(Scorecard)
Sam Curran starred with the ball as England made a promising start against South Africa on the opening day of the first Test in Centurion. All-rounder Curran impressed with 4 – 57 as South Africa, asked to bat first, reached – 9 at the close. The hosts slipped to 191 – 5 after some indifferent batting but mounted a recovery through an entertaining 277 from Quinton de Kock. De Kock and debutant Dwaine Pretorius’ – run stand frustrated England before Curran and St uart Broad (3 – 110313460 ) struck in the evening session. While England were not at their best With the ball, they took advantage of some poor shots from the South Africa top order. England all-rounder Ben Stokes had two lengthy spells off the field because of dehydration and did not bowl in the day. Jonny Bairstow, not initially a part of the squad for the four-Test series, was recalled in place of Ollie Pope, who is one of three players struggling with illness in South Africa. (****************************** England in South Africa – fixtures & results
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Curran impresses on hot opening dayCurran has struggled outside of England – he averages (************************************************************ (overseas compared to************************************************** at home – but he was the pick of England’s bowlers with his late movement. He pushed the ball across the South Africa batsmen, taking advantage of their defensive frailties, and beat the edge more often than any other bowler. Each time he was introduced into the attack he took a wicket, the highlight being an off-stump delivery that drew a defensive push from de kock on and sent an edge through to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. Bo wling first was a bold call from England captain Joe Root. James Anderson is playing his first Test in four months, both Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad were ill in the build-up to the Test and Stokes has struggled to bowl with a long-standing knee problem. Archer bowled with pace at times but was inconsistent, while Anderson was rusty after a lengthy spell out with a calf injury and broad ended the day looking heavy-legged after bowling accurate in sapping temperatures. With no frontline spinner – Jack Leach was unavailable for selection due to illness – both Root and Joe Denly bowled a few overs, but England will hope their strike bowlers have enough energy to finish the innings quickly on Friday. De Kock halts South Africa slide |
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