England v South Africa: rain delays hosts extending lead – as it happened

England extended their lead to 252 for the loss of Alastair Cook before heavy rain forced play to be abandoned at the Oval

5.18pm BST

The umpires have accepted the inevitable: there will be no more play today. Vish and Adam Collins will be with you for day four. Cheers for your company and emails today. Night!

5.14pm BST

“Some of my date films - going back a bit, of course,” says John Starbuck.

5.09pm BST

Breaking news: WG Grace lives

The only cricket being played at The Oval is in the bowels of the ground... #EngvSA pic.twitter.com/nOypUW9XZ3

5.01pm BST

Unsurprisingly, this KP masterclass brilliant https://t.co/GK2tHRgrZH

5.00pm BST

Sky Sports are showing a terrific video on how the PCA has helped so many cricketers, particularly those with mental health problems like Marcus Trescothick, Simon Cusden and Andrew Flintoff. There’s still a long way to go in a world that is nowhere near as liberal as it purports to be, but a lot of people in cricket are doing admirable work to help people understand the severity and indiscriminate nature of mental illness.

In fact, here’s the same video. And if you want to read more about the PCA Benevolent Fund, click here.

4.49pm BST

“Hi,” says Damian Clarke. “Took my first ever proper date to see Clint Eastwood’s Firefox, way back in the day. A film longer than a Test match, and as dull as baseball. How did it go? I’ve no idea. When I woke up she’d already left. “

That sounds the great lost Peep Show episode.

4.45pm BST

The umpires will inspect again at 5.30pm. So there’s that.

4.43pm BST

Just when I thought I was out...

Arsenal v Benfica: Emirates Cup friendly – live! https://t.co/ihaysirIg1 via @guardian_sport

4.41pm BST

True Detective waits “Just following up on the first-date theme,” says Richard Williams. “On my first date with my last girlfriend after a few drinks I became somewhat aggrieved that she’d not yet seen the first season of True Detective. To be fair to her once I’d described it she insisted we left the bar immediately and went to mine where we watched all eight episodes in a row. Not sure what the point of this email is other than to assure other oddball OBOers they are not alone in the world.”

So, you told her about a show in which an oddball loner kills young women at his rancid abode, and she asked to go back to yours?

4.26pm BST

Hello folks, Rob here. Vish is just working on something for the paper, so I’m your weatherman for the next hour or so. Nothing has changed, except that it’s now officially tea, so let’s proceed straight to the latest Mac Millings XI!

“For some reason,” says Mac, “here is a mixed football/cricket All-Time Psychology XI.”

4.02pm BST

On Manchester and rain, from Paul Fields: “Regarding that tweet - rain at Old Trafford IS typical. It’s no coincidence that Lancashire had a gap of 77 years between County Championships, only breaking the run when OT was being redeveloped in 2011 and they were mostly playing at Liverpool.”

3.51pm BST

Robert Wilson has a reply for me: “Not all questions have answers. American Psycho on a first date seems a flawed gambit? Well, he was a gentle and gifted soul but was born in Belfast all the same. More proof, I would suggest, that there is nothing Yiddish about the words putz and schmuck. Those are strictly Northern Irish terms. And an ever-present ethno-biological reality.”

3.45pm BST

Spot on:

Just a reminder to commentators that today's rain at The Oval is 'really unfortunate' while next week's in Manchester will be 'typical'.

3.34pm BST

Robert Wilson says I’m smooth. Thankfully, the Guardian’s email server has a sarcasm filter (can you imagine?) so I’m assuming he’s a straight-up fan of my ways.

“I knew a guy who took a girl to see American Psycho on a first date but he was a mere John the Baptist to you, not fit to tie your sandals.” What a film. So many questions. Firstly - did he know what the film was about before suggesting it? Reeling, here. Even the one scene without sex or violence is unsettling:

3.21pm BST

Quick update: Some extra covers have come on. This may well be the rain that was expected to keep us off until stumps.

“My version of predictive text insists your name is Wish,” writes John Starbuck. “The genie lurking in the bottle?” I got that on a cup off coffee once – you know, when they ask for your name, just to make the whole thing seem, you know, *normal*.

3.01pm BST

“Always strikes me as more of a telly tubby than a dweller of Middle Earth.” Really? He’s definitely got Orc-ish qualities. “Morne morkel, AB, Amla, (de)kock?” In other news, his name is a bugger to type with predictive text.”

I’ll be the judge of that,

Simon Sully-Homer


Simon Scully-Mulder
Simon Scully-Horner.

2.59pm BST

Hasn’t been pretty from England – Westley drives aside – but it’s tough as boots out there. This Tweet sums things up neatly:

England have missed or edged 31 deliveries this innings - almost one in four balls, illustrating how hard it’s been. #EngvSA

2.58pm BST

**Paging Keiran Betteley and the rest**

“So according to a thing I found on the ICC website,” starts Michael Morris....

‘In reviewing a dismissal, if the third umpire believes that the batsman may instead be out by any other mode of dismissal, he shall advise the on-field umpire accordingly. The process of consultation described in this paragraph in respect of such other mode of dismissal shall then be conducted as if the batsman has been given not out.’

2.51pm BST

“Wow, Tom Maingay has hit a whole cluster of nerves,” replies Robert Wilson (see Over 15 then 18 for context). “I LOVE the idea of Nazgul-hosting cities (those dudes were party animals). We could have festivals and fetes. The Witch-King of Angmar could DJ. We could have orc-pits for the more committed clubbers. Gollum-throwing competitions, Gondorian techno and scratch dwarf-cricket on the smouldering lawns. Rohirrim donkey-rides on the beach? Morne Morklel would headline. It’s money in the bank. I feel a musical coming on.”

2.48pm BST

Kieran Betteley, here’s another answer to your query from Over 20, from William Hargreaves:

“That is a good question. On the assumption that a team have to appeal for an umpire to be able to make a decision, presumably the umpire might have to qualify the nature of the appeal? At which point a fielding captain might say, ‘caught, LBW, stumped, two hits, handled ball...’”

2.46pm BST

[Sad emoji face that I don’t think works on our Composer tool]

If the forecast is correct, that might be the last #cricket we see today. Light drizzle and plenty more coming. #ENGvSA

2.45pm BST

21.2 overs: England 74-1 (Jennings 34, Westley 28) During the drinks break, the players look above to see the rains pick up. Lee, the Oval groundsman, looks tetchy and, after two balls, we’re off!

2.41pm BST

21st over: England 74-1 (Jennings 34, Westley 28) “At the risk of, you know ...” go on, Ian Copestake, “how must the other bowlers be feeling about Morris, watching him undo all the Morkel pressure? Someone should send Stoneman out there to have a word with him.” Ha! Stoneman’s at the Oval, as it happens, albeit on a Surrey jolly.

This is what the kids call “gd bntz”

.@David215Gower in @McCannbespoke's Cricket United blazer... Remind you of anyone??? pic.twitter.com/igfUuUYdxu

2.38pm BST

20th over: England 73-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 28) Third maiden for Rabada, including a jaffa that has Westley driving at air. Keiran Betteley has a question for the OBO hivemind: “That review just then for Jennings was after, assumedly, the umpire gave him out caught behind.” Correct.

“The third umpire then went on to check the LBW decision.What would have happened in the case of an umpire’s call? Could the bowling team get a wicket on the basis of the umpire’s call, despite the fact the umpire didn’t give it out LBW? I’m not a fan of umpire’s call in any case, especially the commentators congratulating the umpire on a ‘good decision’ after it’s upheld on umpire’s call (and would have been either way), but this one seems to be a genuine weird one. Does anyone know?”

2.33pm BST

19th over: England 73-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 28) Chris Morris in, car packed full of chips, and Westley immediately drives him through the covers. Then, when he pulls his length back. Westley thrashes him behind point for four more. Luckily, Morris feels nothing because he’s made of string.

2.30pm BST

18th over: England 64-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 19) A maiden from Rabada but one that Jennings was happy to take. Tom Maingay emails in: “Thought it might be worth mentioning that I’m struck, whenever I hear Morne Morkel’s name, by it’s similarity to Nazgul-hosting Middle Earthian city, Minas Morgul. Although I’m sure this has occurred before to Mr Wilson.”

2.27pm BST

17th over: England 64-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 19) This is Westley’s quality. He gets bowlers to bowl to him. Even having been beaten a few times outside off stump, Morkel goes full to entice something more. So Westley leans into another fine on drive. Not quite timed, though, so he’ll only get two for it. But good batting nonetheless.

2.22pm BST

16th over: England 62-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 17) Jennings is given out for... well caught behind. The South Africans – and umpire Joel Wilson – reckon it’s bad and pad before being caught by Quinton de Kock. Westley tells Jennings to review, so he does... not only is there no bat, but the check for the LBW shows that the ball had pitched outside leg.

2.18pm BST

15th over: England 62-1 (Jennings 33, Westley 17) “Oof; ouch and ow; talk about Jaffa-time.” Good to have you with us, Robert Wilson. “For more than a decade, I’ve been whispering awed tales about a ball Brett Lee bowled to Flintoff in 2005. Like a flashbacking Gandalf, I would say that not if staunch Freddie had 100 tries could he have laid wood upon it, so demonic and otherwordly was this fast nip-backer. That Morkel ball is a new contender for my hobbit-frightening fireside routine. Admittedly, if you got 50 or 60 goes at it; you might just nick it, but on the other hand, Morkel is a much scarier name. You feel me?”

Definitely. A “Lee” might steal your girlfriend, but a “Morkel” will haunt you for life. It’s quite onomatopoeic – like a ghoul who didn’t quite make the cut for Beowulf. Westley’s not scared, mind – finishes the over with a lovely straight drive for four.

2.13pm BST

14th over: England 53-1 (Jennings 28, Westley 13) Philander off and now Jennings cuts loose. If you looked up “loosener” in the dictionary – yes, my dictionary has pictures in it – you’ll see that over from Rabada. Short, wide and two balls gleefully swatted away through point and then cover for a couple of boundaries.

Meanwhile, this is a fantastic initiative that does so much good. If you fancy helping them out, link in the Tweet...

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please RT! We're looking for volunteers who want to do something amazing in 2018! Apply now: https://t.co/T6ghLVzbEr pic.twitter.com/Zho7OpXtNL

2.08pm BST

13th over: England 44-1 (Jennings 19, Westley 13) Not for the first time, Vernon Philander has had to leave the field. Morkel’s bowling this one, mind, but the tension of the situation seems to have dissipated after the runs of the previous over and the sight of Big Vern trudging off. Just one from this over. Kagiso Rabada’s on next...

2.04pm BST

12th over: England 43-1 (Jennings 18, Westley 13) Class from Westley. Swing, away from him, yet he just leans into an on-drive glorious, ensuring he’s got the silences on those deadly wrists. He takes them off for the next boundary, working Philander off his hip to beat fine leg to the sponge.

“Morkel is virtually unplayable at the moment,” says Brian Withington. “As Atherton says, the only way to face that sort of bowling is from the other end!” 100%. Nothing wrong with being yellow-bellied, here. In fact, it’s a fundamental part of batting, especially opening. Quite often you’ll hear a seasoned opener say that the best way to play yourself in is watching from the nonstriker’s end.

2.00pm BST

11th over: England 35-1 (Jennings 18, Westley 5) Morkel is on one, right now. Makes a fool of Jennings with one that just bounces over off stump. Incredible stuff. Jennings just laughs. Who knows, it could well be his day...

1.57pm BST

10th over: England 35-1 (Jennings 18. Westley 5) Gorgeous from Westley. Follows an outswinger from Philander and drives him through extra cover for four. A handful of leaves, a couple of feels and a stunner that pulls Westley’s pants down finish the over.

From an earlier thread, Mark Press emails in this: “Here’re a couple of Australian players who played in Holding’s Lancs league debut. Ian Callen was the only other pro who played in that game, and has a brilliant bat making business in Australia today. They replied when I asked them if they remember that game.”

I was told Henry Hall hooking Wes Hall for some sixes and Henry did play that game against Michael @rammylad1 would know

1.51pm BST

9th over: England 31-1 (Jennings 18, Westley 1) Turns out he’s got a similar delivery for righties, does Morkel. Tom Westley walks out at number three and is beaten by one that holds its line. Gets off the mark with an easy single to square leg.

Now then: take the phone off the hook, close the curtains and watch this on repeat:

WICKET Cook bowled by a beauty from Morkel

30/1 #ENGvSA

Match centre: https://t.co/a0qhO1p3jy pic.twitter.com/ovzIQTPFNq

1.47pm BST

Right. Remember that delivery a couple of overs back – the un-nickable one from Morkel to Cook? OK, so the point stands. You’re not nicking that. Which is just as well because it’s clipped the top of off stump. Video imminent (well worth the wait). Ball of the series, I think. Rabada’s doozy to Malan bumped to second.

1.45pm BST

8th over: England 30-0 (Cook 7, Jennings 18) Jennings up against Philander again. He’s gagging to rotate the strike but seems to have this very un-leftie blind spot on his pads. When he can go at a ball on the off side, he edges it just behind gully for four. Bavuma steps on the ball to keep it in play but not only misses but nearly duffs his ankle. Bit dim, that. Four more to Jennings.

1.41pm BST

7th over: England 26-0 (Cook 7, Jennings 14) Eeeeesh what a delivery from Morkel! Around the wicket to Cook – of course – his giant piston of a right arm sends the ball down off stump before pitching and leading Cook for dead. Can have all the Test runs and all the form in the world – you’re just not nicking those.

Good arvo to John Starbuck: “How many does it take before we see ‘Jennings makes a score’ of sufficient number to ensure he’ll be in the team next Friday?” Excellent question. I’d say a hundred: one where others fall away and he almost single-handedly drags England to a lead of 400. Or a double. Or, he does a word-and-note-perfect rendition of “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”. Bayliss might not have seen much county cricket, but surely he’s watched Top Gun?

1.36pm BST

6th over: England 26-0 (Cook 7, Jennings 14) “It feels like Jennings is batting with a round bat,” says Nasser. Love it. The middle of Jennings’ bat certainly seems a lot smaller, to us and him. Squirts an four through fine leg off his inside edge, just past his leg stump. England lead by 204

1.31pm BST

Good afternoon all. Vish here, picking up where Rob left off – in the rain, wondering if we’ll start again on time. How about TRJ? Isn’t he nice? Middlesex fans will bore you with stories of “yeah, but he’s been ready since 2012 etc etc”. And the truth is, yeah, he’s probably been Test quality for a few years now. Though he’s had a few dips that you’d expect with any player and, crucially, he’s had them in county cricket, where you’re not judged as harshly for going a couple of months without a five-for. Anyway, glory to him and to us, as it looks like we’ll be recommencing on time! South Africa do their huddle, Keaton Jennings has a few awkward skips on the spot. Alastair Cook is Alastair Cook.

Before play gets underway, Sky did a bit about South Africa’s tour over here in the 2012: text-gate etc. They showed a few shots of KP’s 149 at Headingley, which was followed by a couple of brilliantly surly media stints with Ian Ward and then the written media. That took the headlines but the innings itself, my word. I think it’s the best I’ve seen him play. That might be blasphemy while OBO-ing an Oval Test. But, seriously - look at the state of it...

12.52pm BST

A bit of lunchtime reading, and viewing

Related: The Recap: sign up for the best of the Guardian's sport coverage

12.46pm BST

That’s it from me. Vish will be your weatherman for the afternoon session. See you after tea!

12.46pm BST

“Hello Rob!” says Phil West. “If TRJ is too difficult to say easily/quickly then why not just use ‘Trudge’? The real quickies will all say that he’s just trudging in on his run-up so it seems good to me.”

Oh I like that. It also sets up some great opportunities for a theatre tour with Robin Smith.

12.45pm BST

Yep, we’re going off for an early lunch. It might be a few hours before they return. England lead by 198 runs.

12.44pm BST

5th over: England 20-0 (Cook 6, Jennings 10) Cook softens his hands to edge Morkel all along the ground for four. These are not easy batting conditions at all, and England won’t be crestfallen if the umpires deem the rain to be too heavy.

“I am in Budapest between sessions of the swimming,” says Adam Roberts. “It’s a gorgeous day and I should get out and see more of the city. But I’m full of cold so following the cricket on TMS and OBO is quite tempting. Can you advise me?”

12.40pm BST

4th over: England 16-0 (Cook 2, Jennings 9) It’s starting to rain. This would be a dreadful time for the under-pressure Jennings to get out - and he should have gone in that over. First he inside edged a fraction wide of the slips for four; then he edged Philander through the hands of Elgar at third slip. It was a hot one, but Elgar will probably feel he should have taken it. Philander runs off the field at the end of the over, presumably because of an urgent manifestation of his stomach upset.

“Do me a favour and remind John Wright not to get too pissed,” sniffs Rob Wright. “He’s supposed to be going out with me after the match.”

12.32pm BST

2nd over: England 1-0 (Cook 0, Jennings 1) Jennings has copied Ben Stokes’ plan of batting outside his crease to Philander. His head-to-head record is grisly: two runs, three wickets. Make that three runs, three wickets, by virtue of an overthrow. Who says chivalry is dead? Philander is bowling with considerable menace for a man who spent yesterday in hospital, and only an inside edge saves Cook from being LBW.

“Possibly premature question,” says Robert Taylor. “How do we work Woakes back in? Do we think that his batting prowess alongside TRJ and Broad’s lower order biffing means we can drop a batsman again and push Mo back to 7? Or do we drop Roland-Jones? Surely we can’t leave out Woakes? ARRGH?!?!”

12.28pm BST

1st over: England 0-0 (Cook 0, Jennings 0) They say it changes when the sun goes down around here, and that’s precisely what’s happened at the Oval. It’s suddenly pretty gloomy, and Morkel’s first ball of the innings is a nasty lifter that rams into Cook’s body. An excellent first over also includes a strangled shout for LBW. It was going down, just like that lovely sun we had this morning.

#TobyRolandJones takes 5-57 on debut. Surely the best figures ever recorded by someone with an accountancy degree from @UniversityLeeds

12.22pm BST

Bad news for Keaton Jennings. Vernon Philander is on the field

12.21pm BST

Roland-Jones’ figures, I should have given you those: 16.4-4-57-5. Well played youngish man.

12.15pm BST

England lead by 178 runs. Roland-Jones leaads the team off a little sheepishly. In the future, his grandkids will be able to give you chapter and verse on the events of 28-29 July 2017.

12.14pm BST

Well done Toby Roland-Jones! He completes a debut five-for with the wicket of Bavuma, caught behind by Bairstow. It was a fine delivery: full enough to invite the drive, seaming enough to find the edge. Bairstow took a nice low catch to his right. Tremendous stuff from Roland-Jones. He’s the first Englishman to take a five-for on debut since Graham Onions. Not only that, all five wickets were specialist batsmen. He’s seems a thoroughly likeable, modest guy, and you’d have to be an eejit or a South African to not be thrilled for him.

12.10pm BST

58th over: South Africa 170-9 (Bavuma 52, Philander 5) Philander laces Anderson through the covers for four; then Bavuma is beaten by some pronounced seam movement.

“You open an interesting topic about watching a game again that you have just seen live,” says Jon Saunders. “I did this exact thing recently after the second Lions test match. I live in Wellington and was lucky enough to be there but when I got home I still couldn’t quite believe we’d won so had to watch it again. What other sporting events were so memorable (or frankly unbelievable) that people who have actually witnessed them live have then needed to watch them again immediately upon arriving home (other than Edgbaston 2005)?”

12.03pm BST

57th over: South Africa 165-9 (Bavuma 52, Philander 0) Bavuma edges the new bowler Roland-Jones along the ground for four to reach a very good half-century, full of pride and ability. He’s got something, this chap. And now he’s going to get a drink.

“Hi Rob,” says Ben Parker. “Found that Michael Holding scorecard using some ninja-level googling skills.”

12.00pm BST

56th over: South Africa 161-9 (Bavuma 48, Philander 0) Vern walks out to bat, one of the better No11s we’ve seen for a while, and gets straight into line. I don’t suppose bowlers can target a dodgy stomach in the same way you can work over a batsman with, say, a broken hand. Maybe England could shove a rancid fry up at silly point to get in his head.

“Following the blog from a desk in the Seychelles (nice),” says Gareth Heal. “I had a ticket for today but had to give it up to come and work out here for three weeks (tough). Finding it hard to concentrate as they’re setting up a massive sound system for a wedding in the room next door. Having said all of that, sitting in the stands at the Oval today would have been a tidy place to be.”

11.55am BST

That’ll do! Jimmy Anderson is too good for Morne Morkel, snapping one off the seam to take the outside edge. Cook tumbles to his right at first slip to take the catch. That was the first delivery Anderson has bowled to Morkel today. Yes, yes, I did tell you so.

11.54am BST

55th over: South Africa 161-8 (Bavuma 48, Morkel 17) South Africa were 61 for seven, so this is a fine recovery. They are still miles behind in the game, and it’s hard to say a way back. A draw might be achievable but a victory looks beyond the realms.

“The weather seems to be a major taking point in this Test match,” says Matthew Doherty. “What odds that the crowd will end up helping the grounds that clear the pitch a la Oval 1968.”

11.50am BST

54th over: South Africa 160-8 (Bavuma 48, Morkel 16) Anderson replaces Broad. It’s all the same to Bavuma, who launches another lovely drive through extra cover for four. Anderson’s response is predictably stern, a snarling lifter that beats the outside edge. Excellent stuff.

“To be fair,” says William Hargreaves, “Bobby Bacala did have a valid point about the Quarterback of Notre Dame that could have been developed in later episodes.”

11.46am BST

53rd over: South Africa 156-8 (Bavuma 44, Morkel 16) Roland-Jones is replaced by ... Moeen Ali. That’s fair enough, with a left-handed tailender like Morkel at the crease, but I bet Anderson has an affronted coupon right now. The first ball skids on to hit the pad and prompt a huge LBW appeal. Aleem Dar says no, England decide not to review, replays show it was missing leg.

Morkel looks much less comfortable against Moeen: he almost drags onto the stumps and then survives a lone appeal from Bairstow for a catch down the leg side. Nobody else appealed at all and so they don’t consider a review. UltraEdge shows it hit the pad.

11.43am BST

52nd over: South Africa 156-8 (Bavuma 44, Morkel 16) A flowing cover-driven four from Bavuma off Broad takes South Africa past the follow-on target.

“Just to clarify,” says Laurent Baldoni, “I’m well aware that others have followed this trend, I was more referring to the huge proportion involved in that match in that seven of the ten main bowlers involved had this particular quirk, not just the few names you’ve mentioned over a couple of decades. I wondered if it had anything to with lefty kids being forced to write right-handed in the old days. This happened to me in France as a nipper before I came to England aged 6...”

11.38am BST

51st over: South Africa 152-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 16) Morkel mows a short ball from Roland-Jones through midwicket for four. It’s fair to say this is a much better day for batting, and so far South Africa have done it excellently.

“Good morning Rob,” says Stephen Cooper. “Michael Holding’s first game in the Lancashire League was played for Rushton (v. Ramsbottom) on 19th April 1981. Hopefully someone has a Cricket Archive subscription and can see the scorecard.”

11.34am BST

50th over: South Africa 148-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 12) Broad decides it’s time to bounce Morkel from around the wicket. Four byes. He almost gets a wicket later in the over, when Stokes drops Bavuma. It would have been a blinding catch, a mirror image of the Adam Voges catch at Trent Bridge, but he couldn’t hold on as he dived backwards to his left at gully.

“Perhaps Root wants TRJ to get a five-for, hence no Jimmy?” says Paddy Sturdee. “I don’t really hold with putting individual stats before the game - the one that really springs to mind is Cook delaying a declaration at Lord’s for Ballance to get to 3 figures (amazing though that now sounds!). Twenty-four hours later, at stumps on day 5, Sri Lanka were nine down and hanging on for dear life. Is it churlish of me that I never really liked Ballance after that?”

11.29am BST

49th over: South Africa 143-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 12) Bavuma ignores a series of deliveries in the corridor from Roland-Jones, so it’s a maiden. All series Bavuma has looked like a very good batsman: calm, organised, intelligent, patient and, when he allows himself to attack, pretty darn stylish.

“Was it me or did Michael Vaughan refer to Toblerone E Jones yesterday?” says Tom Levesley. “I’d had a glass of wine by the time I watched the highlights so it made me giggle.”

11.25am BST

48th over: South Africa 143-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 12) Broad looks a little flat at the moment, and Morkel drags him through mid-on for another boundary. South Africa are 11 runs away from taking the follow-on out of the discussion. Or the equation, if you prefer.

11.19am BST

47th over: South Africa 137-8 (Bavuma 40, Morkel 6) A classical on-drive from Bavuma off Roland-Jones brings him his first boundary of the day. After a delay from some bat repairs, he is beaten chasing the kind of trampolining legcutter that dismissed Hashim Amla yesterday. He wasn’t good enough to nick it. I must say, I find it weird that Jimmy Anderson isn’t bowling.

“Good day to you from sunny Barcelona,” says Laurent Baldoni. “I’m actually an exiled member of the MCC and I flew home to watch the Lord’s test. I proceeded to bore my step-brother to death with my fascinating insight, namely that Mo, Stokes, Broad and Jimmy all bowl right and bat left, and for good measure Dawson bowled left and ‘batted’ right for his pair. I then spotted that Morkel and Rabada also bowl right and bat left, a huge proportion of ‘switching’ (yes I just made that up) that I don’t recall from my younger days watching cricket. Can anyone shed any light on this phenomenon or is it just a bizarre coincidence?”

11.13am BST

46th over: South Africa 133-8 (Bavuma 36, Morkel 6) It’s all very quiet at the Oval, with the game in that tedious limbo you sometimes get when a top-order batsman and a tailender are together: singles are turned down, the bowling side are only trying to get one batsman out, so not much happens. Bavuma takes a single from the penultimate delivery of Broad’s over - and then Morkel enlivens the tedium with a hearty clout through extra cover for four. Shot, Morne!

“I’m following your comments from a windswept & stormy wet Perth, Australia - more like Cardiff on current weather,” says Allan Trench. “I just googled Toby Roland-Jones in the hope he was Welsh - given it is the England & Wales team after all. We used to have a good history teacher with the surname Roland-Jones back in Wales - who played cricket too..... but this Toby guy is born in Surrey. Damn disappointment.”

11.10am BST

45th over: South Africa 128-8 (Bavuma 35, Morkel 2) Toby Roland-Jones opens the bowling at the other end to Temba Bavuma, whose series average of 37 does not quite do justice to some impressive, resourceful batting. Wot no Jimmy? Is it me or is Joe Root asserting his authority over Anderson quite a lot in this series?

Bavuma declines a single from the first ball and accepts one from the last. That’s your lot.

11.03am BST

44th over: South Africa 127-8 (Bavuma 34, Morkel 2) Stuart Broad starts the day with a no-ball to Morne Morkel, who then clunks one just short of Moeen at backward point. Vernon Philander is padded up, ready to go. Morkel almost brings him to the crease with the windiest of woofs at a wide floater from Broad.

“It might not be sporting, but surely there is benefit in not enforcing the follow on,” says Richard. “Philander is surely not fit to bowl today, but he might be by day five, and his absence significantly weakens, well, any attack really.”

10.50am BST

Which one of you hooked Michael Holding for four sixes?

I meant to publish this yesterday and lost track of time. Can anyone help?

10.41am BST

The Vernundrum

“Hi Rob,” says Chris Browne. “According to the SA sports website it looks like Philander will be fit to bat...”

10.20am BST

The first email of the day

“I think you mean Nostradamus,” says David Manby. “Quasimodo was the hunchback at Notre Dame (the bells the bells).”

10.19am BST

It’s a nice sunny day at the Oval, so it should be a better day for batting. I suspect England will bat again even if they have the chance to enforce the follow-on.

2.50pm BST

Morning. Not even Quasimodo predicted yesterday’s play, when England dramatically took control of the match and series thanks to the humble excellence of Toby Roland-Jones. That feelgood spell either side of tea, in which he took the first four South African wickets, was the most significant by an England bowler on debut since James Kirtley torpedoed South Africa at Trent Bridge in 2003.

South Africa will resume on 126 for eight, needing a further 28 to avoid the follow-on. We don’t yet know whether Vernon Philander will bat at No11. Teams don’t enforce the follow-on so much in a Post Kolkata world but England probably will today if they get the chance, certainly if conditions are anything like as bowler-friendly as they were yesterday.

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