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WICKET! Foakes c Petersen b Jansen 14 (England 158 all out, a lead of 40)
Foakes shifts away from off stump but just angles the bat nicely for third slip to poach. England lose four for seven, and three in 13 minutes this morning. A modest Jansen leads South Africa off, holding the ball high in his left hand. His first Test five-fer, five for 35 – each one a proper batter. Updated at 11.19 BST 36th over: England 158-9 (Foakes 14, Anderson 0) Yesterday Ben Stokes had bare feet on the balcony, it is towelling white socks today as England capitulate in autumn sunshine.
WICKET! Leach b Rabada 0 (England 158-9)
A round the wicket fizz-bang, which Leach dangles at, edging onto his stumps. 35th over: England 156-8 (Foakes 13, Leach 0) Foakes picks a single off his hip from the fourth ball, having turned down one off the first. I think he can put more trust in Leach than that. Jansen sprints in, sunlight illuminating his side, like a florescent piping. 34th over: England 155-8 (Foakes 12) Well, that took all of two deliveries.
WICKET! Robinson c Elgar b Rabada 3 (England 155-8)
Robinson pops Rabada straight to mid-off where a surprised Elgar says thanks very much. Rabada celebrates with Elgar after dismissing Robinson. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images Updated at 11.08 BST Over to The Oval , where South Africa pull away from their huddle as the last strains of Jerusalem fade away. They’re mulling over Zac Crawley now. This stat won’t make happy reading for anyone. Crawley is now into the 10 worst averaging opening batters of all-time in men’s Tests (min. 20 innings). England seam dead set on turning him into a pub quiz question. — Jack Fox (@cricket_pig) September 10, 2022 Poor kid, time for a period of hibernation I think. Come again next year. Ah – I have the wrong email address, while I change it pls send to: [email protected] Updated at 11.00 BST Michael Atherton, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain and the Telegraph’s Nick Hoult are in the Sky studio chewing over the events of the last few days with an untouched plate of croissants sitting temptingly in front of them. “J’accuse,” writes Brian Withington. “Although I tend to agree with the broad point he was making, there’s a certain delicious irony in Kevin Pietersen accusing Ben Stokes of a reckless dismissal yesterday.” Isn’t that in the job description of retired players? See, in particular, IT Botham. Updated at 10.36 BST Zapper located. Nasser and Andrew Strauss are on the mike now Strauss: “England have turned around a team that was lacking in confidence, it has been brilliant cricket to watch. At time they have over-played their hand, yesterday it almost looked like the approach was more important than the runs scored which means there is no incentive to do the hard yards.” Some truth there. Shaun Pollock and Kevin Pietersen are whispering in a knowing way -possibly because someone turned down the volume and our remote is missing. Excuse me for a minute while I turn the room upside down. Love this picture – feeling for groundsmen and women this time of year. Updated at 10.24 BST It looks all fine and dandy at The Oval this morning, sun on the outfield, players warming up.
Preamble
Good morning! Seventeen wickets, a debutant, a new monarch – events hit The Oval yesterday. This Test has, with alacrity, thrown itself into the challenge of completing within three days (day one being washed out, day two being cancelled). Ollie Robinson helped himself to another five-fer as South Africa crumbled away like dried up blackberries, only to for England to follow suit, blazing away into a 36 run lead with only three wickets in hand. Play starts at 11am BST (not sure why they don’t follow the County Championship lead and begin half an hour earlier in September), do hang around for the last Test of the summer.
