First Test: England v South Africa, Lord's, July 6-10.

[rich1uk]

Stokes out after a bit of a nothing of a shot

tried to pull out of the hook shot when the ball was a bit too high but got a fine edge on it

down to the last 2 "proper" batsman now with just 190 on the board

[andy]

Root on 98* need a huge score from him here

[rich1uk]

100 up for Captain Root

[rich1uk]

one of those weird little stats that i like

thats the last 4 England test captains all made a century in their first game as captain

[andy]

Class from Root, long may it continue

[Durhamfootman]

Good recovery. I feared the worst when I went out after lunch

[andy]

this over-rate is horrendous, gonna lose quite a few overs today

[dan08]

Saw someone on Twitter suggest this and I think it's actually quite a good idea... Fine the umpires if the over rate is slow. They are the only ones who can control the pace of both sides.

[andy]

Bavuma into the attack What is Elgar doing..since tea no urgency...can't always play for the new ball...scoring at 5 and a half an over since tea

[rich1uk]

Bavuma into the attack What is Elgar doing..since tea no urgency...can't always play for the new ball...scoring at 5 and a half an over since tea

might be trying to test Ali against the short ball

[dan08]

Another no ball!

[andy]

Root out of a no-ball!!

Then gets to 150

[Aidan11]

I was about to say unlucky Joe but it seems luck os on his side.

And gets his 150 too

[rich1uk]

South Africa shooting themselves in the front foot

[Arthur Crabtree]

Keep waking up with Root having a stack more runs on his total. Very dominant innings, even given his luck.

Over rate is something that irritates me. I quite like the idea of fining the umpire, but actually they have only so much control. We need zero tolerance penalties for the captains.