Openers land first blow

The tourists' much-touted pace attack was on to Plan B in less than 45 minutes of the first Test, after the express pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel had come to nothing in short initial spells.

The result was a total of 33 for none midway through the session, after South Africa had unsurprisingly chosen to bowl first.

Yesterday's monsoon was replaced by sunny skies - and after a cagey start, the England openers steadily grew in confidence.

They saw off Steyn - whose three-over new-ball stint cost only one run - and Makhaya Ntini cut no ice either.

First change Morkel, so bullish about dealing with the Lord's slope in the build-up to this match, had teething problems from either end - bowling round the wicket to the two left-handers and switching from nursery to pavilion after his first two overs went for 12 runs.

England's first boundary did not arrive until the eighth over, but it was a resounding pull by Strauss off Ntini - the first hint that the home openers were finding their feet.

Cook beat the rope for the first time in the next over, although his mistimed cut over the slips off Morkel was less than convincing.

The Essex batsman nailed the same shot at the other end, though, thudding a delivery from Ntini into the hoardings past point.

The reliable Jacques Kallis replaced Morkel and slipped into his 'holding' role, allowing the youngster room to attack. But the problem for South Africa was that the 6ft 6in, 90mph-plus Morkel still could not find his range - and England were threatening to take charge of the first session at least.