England rattles South Africa in 1st test

Morne Morkel ran through England’s heavily-stocked middle-order as the tourists collapsed to 303 all out on the second morning of the Boxing Day Test in Durban.

Opener Dean Elgar offered cussed resistance after Broad claimed three wickets as the hosts completed on 137 for 4 in reply to England’s 303.

It took England just two balls to undermine the response, Van Zyl shouldering arms to a well-directed Broad ball.

“It gives left-handers a little clip to get off strike, whereas coming round the wicket with all my weight moving towards off stump, if it does move away it can catch the edge, but if it stays straight it can bring in off stump”.

Could it have been better? One dropped catch, one review that should have been awarded and another England should have asked for could end up costing them dear.

Stokes was not certain whether the ball had carried, an opinion shared by television umpire Bruce Oxenford after viewing several replays. “We thought Elgar hit the ball on the lbw, which is why we didn’t call for the review, but people make mistakes”. Had they used one, the not-out decision would have been overturned.

Morkel took all of his wickets on Sunday, including a burst of three wickets for no runs off six balls, and finished with four for 76, while Steyn took four for 70.

Despite being the senior man at the crease overnight, with 63 runs to Stokes’ five, Nick Compton was happy to take a back seat early on.

Jonny Bairstow picked up where Stokes left off, playing the aggressor in a stand of 51 which was ended when Nick Compton (85) got an under-edge to a short ball from Morkel and was caught behind.

This was an eventful and highly entertaining second day of a series which is already living up to the hope that these teams would be evenly matched even though South Africa are still ranked No1 in the world and on their own patch. Then he took a wicket with his third ball. He has also passed that landmark against Australia, India and New Zealand. “The first hour is going to be crucial, we’ve got to aim for a first-innings lead, but that’s going to be hard work. It was just starting to reverse a bit this evening so I think with the warmer conditions and the drier outfield we will be able to work some magic”.

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott on Test Match Special: “It’s a slow, low pitch with a bit of nibble for the bowlers”. England did well this morning.

But Broad refused to let the game slide, unsettling De Villiers with a frustrating line outside off stump then drawing the error with a perfectly-pitched leg-cutter.