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England opt to bat in 2nd test vs. South Africa
Hales and Root hit half-centuries, while Nick Compton made 45 after England won the toss and made first use of a pitch with good bounce but minimal sideways movement.
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Anderson replaced Chris Woakes after recovering from a calf strain that kept him out of the first test in Durban, where England beat South Africa by 241 runs, with just a two-day turn over before the second test. But Stokes and Jonny Bairstow (39 not out) put on an unbeaten 94 for the sixth wicket. Morris was on 99 runs overnight, and will be the first SA paceman to go for 100 runs on debut since Dale Steyn.
The runs flowed, Morris’ first over cost 17 as Stokes raced to his fifty, and with Bairstow dovetailing at the other end the hosts ended the day protecting the boundaries rather than trying to claw their way into the England tail. Now it’s up to the Proteas to come to the party over the next five days.
De Kock’s return would take pressure off AB de Villiers, who returned behind the stumps for the Durban Test but looked pressured with the burden of extra work. “There are things he could have done better”. The amount of runs the side batting last would feel comfortable chasing should be adjusted down accordingly.
“They asked me in Durban if I could come down to training yesterday [Friday], so I did”.
England had earlier been guilty of wasting strong positions, with 129-1 and 167-2 eventually sliding to 223-5.
With Hales the skipper registered England’s first half-century stand for eight Tests and it took a superb diving catch from Morris, diving low to his left at third slip, off Rabada to dismiss Cook for 27. Morris has been the least effective of all bowlers more so after the second new ball.
In contrast, South Africa was forced into two changes to its bowling lineup, with Steyn and Kyle Abbott out injured.
Root busily scored off the back foot, but when he wafted an edge behind to give Morris a deserved maiden wicket, the day was in the balance. “The South Africa supporters were magnificent and I felt like I was at home”. He has played some wonderful innings in limited-overs cricket and he deserves credit for his effort here, where he got through the first session, made 60, then was pretty blameless in edging a good delivery from Morne Morkel.
“It was a hell of an innings and hopefully he can kick on tomorrow for a ton”. There was a bit of patience as he got in and then took the second new ball apart. “Stokesy is maverick player, someone who you love to have in your team”. “Hopefully we can push on past 450”.
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“A lot of the public will only have seen me play T20 and ODI cricket so I guess I do have that label but opening in four day cricket is different and something I have worked hard on in the last few years”.