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Tea England 158 for 1 (Cook 69*, Trott 68*) v South Africa
Morne Morkel struck early but was less threatening after removing Andrew Strauss © Getty Images
Losing your captain, and an in-form one at that, four balls into a Test could easily jolt a team but England responded impressively to the first-over loss of Andrew Strauss with Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott reigniting a partnership that has served England well in the past. The second-wicket pair guided the home side to a healthy 158 for 1 at tea as South Africa employed six bowlers without much success.
By the interval Cook, who took 98 balls over his half-century, and Trott, who had needed 127 balls and signed off the session with boundaries against Imran Tahir and Jacques Kallis, were in complete control with just the odd memory of their Brisbane epic floating into the mind. As a partnership for England their average stand, currently worth 76.16, is second only to Hobbs and Sutcliffe
Having been billed as a battle of the bowling attacks, South Africa's five-pronged unit were on the whole disappointing during the first two sessions with too much for the batsmen to leave early on while there was swing on offer. The visitors had been bullish that their limited preparation would not be a factor heading into the match but Dale Steyn, who wasn't handed the new ball, Morkel and Kallis looked short of a decent workout. There was also a suggestion that Steyn may not be fully fit as he spent time off the field having his ankle strapped.
On a surface that started surprisingly dry given all the recent poor weather Strauss was happy to bat first with the prospect of conditions that will aid Graeme Swann later in the match and Graeme Smith said he, too, would have batted. Yet less than five minutes into the match it was Smith who felt great after Morkel trapped Strauss lbw although it needed the DRS to earn South Africa the wicket.
Significant credit must go to Smith and some shrewd captaincy. Even before this innings Morkel had an impressive record against Strauss who he had removed six times in Test cricket - often from around the wicket - and he started with that line of attack straight away. Morkel's second delivery was miles down the leg side but the radar was soon adjusted although Steve Davis, the umpire, did not give the decision and it required a review from Smith. It proved his second smart decision in less than an over with the ball hitting middle and leg.
Three reds on the DRS and Strauss was walking back, head down, to bring back memories of the start to the 2010-11 Ashes series in Brisbane when he carved the third ball of the Test - which had been equally, if not more so, hyped than this match - to Michael Hussey in the gully.
Strauss's first-over duck also made it consecutive first-innings noughts against South Africa in Test cricket. At the Wanderers in early 2010 he clipped the first ball of the Test straight to Hashim Amla at short leg and that precipitated a poor England batting display on a lively surface. This time, however, their response to the early setback was far more confident, helped by a pitch that was on the slow side and bowling that did not make the batsmen play enough.
Trott, who when he followed Strauss to the crease at Johannesburg was rattled by South Africa's pace in 2010, calmly drove his first delivery through mid-on while Cook was given too many deliveries he could leave especially by Morkel from round the wicket. Steyn was held back from the new ball as Vernon Philander partnered Morkel and there was swing on offer which caused the batsmen a few nervous moments without creating a chance.
Steyn was eventually introduced in the 11th over and located a testing full length with some late movement, but Cook responded with a strong cut shot at the end of his first over. Kallis was also greeted with a boundary as Cook slotted a short, wide delivery through the off side and another poor ball was dispatched by Trott.
Steyn produced a lively spell and in his sixth over - the last of his opening burst - Cook responded by hooking him for six although the bowler will be convinced there was more top edge than middle involved. That had followed a strong lbw appeal the previous ball against Trott which ended up producing five leg-byes as AB de Villiers hurled the ball past the non-striker's stumps and past some poor backing-up by Morkel. There was another lbw shout before the over was finished but Davis, correctly this time, said not out as Steyn's face grew a little more red with each delivery.
Cook began the second session in confident mood and a series of well-timed drives, the highlight being a back-foot punch down the ground off Steyn. Philander was steady but not the threat of a man with a Test bowling average of 14 as it was before the start of the match while Morkel struggled to locate the ideal length for English conditions. Meanwhile, both batsmen were able to sit on Tahir and wait for the bad balls that came along to ensure pressure created from maidens was not a factor.
Morne Morkel struck early but was less threatening after removing Andrew Strauss © Getty Images
Losing your captain, and an in-form one at that, four balls into a Test could easily jolt a team but England responded impressively to the first-over loss of Andrew Strauss with Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott reigniting a partnership that has served England well in the past. The second-wicket pair guided the home side to a healthy 158 for 1 at tea as South Africa employed six bowlers without much success.
By the interval Cook, who took 98 balls over his half-century, and Trott, who had needed 127 balls and signed off the session with boundaries against Imran Tahir and Jacques Kallis, were in complete control with just the odd memory of their Brisbane epic floating into the mind. As a partnership for England their average stand, currently worth 76.16, is second only to Hobbs and Sutcliffe
Having been billed as a battle of the bowling attacks, South Africa's five-pronged unit were on the whole disappointing during the first two sessions with too much for the batsmen to leave early on while there was swing on offer. The visitors had been bullish that their limited preparation would not be a factor heading into the match but Dale Steyn, who wasn't handed the new ball, Morkel and Kallis looked short of a decent workout. There was also a suggestion that Steyn may not be fully fit as he spent time off the field having his ankle strapped.
On a surface that started surprisingly dry given all the recent poor weather Strauss was happy to bat first with the prospect of conditions that will aid Graeme Swann later in the match and Graeme Smith said he, too, would have batted. Yet less than five minutes into the match it was Smith who felt great after Morkel trapped Strauss lbw although it needed the DRS to earn South Africa the wicket.
Significant credit must go to Smith and some shrewd captaincy. Even before this innings Morkel had an impressive record against Strauss who he had removed six times in Test cricket - often from around the wicket - and he started with that line of attack straight away. Morkel's second delivery was miles down the leg side but the radar was soon adjusted although Steve Davis, the umpire, did not give the decision and it required a review from Smith. It proved his second smart decision in less than an over with the ball hitting middle and leg.
Three reds on the DRS and Strauss was walking back, head down, to bring back memories of the start to the 2010-11 Ashes series in Brisbane when he carved the third ball of the Test - which had been equally, if not more so, hyped than this match - to Michael Hussey in the gully.
Strauss's first-over duck also made it consecutive first-innings noughts against South Africa in Test cricket. At the Wanderers in early 2010 he clipped the first ball of the Test straight to Hashim Amla at short leg and that precipitated a poor England batting display on a lively surface. This time, however, their response to the early setback was far more confident, helped by a pitch that was on the slow side and bowling that did not make the batsmen play enough.
Trott, who when he followed Strauss to the crease at Johannesburg was rattled by South Africa's pace in 2010, calmly drove his first delivery through mid-on while Cook was given too many deliveries he could leave especially by Morkel from round the wicket. Steyn was held back from the new ball as Vernon Philander partnered Morkel and there was swing on offer which caused the batsmen a few nervous moments without creating a chance.
Steyn was eventually introduced in the 11th over and located a testing full length with some late movement, but Cook responded with a strong cut shot at the end of his first over. Kallis was also greeted with a boundary as Cook slotted a short, wide delivery through the off side and another poor ball was dispatched by Trott.
Steyn produced a lively spell and in his sixth over - the last of his opening burst - Cook responded by hooking him for six although the bowler will be convinced there was more top edge than middle involved. That had followed a strong lbw appeal the previous ball against Trott which ended up producing five leg-byes as AB de Villiers hurled the ball past the non-striker's stumps and past some poor backing-up by Morkel. There was another lbw shout before the over was finished but Davis, correctly this time, said not out as Steyn's face grew a little more red with each delivery.
Cook began the second session in confident mood and a series of well-timed drives, the highlight being a back-foot punch down the ground off Steyn. Philander was steady but not the threat of a man with a Test bowling average of 14 as it was before the start of the match while Morkel struggled to locate the ideal length for English conditions. Meanwhile, both batsmen were able to sit on Tahir and wait for the bad balls that came along to ensure pressure created from maidens was not a factor.