[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Close of play, England 357-5. Root gets the highest score of any England player on their first Test as captain, and he's only 55 runs off breaking the all-time record. After being 76-4 in that nightmare first session, this has been top stuff, just need to push on tomorrow morning.

[theo_luddite]

√ = proper skipper .

Cook still suffering from the expectancy of being an exCaptain? Or just a damned good ball? Not seen it yet.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Cook still suffering from the expectancy of being an exCaptain? Or just a damned good ball? Not seen it yet.

Philander made the ball seam a bit, but it was an awful shot from Cook. Miles outside the off-stump and drifting wider, could (and should) have left it, decided to waft the bat at it instead.

[jjamez]

Yeah was just trying to feel for it.
Jennings should have reviewed, wasnt even hitting the stumps
Ballance just doesn't look right at international level now. He's gone away and played country cricket and scored runs, but the technique that has been found out at test level hasnt changed. I think he's going to be like ramprakash. Either he really figures it out or someone like stoneman comes and takes his place

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

There has been some talk of trying out Stoneman and Hales as an opening partnership. I think Cook and Jennings should get the benefit of the doubt for the rest of this series though, at least. And then obviously there's the question of where or when Hameed comes back in. The entire problem for England right now (given that the batting order from Root on down picks itself) is that we seem to have a wealth of potential options for the top order, but none are necessarily obvious or even ideal choices at this point in time. It's going to be a case of trial and error until a reliable partnership emerges from somewhere.

[jjamez]

Cant see how hales can open in tests but bat 4/5 at county level. He's already said that he feels number 5 is his way into the test side.
Personally I'd be tempted to go cook and stoneman opening with Jennings at 3.

[Lord Snooty]

Rubbish Root. Didn't get the double century.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Looking like a mistake to use Dawson as spinner. Rashid the better option?

[jjamez]

I dunno they were just not letting him settle, the positive is that he wasn't bowling poor deliveries, he was bowling in the right areas and getting turn.

As a Yorkshireman, I don't have confidence in rashids ability at test level, especially at home. He bowls too many bad deliveries and it gets to his confidence

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

What a day for Moeen! 2000th Test run this morning, 100th Test wicket this afternoon. Top stuff. South Africa 103-3.