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12th over: England 68-2 ( Smith 35, Brook 10) Mulder takes over from Ngidi, a skiddier, shorter chap \u2013 by South African standards at least. Tidy too \u2013 just two from the over.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11th over: England 66-2 ( Smith 34, Brook 10) A huge Headingley roar as Smith flays Bosch, who has the look of an overgrown and blond Stefan Dennis, through the covers. A four from Brook to start the over too, an effortless nudge off the legs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 10th over: England 57-2 ( Smith 30, Brook 5) Just one from the 10th, and South African haven\u2019t let England get away at the end of the first power play.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you please suppress any more praise of English batters from Brian Withington? He seems incapable of learning the lesson by himself.\u201d I\u2019ll try Billy Mills, I\u2019ll try.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9th over: England 56-2 ( Smith 30, Brook 4) A bowling change as the blond right-armed, and suitably named, Bosch thunders in. Smith ushers his first ball for four through deep third, and another through midoff for four more, though he plays and misses at the next.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.47 EDT<\/p>\n 8th over: England 48-2 ( Smith 22, Brook 4) A cracking ball from Ngidi, leaving Root uncharacteristically lost for strokes, but not such a great follow-up, which Brook hooplas over cover for four.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Root c Rickelton b Ngidi 14 (England 44-2)<\/p>\n Wow! Some terrific juggling skills by Rickelton, who catches Root\u2019s glance with the finger tips of his right glove, loses the ball briefly as he lands on the ground, but is able to grab the rebound with both hands. Silver service. The umpires’ review the decision, but the cameras send Root on his way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7th over: England 44-1 ( Smith 22, Root 14) After a fallow 16 balls, England get going again as Smith chops Burger into the off side and then tucks into the next ball, a wide one, sending it flying over gully. Burger wipes his brown on his thick yellow sweat band.<\/p>\n Some advice for Richard O\u2019Hagan from John Starbuck. \u201cIf he waits a bit longer to tell the caller to Eff Off when he becomes aware it\u2019s a soi disant \u2018Bank Security\u2019 or phishing \u2018Catching up\u2019 call, he\u2019ll have enough time to relalise its Baz or any other selector. Pity about Duckett, though.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know about you but I\u2019m always being sold solar panels and double glazing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6th over: England 35-1 ( Smith 14, Root 13) Ngidi once more, kicking his orange soled shoes behind him. Some nice fielding by South Africa on the rock-hard outfield, to limit England to two off the over.<\/p>\n And hello Brian Withington \u201cAfter that first sumptuous extra cover drive by Joe Root I was moved to suggest at another place (Romeo\u2019s) that it should be framed and placed on permanent display in the National Gallery. After the second I\u2019m thinking hopefully of one more for the triptych.\u201d I have a feeling he\u2019ll oblige \u2013 he looks in the zone (again).<\/p>\n Jamie Smith sets off for some runs. Photograph: Gareth Copley\/ECB\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.42 EDT<\/p>\n 5th over: England 33-1 ( Smith 12, Root 13) No boundaries off Burger\u2019s third over, but Rickleton hurts his hand fluffing a take behind the stumps.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4th over: England 29-1 ( Smith 10, Root 13) Ngidi employs the wobble seam. Root whips four square and then, after a watchful few balls, once more sends the ball tumbling through the covers to the rope. Perfection. The Headingley skies are blue and dotted with candy-floss clouds, with, we\u2019re told, the possibility of rain later.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3rd over: England 21-1 ( Smith 10, Root 5) Berger follows up his wicket-taking ball with a wide, then Root knocks the next effortlessly, like the swish of a satin dressing-gown, through the covers for four. ROOOOOT sing the crowd as he holds the pose.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy,\u201d asks Matthew Doherty, \u201ccouldn\u2019t we have Burger c Mustard b Onions?\u201d Damn that the years didn\u2019t quite align. You might get Burger v Baker later though.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Duckett c Rickleton b Burger 5 (England 13-1)<\/p>\n A stone-footed, forward prod, easily taken by Rickleton. Done by the swing.<\/p>\n Ben Duckett trudges off after falling for 5. Photograph: Danny Lawson\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.41 EDT<\/p>\n 2nd over: England 13-0 (Duckett 5, Smith 8) Duckett gets in on the four act, driving powerfully and passing the outstretched foot of bowler Ngidi. This outfield is crying out for runs.<\/p>\n \u201cVery interesting to read about Sonny Baker\u2019s call up,\u201d writes Richard O\u2019Hagan. \u201c I\u2019m now able to understand my own lack of international recognition. It\u2019s because I don\u2019t answer calls from numbers that I don\u2019t recognise, isn\u2019t it?\u201d I hope it isn\u2019t too late for you Richard, coming up on the inside for the Ashes tour.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1st over: England 8-0 (Duckett 0, Smith 8) Burger with the first over. Tall, broad, left arm, a shadow of a moustache, a doormat of a goatee, and Smith plays the first three balls watchfully away. Balls five and six however, go for four, one sent away at 27 minutes past the hour, one at 27 minutes to.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Our man on the ground, Simon Burnton, reports a ground half full and filling up quickly, as the players prepare to walk through a welcoming committee of flag-waving women over 40. Just add that to our skill set.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A smiling Sonny Baker is talking to Michael Atherton.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been obviously a very surreal experience over the last six weeks, but I can\u2019t wait to get stuck in.[ When Baz called] I thought it was a fake call, asking me to fill in my credit card details, when it was him, I nearly fell off my chair. I said I\u2019m normally more talkative that this, and he said, \u2018I\u2019ve heard\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n [On bowling fast]. \u201cThat\u2019s the most fun thing about the sport for me, there\u2019s a reason Jofra has such a following. I attribute quite a lot of my ball speed to the fact that I really want to to it. Getting injured, going for runs, that\u2019s fine as long as you understand that it is part of doing the fun stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n What a charming, chilled young man. He hasn\u2019t played a list A game since 2022 though, so not the easiest debut\u2026<\/p>\n Sonny Baker warms up. Photograph: Andy Kearns\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.55 EDT<\/p>\n South Africa XI<\/p>\n South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.<\/p>\n A new opening pair for South Africa with Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More on Sonny Baker from his captain. \u201cI\u2019m really excited for Sonny, he had an amazing hundred, looking forward to him showcasing his skills today and great to have Jof back.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>South Africa win the toss and will bowl<\/p>\n Temba Bauma calls correctly and chooses to have a bowl on the dry Headingley pitch. Harry Brook would have had a bowl too, \u201cI know this ground pretty well and I know it is hard to defend.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>England XI<\/p>\n England XI: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (capt), Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Jamie Overton turns his back on red-ball cricket<\/p>\n But as one door opens, another closes, with Surrey\u2019s Jamie Overton announcing an \u201cindefinite break\u201d from red-ball cricket. Overton, just 31, and another of England\u2019s big fast bowler dream team, was part of the squad for all five Tests against India, and played at The Oval, but has struggled with injury.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is no longer possible to commit fully to all formats at every level, both physically and mentally,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cRed-ball, first\u2011class cricket has provided the foundation for my professional career and has been the gateway to every opportunity I\u2019ve had in the game so far.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing forward, my focus will be on white-ball cricket, and I will continue to give everything to play at the highest level for as long as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>A debut for Sonny Baker<\/p>\n We know how much the England selectors like a big strong fast bowler with the Ashes on the horizon, and there is much excitement about Hampshire\u2019s Sonny Baker, who will make his senior England debut today. He\u2019s impressed in the Hundred and a good first Championship season. This could be his NatWest final moment.<\/p>\n Simon has more here:<\/p>\n