8 (du Plessis 13, Viljoen 2)
Stuart Broad to start this final session. Faf du Plessis clamps down on a full ball that squirts into the legside, meaning Broad now has five balls at Hardus Viljoen. Starts outside off stump and Viljoen leaves them alone. Bit too wide, Stuart, maybe move it in a to... you know what, you’ve got this. I’ll shut up. Straight delivery and Viljoen gets forward and allows the ball to hit the bat and drop into the legside. Drive into the offside and a quick single means Viljoen will keep the strike.
Broad might go top of the rankings for the first time: https://t.co/CkaULHpGIC
— Rob Smyth (@robsmyth0) January 16, 2016
WORRY NOT! The players are on the way out...
I hate to be the one who calls the police and stops the party, but the clouds are closing in at Johannesburg and the indication is that the heavens will open soon.
There’s been nothing so far, but be prepared for a bit of waiting about. Vish here, by the way. Sorry.
“My mate Dan reckons we are going to need a word for this phenomenon,” says Kieron Shaw. Lampshade-gate? Oh, sorry.
“So far, we’ve only managed to come up with Shock and Broad, Broadside, Man OverBroad, Broadsword-calling-Danny-Boy, Being Broad-mined, A Broad Maraud, DisemBroady, and the questionable Stu-spurt.
Please help. In all senses.”
29th over: South Africa 71-8 (lead by 61; du Plessis 11, Viljoen 1) An over from Stokes completes another exhilarating session in this memorable Test match. Stuart Broad bowled a once-in-a-lifetime spell for the umpteenth time in his career, taking the first five wickets to fall and leave England within reach of a glorious series victory. James Taylor also took two laughable catches at deep short leg.
Thanks for your company and apologies for not having time to read, never mind publish, most of your tweets and emails. Vish will be with you after tea. Bye!
28th over: South Africa 69-8 (du Plessis 11, Viljoen 1) Anderson is back. Today is all about his mate. In many ways Stuart Broad is the personification of the word ‘winner’: he’ll do anything for victory (even that), and he wins matches on his own.
Nothing will ever top Trent Bridge, but he has arguably bowled even better today.
@robsmyth0 I believe licensing rights are with the home board, so it's not the ECB's fault highlights haven't been sold. Price too high?
— Job Senior (@Ilkleyrocks) January 16, 2016
Updated
27th over: South Africa 67-8 (du Plessis 10, Viljoen 0) This isn’t far away from the most brilliant attacking performance I’ve ever seen from an England team: the demolition of South Africa at The Oval in 1994. Both were played on a fast, bouncy pitch. I know precisely bugger all about preparing pitches but that’s enough knowledge for me to DEMAND that all Test pitches in the future be like this.
“Broad must be loitering near the top of the rankings of world Test bowlers; he’s run through the Aussies and South Africa with cheap five-fors and was the second highest Test wicket taker in 2015,” says Tom Van Der Gucht. “Is he knocking on Steyn’s door yet?”
Steyn’s not top anymore. The best bowler in the world is Ravi Ashwin. Arf. But Broad might just go top after this game.
Updated
WICKET! South Africa 67-8 (Rabada c Bairstow b Stokes 16)
Rabada’s breezy innings comes to an end. Stokes moved around the wicket and tempted Rabada into the drive with a full outswinger that was edged straight through to Bairstow. Stokes isn’t just making the ball talk; he’s making it talk like Brian Blessed.
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The value of expertise
Day one bravado “@robsmyth0: Breaking news: South Africa have won the third Test against England at Johannesburg to level the series 1-1.”
— Matt Childe (@MattChilde) January 16, 2016
26th over: South Africa 66-7 (du Plessis 9, Rabada 16) Rabada’s plays a flamboyant cut over cover off Finn to move into double figures, and then drives sweetly through mid-off for four. The over concludes when he turns his back on a short ball and gloves it over the slips for two. It’s the best way to play, try to flog South Africa up to 130 and then pray for another Sydney 1994.
“The day seems absolutely thrilling, and yet I won’t see a ball,” says Keith Brown. “I don’t understand why the ECB warn of the demise of Test cricket and yet don’t license a highlight package for terrestrial TV.” I don’t know the backstory, whether anybody bid for highlights, but yes, what a waste.
Updated
25th over: South Africa 55-7 (du Plessis 8, Rabada 7) Taylor almost makes it a hat-trick of absurd catches when du Plessis fences Stokes off the hip. Taylor dived low to his right and it bounced fractionally short. Then Rabada edges for four to bring up the fifty. Not the fifty partnership; the fifty. This is surreal.
“Would it be all right to say James Taylor is worth his height in gold?” says Romeo.
James Taylor: England's best short leg fielder since...? @robsmyth0
— A Smith (@HeveliusAstro) January 16, 2016
Ian Bell was a magnificent short leg, though you could make a case for Taylor being better. Bell did it for a long time though, and dropped very few. Maybe he’s the Van der Sar to Taylor’s Peter Schmeichel.
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Some context
24th over: South Africa 47-7 (du Plessis 6, Rabada 0) To put in context how big a series victory this would be, only various Australian sides and Michael Vaughan’s England have won in South Africa since readmission. As with pizza, World Cups and afternoon naps, there’s no such thing as a bad South African side.
“Just imagine being a batsmen waiting for Anderson to come on as respite,” says Andy Underwood. It brings to mind the early 1980s, when Joel Garner trying to break your toes was a treat after facing Andy Roberts and Michael Holding.
What a Brand of Cricket this is #brandofcricket
— Tom Davies (@tomdaviesE17) January 16, 2016
Updated
23rd over: South Africa 46-7 (du Plessis 6, Rabada 0) Stokes beats the new batsman Rabada with three consecutive outswingers. South Africa have been bowled out in double figures on a number of occasions against England, including two 30s, a 35 and a 36, but almost all of those were pre-war. Their lowest score against England since readmission is 131, when they were torpedoed by James Kirtley at Trent Bridge in 2003.
Lampshade latest
@IanHawke @robsmyth0 oi, less of the old and I most definitely exist. Lampshade has survived the flurry of wickets without further injury.
— Leonie Hicks (@LeonieVHicks) January 16, 2016
WICKET! South Africa 46-7 (Morris b Stokes 1)
Chris Morris has been cleaned up by a stunning delivery from Ben Stokes. It was a huge inswinger, the sort Waqar Younis used to produce to make England batsmen look silly, and roared through the gate to clatter into the stumps. This has been a staggeringly good performance from England’s bowlers and James Taylor.
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22nd over: South Africa 46-6 (du Plessis 6, Morris 1) Morris turns his back on a short ball from Finn that kisses his grille on the way through to Bairstow. England are brutalising South Africa. This is surely England’s best pace attack since 2005, and arguably they are even better than the Fab Four.
@robsmyth0 @ilkleyrocks Andrew Samson on TMS just said that Broad has taken 5 wickets in a spell SEVEN times.
— Tom Bowtell (@Tom_Bowtell) January 16, 2016
Updated
Vilas flicked Finn off the pads, and Taylor dived a long way to his right to take a glorious one-handed catch before again setting off on a lap of honour. “No! Oh no! The little lad’s done it again!” cried Bumble on commentary. They are two staggering catches from Taylor. He had a reaction time of 0.511 seconds, and had to move both across and down.
Updated
WICKET! South Africa 45-6 (Vilas c Taylor b Finn 8)
The good news for South Africa is that Stuart Broad is having a rest. The bad news is that Steven Finn is replacing him. And Taylor has done it again! He’s produced another magnificent catch at deep short leg to give Finn a wicket with his second ball!
@robsmyth0 wonder how Broad compares to others in terms of destructive streaks (number of times he's got 3-5 in a spell)?
— Job Senior (@Ilkleyrocks) January 16, 2016
I doubt that data is available for all of the 20th century, but I suspect he’s right up there with people like Waqar and Ambrose.
Updated
21st over: South Africa 44-5 (du Plessis 5, Vilas 8) It looks like Vilas has decided to counter-attack, which has to be the right approach, and he drives Stokes for another boundary. To be honest I’m barely paying attention to Stokes’s overs, as there is an urgent need to gather breath before the next Broad over.
20th over: South Africa 40-5 (du Plessis 5, Vilas 4) It’s so rare to see a cricketer who has such frequent access to the zone. Kevin Pietersen is the only other English player in my cricket-watching lifetime. Chris Rogers was very good on Broad’s hot streaks in a piece that I wrote back in the day. He almost takes a sixth when du Plessis inside edges a big drive that lands fractionally short of the diving Bairstow. It’s a fourth consecutive maiden for Broad, but this time there’s no wicket. Loser.
“With Broad playing another blinder, he’s now exactly 100 wickets behind Anderson,” says Chris Wright. “Do you know how far behind Anderson he was when he started? Has he been catching up or have they pretty much matched each other over the time they’ve both been playing?”
From memory I think Anderson had 62 wickets at 39.20 when Broad started. We forget, because they are bracketed together, that Broad is four years younger. He’s still in his twenties, and if he stays fit he could overtake Glenn McGrath, never mind Anderson.
When does a bowler capable of bowling great spells become a great bowler? Broad making the transition last six months #SAvENG
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) January 16, 2016
Updated
19th over: South Africa 40-5 (du Plessis 5, Vilas 4) A tip of the hat to Mike Atherton and Mike Selvey, who predicted this Broad rampage after he had taken only one wicket. Vilas, the newest batsman, drives Stokes classily through mid-off for four, and then inside-edges a big inswinger that lands safely on the leg side. It would have been a simple catch had there been a short leg.
“Don’t mean to carry a big bucket of cold water into view,” chirps Ian Copestake, “but how many people think England will make 40?”
18th over: South Africa 35-5 (du Plessis 5, Vilas 0) That’s a third consecutive wicket maiden from Broad, whose figures are 9-5-14-5. It’s only nine months since a fair few people wanted him dropped during the West Indies tour. Since then he has been unbelievably good: in 12 Tests since the start of the English summer he has taken 55 wickets at 21.89, and is now making a formal application to be recognised as a great.
Updated
WICKET! South Africa 35-5 (Bavuma b Broad 0)
Broad has a five-for. He couldn’t take all ten, could he? It was an unusual if inevitable dismissal. Bavuma tried to limbo dance away from a short delivery but it followed him, hit the glove and deflected onto the stumps.
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17th over: South Africa 35-4 (du Plessis 4, Bavuma 0) Faf du Plessis, now the senior player, pulls Stokes round the corner for four. But batting is so damn hard right now, and later in the over he survives consecutive LBW appeals. The first was an inside edge from a big inswinger; the second looked pretty close but was probably bouncing over the top.
16th over: South Africa 31-4 (du Plessis 0, Bavuma 0) That catch from Taylor was exceptional. You get plenty of those reaction catches at short leg, but very few are taken at boot level when the ball comes off the middle. After his second consecutive wicket maiden, Broad has figures of 8-4-14-4. Yes, something brilliant is happening.
Fourteen four? That sounds familiar. (Clip contains adult language.)
@robsmyth0 Hope "test match cricket is dead" brigade tuning in now. Packed Wanderers bouncing, thrilling contest. How can you not love it?
— The Spurs Report (@spurs_report) January 16, 2016
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WICKET! South Africa 31-4 (Amla c Taylor b Broad 5)
Hashim Amla has gone to a blinding catch from James Taylor! He flicked a full delivery from Broad off the pads, and Taylor at a deepish short leg took an outrageous reaction catch a few centimetres above the ground. That is a staggering piece of fielding, and great captaincy to have Taylor a bit deeper than usual.
.@robsmyth0 It's one of those days where @StuartBroad8 locates the 'zone'. And they do tend to happen in crucial test matches.
— Alistair Hann (@Pro_Copywriting) January 16, 2016
Yes, he’s very good not just at seizing the moment but also at recognising the moment.
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15th over: South Africa 31-3 (Amla 5, du Plessis 0) Anderson is replaced by Stokes, not Finn. A slight surprise, but maybe Finn wants to bowl at Broad’s end. He might be waiting a while. There will be no respite for South Africa’s batsmen against this attack on this pitch. Stokes gives du Plessis a significant whiff of leather with a preposterous lifter, and follows up with a big inswinger. This is bloody hard work for the batsmen.
@robsmyth0 Girlfriend just punched a hole in the lampshade, jumping up and celebrating ABdV's wicket.
— Ian Hawke (@IanHawke) January 16, 2016
I’m with you, Ian. I know how useful the old imaginary girlfriend can be on a day like this.
14th over: South Africa 30-3 (Amla 4, du Plessis 0) Broad has had a couple of hot spells against South Africa, at Durban in 2009-10 and Headingley in 2013, but he hasn’t quite shredded them as he has Australia and New Zealand. Yet. This could be the day, because he is bowling outstandingly. After that wicket maiden, his figures are 7-3-14-3.
“I’ve never seen Stuart Broad follow through this much, ever,” says Mikey Holding, who at the age of 61 could probably still take a cheap five-for on this pitch.
Broad is bowling with ferocious purpose, and this was another fine delivery. It was just short of a length and jagged back off the seam to take the inside edge as de Villiers played an indeterminate stroke. Bairstow moved to his left to take a simple catch.
WICKET! South Africa 30-3 (de Villiers c Bairstow b Broad 0)
AB de Villiers has gone for nought!
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13th over: South Africa 30-2 (Amla 4, de Villiers 0) Amla drives Anderson pleasantly down the ground for two. This period is so important in the match and the series. If these two get in, they have the capacity to add 200, but England will fancy their chances against the rest of the batsmen given how much the ball is doing. Anderson is getting huge inswing to Amla, who is content to defend the rest of the over.
Broad now England's third highest wicket taker behind Anderson and Botham
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) January 16, 2016
@robsmyth0 well I definitely wouldn't have changed broad.... #glorioushindsight!
— Warren Seddon (@wozzased) January 16, 2016
12th over: South Africa 28-2 (Amla 2, de Villiers 0) Broad has two for 14 and is, in the parlance of our time, on one. If he gets one more in the next 10 minutes, this game could end in a hurry. This partnership is the most important of the match.
WICKET! South Africa 28-2 (Van Zyl c Stokes b Broad 11)
Broad is rampaging in as if on springs, to borrow a lovely Wisden line about Curtly Ambrose during the 46 all out, . He’s almost feral. Van Zyl is beaten again, fencing at the kind of trampolining legcutter that did for Elgar. That got seriously big on Van Zyl. And now Van Zyl has gone! This is brilliant bowling from Broad: full and snapping away off the seam to take the edge of Van Zyl’s defensive push. It flew towards gully, where the crouching Stokes took a smart two-handed catch above his head.
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11th over: South Africa 28-1 (van Zyl 11, Amla 2) van Zyl is beaten, fencing at a wide short ball from Anderson. He is hanging on for dear Test place at the moment. This is terrific in a way that only medium-scoring Tests can be.
“People are reasonably enough talking about Finn but Ben Stokes will be England’s man with the ball today – if he gets it full enough he’ll be horrible to bat against,” says Phil Harrison. “Oh, and if we let Test cricket die on our watch, we need shooting. This is spellbinding.”
Indeed. It’d be the ultimate act of cultural vandalism. What would be next, killing off arthouse cinema and alternative music?
van Zyl is dropped!
10th over: South Africa 25-1 (van Zyl 10, Amla 0) Broad is bowling sensationally at the moment, with force, pace, bounce, swing, seam and – most important of all – a full length. van Zyl pushes nervously at a full outswinger and edges it high towards second slip, where the leaping Anderson can’t take an extremely difficult chance with his left hand. The South African commentators reckon England’s slips are far too close.
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9th over: South Africa 24-1 (van Zyl 9, Amla 0) Anderson beats van Zyl with a gorgeous outswinger. This is fiendishly difficult for the batsmen, and later in the over Amla leaves an inducker that doesn’t miss off stump by much. England would give up social-media banter for a month in exchange for getting Amla out in single figures.
8th over: South Africa 23-1 (van Zyl 8, Amla 0) The two Mikes – Atherton and Selvey – have both observed that this could be one of Broad’s unplayable days. He is bowling with lovely intensity, and his first ball to Amla really zips through to Bairstow.
@robsmyth0 as I've been saying, they need to bowl short and a foot wide of the off stump
— AndyinBrum (@AndyinBrum) January 16, 2016
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WICKET! South Africa 23-1 (Elgar c Bairstow b Broad 15)
He’s gone now! Broad gets Elgar with a short delivery that trampolines and moves away off the seam. Elgar follows it unnecessarily and gets a thin edge that is taken above his head by Bairstow.
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8th over: South Africa 23-0 (Elgar 15, van Zyl 8) “Definitely a bowling day,” says Kepler Wessels, in reference to both the pitch and the overhead conditions. Not even Simon Adebisi’s hat was poised as beautifully as this match. South Africa could be rolled for 150, or they could push on past 300. Nobody knows anything.
Actually, that’s a lie: everybody knows that breast-high bouncers are to be avoided on this pitch, as Elgar reminds us with a disdainful pull for four off Broad. He has been surprisingly good in this series and looks a keeper as South Africa start to build a new team.
4 overs from Anderson and only 1 inswinger to left handers, which was driven for 4.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) January 16, 2016
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7th over: South Africa 19-0 (Elgar 11, van Zyl 8) There’s some lovely, seductive outswing for Anderson to the left-handers, although it’s his poorest delivery that almost brings a wicket from the final delivery: he drifts on to the pads and van Zyl clips just wide of the stretching Taylor at short leg.
6th over: South Africa 16-0 (Elgar 10, van Zyl 6) Stuart Broad starts after lunch, which is an appropriate cue for me to launch into a dignity-free plug for this piece about him in The Cricket Monthly. This little session is so important - England need wickets for wickets’ sake, but also to expose Amla and perhaps de Villiers to the new ball. They both have the capacity to make a matchwinning century in the third innings, as Amla did in a similar match at Lord’s in 2012.
Broad’s first over to van Zyl, from around the wicket as usual, is full of full-length deliveries that are left or solidly defended. A maiden.
@robsmyth0 we're going to lose this game because Jimmy & Broad have failed to bowl at the stumps YET AGAIN. 3 new balls wasted in a row now
— AndyinBrum (@AndyinBrum) January 16, 2016
@robsmyth0 Anderson's a great. But why do they never mix first bowler. A batsman comes out prepared for Jimmy & gets in-form Finn. Why not?
— Warren Seddon (@wozzased) January 16, 2016
I do think a strategic hoof up the backside works occasionally, though more for Broad. Anderson is the greatest swing bowler in the world; you have to give him the new ball in all bar the most exceptional circumstances, and I’m not sure these qualify. But I’d certainly change very quickly if they aren’t quite on it.
The soundtrack to this session
Hello, hello. Quite the Test match, this. Since readmission, England and South Africa have specialised in memorable lowish-scoring dogfights, and this is another. Think of Graham Onions, Atherton v Donald, Graham Onions, Dave Richardson and Paul Adams, Devon Malcolm, Javed Akhtar, Jacques Kallis.
Some would say it’s no surprise the games are so close because England and South Africa are basically the same side. Since 1992, there have been 11 Tests between the sides in which the first-innings lead has been less than 50 – that’s more than between any other country (I think). There are some wonderful memories in this little list.
If anything, the teams are getting closer. Closer than close. Closer than you ever could imagine . In four of the last five Tests between the sides the first-innings lead has been 10 or less. To put that in context, you have to go back 34 years to find four such Ashes contests. I therefore pronounce this a bona fide #statgasm.
South Africa are slightly ahead in both senses: they lead by six after a torrid mini-session before lunch, and have the advantage of batting third on a pitch that should get more uneven. We have no idea who is going to win, but we already know who the Man of the Match is: the groundsman Bethuel Buthelezi. Pitches like this will do more for the health of Test cricket than all the well-intentioned gimmicks in the world.
230 lead will win this match.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) January 16, 2016
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LUNCH
5th over: South Africa 16-0 (Elgar 10, van Zyl 6)
Anderson beats the bat with a fierce delivery that jumps off a length. The next ball jumps too, but is fuller and Elgar comes forward and catches his thumb before clattering into his shoulder. After a lengthy period on his haunches, he sees out the over and that’s lunch. Rob Smyth will be starting you off after the 40-minute break. Until then!
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4th over: South Africa 16-0 (Elgar 10, van Zyl 6)
Elgar goes after a short ball but decides to pull out. Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t do so in time. Fortunately, the toe edge flies over the slips for four. Gets a single wide of mid on to keep the strike.
3rd over: South Africa 11-0 (Elgar 5, van Zyl 6)
Anderson now decides to come around the wicket, too, and van Zyl squirts an edge into the legside, having been squared up. Good lengths from the openers.
2nd over: South Africa 9-0 (Elgar 5, van Zyl 4)
Stuart Broad at the other end, starting around the wicket. Beats the bat a few times when he gets his length right up there. Elgar, though, isn’t perturbed and just follows the the ball outside offstump and times it through point for a four to end the over.
Do you think Jimmy Anderson might just consider bowling the one that comes back into the left-hander? Just like maybe once or twice? #SAvENG
— daniel norcross (@norcrosscricket) January 16, 2016
1st over: South Africa 5-0 (Elgar 1, van Zyl 4)
James Anderson, of course, starts the second innings and immediately gets one to jag across the left-handed Dean Elgar. The second takes the edge but falls short of one of the three slips and a gully to get off the mark. The final ball is a nicely timed square drive for four. Good cricket batting from cricket man Stiaan van Zyl.
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Mini-session for South Africa to negotiate: we started half-an-hour early because of the rains yesterday, but we’ll still be going through to the regular lunch time, which is 25 minutes from now.
South Africa will bat for 20 minutes before lunch under cloudy skies. Could be interesting! https://t.co/tXoqY5VVyk pic.twitter.com/bbInMZkdpX
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 16, 2016
WICKET! Bairstow c van Zyl b Rabada 45 (England 323 all out)
The innings is over and Kagiso Rabada has his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket: 5-78 in 23.1 overs. Something something it won’t be his last. Bairstow tried to take the aerial route and, well, did but could only hit high rather than far. Caught comfortable at mid on.
England have a lead of 10
Now England need to up their bowling and catching game.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) January 16, 2016
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76th over: England 323-9 (Bairstow 45, Anderson 0)
Bairstow goes after Morkel but can’t get enough of him to clear the rope. AB de Villiers, running back at three-quarters midwicket, puts in a dive but is nowhere near the ball as it plugs for two. The fourth ball goes through extra cover for four, as Bairstow stands tall and bunts off the back foot. That is a glorious shot. Final ball, he’s looking for that single... and he gets it at point! Excellent running but you’ve got to ask questions about the infielding here.
— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) January 16, 2016
75th over: England 316-9 (Bairstow 38, Anderson 0)
Rabada sniffing a maiden five-wicket haul but Bairstow’s not going to give it to him easily. The field goes out for in man, who throws his hands at a short ball and gets it over the keeper ‘s head for four – a shot that gives England the lead! The field tightens to keep James Anderson on strike for Morkel. Somehow, Bairstow finds a run between mid on and midwicket. Rabada isn’t impressed.
74th over: England 311-9 (Bairstow 33, Anderson 0)
Bairstow takes a single off the second ball again. Finn looks comfortable against most but it is the final ball which does for him: a cracking short delivery that gives Finn no chance to get out of the way. A thumb through to the keeper is given on review.
WICKET! Morkel's short ball grazes Finn's glove on the way through. Eng 311-9 trail by two https://t.co/9AUQ83xa0Z pic.twitter.com/GDFddJA3jr
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 16, 2016
WICKET! Finn c Vilas b Morkel 0 (England 311-9)
The thumb move, Snicko tweaks – gone!
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REVIEW
Big appeal for a caught behind off the glove of Steven Finn. The fielders and bowler go up together but Aleem Dar says not out. Review called for almost instantly...
73rd over: England 310-8 (Bairstow 32, Finn 0)
The field goes out for Bairstow, who decides to take a single to the third man off the second ball and the field comes back in. It’s only van Zyl, so Finn shouldn’t have too much trouble, and he doesn’t.
72nd over: England 309-8 (Bairstow 31, Finn 0)
Slack from Rabada, who seems to have kept tabs on Bairstow, but gets lured into a poor short ball that bounces way over Bairstow and Vilas’ head for four byes. Short and wide, now, and Bairstow clips over backward point for four. A single to third man brings Broad on strike and he’s bowled to give Rabada his fourth wicket of the innings. The Watford Wall sees out the over.
WICKET! Broad b Rabada 12 (England 309-8)
Cracking delivery from Rabada, who gets one to nip away just enough to miss Broad’s outside edge but clip his off-stump!
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71st over: England 299-7 (Bairstow 26, Broad 12)
Good from Broad, it has to be said. He’s defending well and aware of his surroundings to pick gaps in the field. Finds one in this over through cover for two (there’s an offside sweeper for van Zyl who prevents the boundary). Starting to meander for South Africa. You’d assume these two will aim to keep ticking over like this and use the hardness of the new ball to really cash in. By the time that comes, they should have a tidy lead.
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70th over: England 297-7 (Bairstow 26, Broad 10)
Rabada returns and seems to have kept Broad in check until the left-hander punches nicely through extra cover for three.
69th over: England 294-7 (Bairstow 26, Broad 7)
Right, so drinks taken and we’ve got a change of tact with Stiaan van Zyl’s light medium pace. You’d have though the left-arm spin of Dean Elgar would be a better change, but oh well. Broad faces most of the over and gets a single into the offside.
68th over: England 293-7 (Bairstow 26, Broad 6)
Broad sways out of the way of a bouncer and ends up on his backside. Viljoen’s follow through takes him to within a matter of feet of his fallen prey but he fights the urge to say a few words. A full ball change-up is played well by Broad, before he rocks back and carves over gully for one.
Bairstow now most runs in a series for an England wk since Prior v WI 2007. https://t.co/zHsjjcp2T5 #SAvENG
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) January 16, 2016
67th over: England 290-7 (Bairstow 25, Broad 4)
Lovely stuff from Bairstow, who punishes a poor ball from Morris by cutting with a flourish through point. He drops the next one into the legside and tries to push for two before being sent back by Broad, who spots three fielders bounding towards the ball. Broad finds one at midwicket and Bairstow another in the covers. Another single for Broad, who drops one into the offside off the back foot. Good stuff.
66th over: England 282-7 (Bairstow 19, Broad 2)
Vijloen around the wicket to Broad, who’s happy to get behind the ball and gets off the mark with a block into the offside. Another short, wide ball from Viljoen but Broad can’t get bat on ball and almost throws his shoulder out trying to thwack it!
WICKET! Another inside edge & Moeen (19) is gone, great catch by Vilas off Morris' bowling https://t.co/F5qvjuye0V pic.twitter.com/qnNWd87hCz
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 16, 2016
65th over: England 280-7 (Bairstow 18, Broad 1)
Chris Morris into the attack and, after starting with two leg byes, he strikes to remove Ali, with a lot of help from Vilas. Broad is the next batsman and he’s off the mark with a push in front of Bavuma at short leg.
WICKET! Ali c Vilas b Morris 19 (England 279-7)
Brilliant from Dane Vilas: Morris comes in for his first over and catches Moeen’s inside edge. Vilas, initially going to his left, dives to his right to take a clean one-handed catch.
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64th over: England 277-6 (Bairstow 18, Ali 19)
Moeen enjoying the waywardness and extra pace of Vijloen as he flays a shot off the back foot through cover.
Heard from an SA player this week: "(Hardus) is quick & dangerous, but bowls 2 very good balls and then a 'four' ball." Happening a lot here
— stuart hess (@shockerhess) January 16, 2016
63rd over: England 272-6 (Bairstow 18, Ali 14)
Bairstow looking to take Moeen’s “Best shot of the morning so far” award off him with a effortless straight drive for for two. A sharp two to midwicket nearly causes a run out, as Rabada races around and throws just over the stumps, but Moeen is in.
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Hardus bowls a heavy ball... #SAvENG pic.twitter.com/SQ8ttVwd2a
— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) January 16, 2016
62nd over: England 268-6 (Bairstow 14, Ali 14)
Some runs for Ali as he gets two to square leg by rolling his wrists on a short ball from new bowler Hardus Viljoen. Another short ball, this one a bit wider , outside off stump, and Ali can pull more convincingly through midwicket for four. Viljoen decides to come around the wicket and, first ball, he breaks Moeen’s bat in half! A bat change and Moeen uses his new piece to thump through point for another boundary! Best shot of the morning so far.
That's a bit of footage the bat sponsor aren't going to be asking to use again.
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) January 16, 2016
61st over: England 256-6 (Bairstow 14, Ali 2)
Oooooh – the surface breaks as Rabada’s fourth ball, which was angled into Bairstow, nips away after pitching, beating the bat. A very sharp two to backward square leg ends the over.
60th over: England 253-6 (Bairstow 12, Ali 2)
No clip from Jonny this time, as Morkel ensures there’s nothing on his legs. A single is found in the offside, as Bairstow gets behind one and calls Moeen through early. Ali thinks about replicating the single, but sends Bairstow back.
59th over: England 252-6 (Bairstow 11, Ali 2)
Another clip from Bairstow, another few deliveries of Ali setting himself. Another inside edge to pad. Big waft incoming?
@Vitu_E having looked through the bins, think his sleeveless tank top has gone over the collar of his shirt, creating a t-shirt 'illusion'
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) January 16, 2016
58th over: England 251-6 (Bairstow 10, Ali 2)
Sharp run from Bairstow, who sets off as soon as ball meets bat for a clip to leg. Moeen Ali battling at the moment, unsure of the bounce. The final ball of the over hits high on the inside of his bat, thudding into him and tricking into the offside.
“I didn’t see it,” starts Nathan Green, “but who wastes a review when they’ve actually nicked it? Weird.” It was a bit. The bat was nowhere near the pad or the ground.
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57th over: England 250-6 (Bairstow 9, Ali 2)
Excellent from Bairstow: Rabada drops a touch too short and he’s on to it straightaway, bunting through straight-ish midwicket for four. Kevin Wilson has raised an excellent point: “Why’s Morne Morkel still wearing his training top? You can’t play Tests without collars!!!”
Yes he is!!! pic.twitter.com/spo7XfOMTM
— Charles Dagnall (@CharlesDagnall) January 16, 2016
56th over: England 245-6 (Bairstow 5, Ali 2)
Bairstow gets off strike with a shot into the offside which is stopped well by the point fielder. Moeen Ali’s first delivery is a brute – Morkel raps his top hand which flies to third slip. Only, there is no slip (there is a deep square leg, mind) and Moeen gets off the mark with an unconvincing two. Plays the rest better – hands closer to his body. But that was a let-off. “I just can’t understand this field,” spits Graeme Smith, looking to see off another South Africa captain.
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55th over: England 242-6 (Bairstow 4)
First runs of the morning, as Rabada strays onto Root’s hip, who follows the ball with his hands to tuck behind square leg for two. And again. But Root goes to the last ball – a length to drive but just as the shot is played, the ball nips in off the seam. Well bowled Rabada. Was that off an indentation?
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WICKET! Root c Vilas b Rabada 110 (England 242-6)
Big wicket as Snicko registers a deflection off the inside edge and the decision is upheld. Cracking delivery from Rabada and South Africa have their man...
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REVIEW
Rabada gets one to hoop and cut into Root, who drives. The ball goes through to Dane Vilas, who takes the catch, presumably off the inside edge. The umpires finger goes up but Root reviews straight away...
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54th over: South Africa 238-5 (Root 106, Bairstow 4)
Morne Morkel, South Africa’s biggest threat on this deck, takes the ball from the other end. He led a pretty intense discussion at the start of the day and AB de Villiers, who was a touch passive yesterday, especially as Root and Stokes went off on one, makes a good call. Good pace, good carry, but all outside off stump, allowing Jonny Bairstow to leave the first three of the over. The next three nip in and Bairstow has to defend into the legside.
53rd over: South Africa 238-5 (Root 106, Bairstow 4)
We had four balls of this over last night before the rains came, so just the two from this end to start us off. Kagiso Rabada bowling, Joe Root facing, who gets right behind the first and works the second into the legside. No runs.
The players have finished warming up and the fans are still filing in.
Expecting an electric atmosphere at The Bullring. It can’t just be me who has a feeling this day* is going to be a bit special...
*Bit of rain scheduled later, annoyingly...
Sold Out signs outside the Wanderers with 28 thousand plus expected at the "BullRing" today #SAvENG #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/W7hYa0uOzw
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) January 16, 2016
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PREAMBLE
Day One at Lord’s, May 2015. The World Cup was a shambles, Kevin Pietersen’s presence (or lack of) loomed large and, from what I remember, it was a bit cold. Sunny, like, but chilly. England were 30 for 4. There were a few boos. Well, a lot of boos. Just over 30 overs later people were out of their seats, after a racy 161 run partnership came to an end. The two batsmen? Joe Root and Ben Stokes.
When enough time has passed to offer a proper retrospective on how this particular England team came about, that day is when the story starts. Much like yesterday in the Bullring, you cancelled your plans, snuck an earphone in at your desk, clicked “x” to infinity as you brought up your grainy stream or simply took to Twitter to tell everyone how ruddy brilliant life is.
Just as South Africa looked like making in-roads through England’s middle order, Root and Stokes – Rookes? Stooot? – stopped them in their tracks and pushed back. Seven an over (!) for 111 flipped the game on its head. Stokes topped at fifty, Root went on to a first hundred in 13 innings. Arguably his best. Maybe definitely his best.
Jonny Bairstow will join him this morning and Rob Smyth will be joining us after lunch. Remember - we’ve got an early start, with play due to begin at 8am our time...
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Vithushan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a taste of Mike Selvey’s report from day two:
There is a scene in the final series of Blackadder where the hapless Baldrick is in a trench carefully carving his name on a bullet. When, inevitably, Blackadder asks what he is doing, there is a simple logic to his answer. “You know how they say that somewhere there’s a bullet with your name on it,” he explains, “well, I thought if I owned the bullet …”
This Test has been one of batsmen dodging bullets. Every single delivery sent down by the pacemen has had a batsman’s name on it. No one has been able to say with any degree of conviction they have been in and on top of the conditions. In such circumstance there are two approaches. The first says guts it out, dig in as the phrase has it, and hope the storm can be weathered. The other says that sooner or later your number will be up, so better make the most of it and chance your arm while you can. Even Nick Compton, for whom obduracy might be a middle name, took a view.
Yet until Joe Root and Ben Stokes came together less than an hour before tea, a total of 14 wickets had fallen and no one had managed to score more than Dean Elgar’s gritty 46. Replying to South Africa’s first innings 313, way too many for the conditions, England had slumped to 91 for four. An hour and a quarter later, when Stokes’s leading edge was gratefully taken by the bowler, Morne Morkel, the board read 202 for five, the fifth-wicket partnership of 111 coming from 95 balls. Suddenly, South Africa’s bowling that, led by the excellent Kagiso Rabada, had threatened to overrun the England batting, looked vulnerable.
Root went on to play what has to be the finest innings of his career, his ninth Test century arriving with a textbook elbow high cover drive, the 16th boundary of his innings. It was a technical masterpiece, his judgment of length and line impeccable, his capacity not just to put away the bad ball but to create bad balls from the pressure of his presence at the crease an object lesson in how to seize the initiative and turn things round for the team.
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