England vs South Africa 2017: 1st Test Day 1, 5 talking points

#1 Root punishes South Africa for their missed chances

Root finished just 16 shy of a double hundred at stumps

You don't drop Joe Root, South Africa. The new England skipper is a superb batsman and has been rocking the world stage in the past couple of years. With his top order falling like nine pins, Root had to hold together one end and rally what remained of the middle-order with him, but he was sloppy with his stroke selection early on. Luckily for him though, the Proteas were even more sloppier on the field.

Aiden Markram, the substitute fielder, was the culprit first time around, standing way inside the boundary ropes at deep fine leg he had little chance when Root top edged a hook to what would have been down his throat if he had stood where he needed to. JP Duminy, screamed at by South African fans for his listless batting, put the England skipper down at gully a few overs later. Rabada was the luckless bowler on both occasions.

The sensational England captain went on to smash his 12th Test hundred. He went on to muster 150 but not before another let off. Maharaj had him stumped on 149 only for replays to reveal that he had overstepped.