Key events
23rd over: England 127-8 (Carse 2, Rashid 6) Rashid has decided to go for broke, and flays a long hop from Maharaj for four.
‘Tanya.” Lee Johnson, hello.
“It has been a great summer of cricket (I even enjoyed parts of the H even with zero interest in following the Skips, Popchips or whatever they’re called), but the constant sound of my summer has been a sarcastic slow clap accompanied by “…batted Bethell.” I want him to do well, but what the hell idea was that shot..? Gah.”
I really want him to do well too. To give the selectors credit, they’ve made some big calls on young players and usually been right. But…
22nd over: England 121-8 (Carse 1, Rashid 1) No hat-trick, but England are as done for as an open bag of Maltesers. An ironic roar from a quietened Headingley crowd as Rashid is off the mark with a toe-ended poke.
WICKET! Archer c Markram b Mulder 0 (England 119-8)
A first-baller for Archer, who squares up, surprised, and Markram dives elegantly, hands perfectly cupped at slip. A hat-trick ball coming up for Mulder
WICKET! Buttler c Rickelton b Mulder 15 (England 119-7)
An inside edge like cold gravy, played with wobbly head and loose arms.
21st over: England 119-6 (Buttler 14, Carse 1) Very nicely done by Maharaj, and England have now lost three for 15 in three overs.
WICKET! Jacks c and b Maharaj 7 (England 117-6)
Not a shot for the scrap book. A leading edge which Maharaj casually bends down and collects near his ankles.
20th over: England 117-5 (Buttler 14, Jacks 7) A stomach-settling boundary for Jacks.
19th over: England 109-5 (Buttler 12, Jacks 1) A stuttering start by England’s top five. I hope Bethell has as much inner confidence in himself as England have in him. It’s a tough gig to cut your teeth on the international stage.
WICKET! Bethell c Markram b Maharaj 1 (England 107-5)
Ah. A tingle-factor catch by Markram at slip who clings on to a riccochet off the keeper’s pads – after an anchor-booted Bethell winds up for a drive but edges behind.
18th over: England 107-4 (Buttler 11, Bethell 1) Hmmm, a bit neither one thing or another this first 18 overs for England. A nice chance for Bethell, a young man so heavily laden with expectation, to loosen some of the chains. Four leg byes from the last ball of Mulder’s over and a concussion check for Buttler, whose head sent the ball on its way.
WICKET! Smith c Bosch b Mulder 54 (England 104-2)
A hunched flick over deep backward square by Smith is joyously caught by a dancing fine leg at full flight.
Fifty for Jamie Smith
17th over: England 101-3 ( Smith 54, Buttler 10) Smith cuts Maharaj through extra cover for four to reach fifty, but a diving Tony de Zorzi has hurt himself trying to stop the boundary. Ouch, he’s in trouble here, and hobbles back to the dressing room as a substitute fielder trots on.
16th over: England 92-3 ( Smith 49, Buttler 7) Buttler advances on a bouncer from Mulder, but ducks his head and holds back from flaying it horizontally. But, from the last ball, comes exactly what the crowd are looking for, as Buttler lofts six straight and effortlessly, dropping his head away with a shrug as soon as he’s made contact.
15th over: England 85-3 ( Smith 48, Buttler 1) Bavuma summons his spinner, and Maharaj whistles through his first over.
“Jamie Smith still has a lot to learn,” taps John Starbuck. “You don’t send your captain back if there’s a possible run-out looming.”
WICKET! Brook run out (Stubbs-Rickelton) 12 (England 81-3)
Despite a full-throated dive, Brook is on his way, victim of a fine throw from Stubbs and a mix-up by England – the over-eager Brook sent back half way down the pitch by Smith.
14th over: England 82-3 ( Smith 46, Buttler 0) Smith toe-ends Mulder over the leaping Maharaj – he’s collecting runs nicely without looking at his fluent best, another flick four follows before the head in hands run-out.
13th over: England 73-2 ( Smith 37, Brook 12) The camera pans over Headingley: it’s looking pretty packed now, cheek by elbow, cookie monster by banana on the Western Terrace. Smith flicks Bosch over his shoulder, but only to the waiting fielder at deep backward square leg.
12th over: England 68-2 ( Smith 35, Brook 10) Mulder takes over from Ngidi, a skiddier, shorter chap – by South African standards at least. Tidy too – just two from the over.
11th over: England 66-2 ( Smith 34, Brook 10) A huge Headingley roar as Smith flays Bosch, who has the look of an overgrown and blond Stefan Dennis, through the covers. A four from Brook to start the over too, an effortless nudge off the legs.
10th over: England 57-2 ( Smith 30, Brook 5) Just one from the 10th, and South African haven’t let England get away at the end of the first power play.
“Can you please suppress any more praise of English batters from Brian Withington? He seems incapable of learning the lesson by himself.” I’ll try Billy Mills, I’ll try.
9th over: England 56-2 ( Smith 30, Brook 4) A bowling change as the blond right-armed, and suitably named, Bosch thunders in. Smith ushers his first ball for four through deep third, and another through midoff for four more, though he plays and misses at the next.
8th over: England 48-2 ( Smith 22, Brook 4) A cracking ball from Ngidi, leaving Root uncharacteristically lost for strokes, but not such a great follow-up, which Brook hooplas over cover for four.
WICKET! Root c Rickelton b Ngidi 14 (England 44-2)
Wow! Some terrific juggling skills by Rickelton, who catches Root’s glance with the finger tips of his right glove, loses the ball briefly as he lands on the ground, but is able to grab the rebound with both hands. Silver service. The umpires’ review the decision, but the cameras send Root on his way.
7th over: England 44-1 ( Smith 22, Root 14) After a fallow 16 balls, England get going again as Smith chops Burger into the off side and then tucks into the next ball, a wide one, sending it flying over gully. Burger wipes his brown on his thick yellow sweat band.
Some advice for Richard O’Hagan from John Starbuck. “If he waits a bit longer to tell the caller to Eff Off when he becomes aware it’s a soi disant ‘Bank Security’ or phishing ‘Catching up’ call, he’ll have enough time to relalise its Baz or any other selector. Pity about Duckett, though.”
I don’t know about you but I’m always being sold solar panels and double glazing.
6th over: England 35-1 ( Smith 14, Root 13) Ngidi once more, kicking his orange soled shoes behind him. Some nice fielding by South Africa on the rock-hard outfield, to limit England to two off the over.
And hello Brian Withington “After that first sumptuous extra cover drive by Joe Root I was moved to suggest at another place (Romeo’s) that it should be framed and placed on permanent display in the National Gallery. After the second I’m thinking hopefully of one more for the triptych.” I have a feeling he’ll oblige – he looks in the zone (again).
5th over: England 33-1 ( Smith 12, Root 13) No boundaries off Burger’s third over, but Rickleton hurts his hand fluffing a take behind the stumps.
4th over: England 29-1 ( Smith 10, Root 13) Ngidi employs the wobble seam. Root whips four square and then, after a watchful few balls, once more sends the ball tumbling through the covers to the rope. Perfection. The Headingley skies are blue and dotted with candy-floss clouds, with, we’re told, the possibility of rain later.
3rd over: England 21-1 ( Smith 10, Root 5) Berger follows up his wicket-taking ball with a wide, then Root knocks the next effortlessly, like the swish of a satin dressing-gown, through the covers for four. ROOOOOT sing the crowd as he holds the pose.
“Why,” asks Matthew Doherty, “couldn’t we have Burger c Mustard b Onions?” Damn that the years didn’t quite align. You might get Burger v Baker later though.
WICKET! Duckett c Rickleton b Burger 5 (England 13-1)
A stone-footed, forward prod, easily taken by Rickleton. Done by the swing.
2nd over: England 13-0 (Duckett 5, Smith 8) Duckett gets in on the four act, driving powerfully and passing the outstretched foot of bowler Ngidi. This outfield is crying out for runs.
“Very interesting to read about Sonny Baker’s call up,” writes Richard O’Hagan. “ I’m now able to understand my own lack of international recognition. It’s because I don’t answer calls from numbers that I don’t recognise, isn’t it?” I hope it isn’t too late for you Richard, coming up on the inside for the Ashes tour.
1st over: England 8-0 (Duckett 0, Smith 8) Burger with the first over. Tall, broad, left arm, a shadow of a moustache, a doormat of a goatee, and Smith plays the first three balls watchfully away. Balls five and six however, go for four, one sent away at 27 minutes past the hour, one at 27 minutes to.
Our man on the ground, Simon Burnton, reports a ground half full and filling up quickly, as the players prepare to walk through a welcoming committee of flag-waving women over 40. Just add that to our skill set.
A smiling Sonny Baker is talking to Michael Atherton.
“It has been obviously a very surreal experience over the last six weeks, but I can’t wait to get stuck in.[ When Baz called] I thought it was a fake call, asking me to fill in my credit card details, when it was him, I nearly fell off my chair. I said I’m normally more talkative that this, and he said, ‘I’ve heard’.”
[On bowling fast]. “That’s the most fun thing about the sport for me, there’s a reason Jofra has such a following. I attribute quite a lot of my ball speed to the fact that I really want to to it. Getting injured, going for runs, that’s fine as long as you understand that it is part of doing the fun stuff.”
What a charming, chilled young man. He hasn’t played a list A game since 2022 though, so not the easiest debut…
South Africa XI
South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.
A new opening pair for South Africa with Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton.
More on Sonny Baker from his captain. “I’m really excited for Sonny, he had an amazing hundred, looking forward to him showcasing his skills today and great to have Jof back.”
South Africa win the toss and will bowl
Temba Bauma calls correctly and chooses to have a bowl on the dry Headingley pitch. Harry Brook would have had a bowl too, “I know this ground pretty well and I know it is hard to defend.”
England XI
England XI: Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (capt), Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker.
Jamie Overton turns his back on red-ball cricket
But as one door opens, another closes, with Surrey’s Jamie Overton announcing an “indefinite break” from red-ball cricket. Overton, just 31, and another of England’s big fast bowler dream team, was part of the squad for all five Tests against India, and played at The Oval, but has struggled with injury.
“It is no longer possible to commit fully to all formats at every level, both physically and mentally,” he said.
“Red-ball, first‑class cricket has provided the foundation for my professional career and has been the gateway to every opportunity I’ve had in the game so far.
“Going forward, my focus will be on white-ball cricket, and I will continue to give everything to play at the highest level for as long as I can.”
A debut for Sonny Baker
We know how much the England selectors like a big strong fast bowler with the Ashes on the horizon, and there is much excitement about Hampshire’s Sonny Baker, who will make his senior England debut today. He’s impressed in the Hundred and a good first Championship season. This could be his NatWest final moment.
Simon has more here:
Preamble
Good morning from an autumnal England, the conkers dropping like heavy hints, the sun still a warm back rub. After a month of Hundred action, we’re back to the international game – with South Africa the September visitors.
They were here in high summer, beating Australia in the memorable World Test Championship final at Lord’s. Their return, for the white ball stuff, should be a stern test of Brook’s captaincy – they’ve won five of their last six against England.
Today’s ODI, the first of three ODIs and three T20s, tees off at Headingley at 1pm BST, do join us to chew over the Ashes squad and more.
