"Stokes ODI retirement is England's gain in Test cricket" - Butler
EnglandTest cricket revolution The first cricket continuation of the three-match series againstSouth Africa started at Lord's this morning.
Under Brendon McCallum and Ben Stokes a new brand of fearless cricket, named after its new coach, "Buzzball ” was named. – Today's host helped stop corruption after suffering just one win in his 17 tests. England's momentum continues with memorable victories followed by memorable victories this summer as Proteas tops the table at the World Test Championship. And we are facing another tough test.
England came in just one substitution fromthe who surprised India last time, with wicket-keeper Ben Fawkes back at in place of Sam Billings. James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Matthew Potts delivered pace attacks, and Ollie Robinson, who had not played for his country since the Ashes' last game in January, remained awaiting a recall. In-form Yorkshire hitter Harry Brooke was also absent.
Follow the latest scores and sequential updates from the first test below.
Ollie Pope helps Britain recover from a difficult start as South Africa start strike early
Ollie Pope led England after returning to their familiar pattern after losing an early wicket on the first day of the First Test againstSouth Africaat Lords of trouble.
The 24-year-old has spent half a century just before lunch, playing aggressively and looking for scoring opportunities, unbeaten at 51 and breaking at 100 in England. I came to Five.
After England fell to his 4-for-55, Pope had to remedy a dire situation. This included the loss of Johnny Bairstow for the Ducks, with Ben Stokes narrowly caught. A hit for lunch.
The 24-year-old turned his half-century up just before lunch after England conceded. raised 55 for 4 people.
Rainbreak: England 116-6, Pope 61, Broad 0; Not played yet
Only 1 wicket dropped from lunch. Here are his 6 songs from Ben Foakes. Anrich Nortje was too good for this occasion.
(action image via Reuters)
(Getty Images)
Rainbreak: England 116-6, Pope 61, Broad 0; South Africa still to hit.
Ollie Pope continued his excellent innings after lunch with drives, cuts and pulls. He now holds the keys to England. A big score for Pope means a big score for England.
(Getty Images)
Rainbreak: England 116-6, Pope 61, Broad 0; South Africa have yet to hit.
Ben Fawkes found a gap between his bat and pad to reposition the stumps after a full, sharp throw from Henrich his Norce.
Cover has come out, but it seems unlikely that play will resume anytime soon.
Rain stops play. England 116-6, Pope 61, Broad 0; South Africa still not batting
Stuart Broad pulled it off admirably. I told the umpire about the weather between games and they started looking up at the sky.
It started to rain and the decision was made to dismiss the players.
It's pretty gloomy in there, and Broad in particular would be happy not to have to face short bowling for a while.
England 116-6, Pope 61, Broad 0; } 32 Overs: Stuart Broad is the new man in the fold. He saw his last two deliveries of Nortje's overs but took the ball short to his chest for his effort.
32 Overs: Stuart Broad is the new man in the fold. He saw his last two deliveries of Nortje's overs but took the ball short to his chest for his effort.
He will expect some of these before the inning is over.
Broad is not known for hanging around for long, so expect fireworks sooner or later.
wickets. Foakes 6, b Nortje. England 116-6
Ben Fawkes is gone. In the dim light, Anrich Nolce sends in quick pitches and rips the ball into hitters. Foakes gets the inside edge of the ball, but he can't keep it and the stump shatters into pieces.
England 116-5, Pope 61, Forks 6; 205}
31 Over: Striking conditions are far from ideal. It's cloudy, gray and a little muggy. Pope had a good eye on the ball and pulled Labada to the leg side to score two.
Chances were nearly exhausted, but Pope quickly sent Fawkes back to the crease, and the danger was gone. That's the last thing England wants now.
England 114-5, Pope 59, Forks 6; } 30 overs: Fawkes flicked Noche into a single fine leg after the paceman veered legside. A wide short on his ball draws Pope into a wild cut on his shot, but he misses.
30 overs: Fawkes flicked Noche into a single fine leg after the paceman veered legside. A wide short on his ball draws Pope into a wild cut on his shot, but he misses.
This may be a South African tactic. Nortje fizzes the bouncer down to Pope.
A decisive tactic. Two sharp short balls to Foakes end the over with the batter ducking under the final delivery.
England 112-5, Pope 58, Forks 5; }
29 overs: Pope gathers another couple and England keep ticking, slowly accumulating runs.
Rabada got one of his and made the delivery right next to the off-stamp and Pope hung a bat there and luckily didn't hurt his one. He knows it was a loose shot and he has words to himself to focus.
In the final delivery of the over, Pope fought back and cut the ball A fumble in the Gully area gave him a further two and England scored four from the over.
