England vs South Africa 2017: 1st Test Day 3, 5 talking points

Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings put on an 80 run opening stand after England secured a 97 run lead in the first innings of the first Test at Lord's. Resuming from their overnight score, Rabada and Bavuma gave South Africa a solid start before Liam Dawson dismissed the night watchman.

Quinton de Kock walked in and although he lost Bavuma within an over, looked in spectacular touch. He raced to a 36 ball half-century before a Stokes blinder sent him on his way. Vernon Philander's half-century took the Proteas to 361 but the all-rounder suffered an injury and couldn't take the new ball for the visitors.

Buoyed by the absence of Philander, Cook and Jennings played comfortably to take England to 80 before Morkel broke through with the wicket of Jennings. With Ballance and Cook at the crease and a lead of 216 on a deteriorating pitch, England are way ahead in the game.

Brief Scores: England 458 & 119/1(Cook 59, Jennings 33). South Africa 361 (Bavuma 59, Elgar 54, Ali 4/59)

Take a glance at the talking points from Day 3 of the first Test at Lord's.

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#5 Rabada-Bavuma steady South African ship

South Africa were staring down the barrel at the end of Day 2 but still had Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock to help steady the ship. But surprisingly, England found it tough to get past the night watchman, Kagiso Rabada.

The tall pacer had shown glimpses of his talent with the willow in the past but looked every bit a batsman in the morning session as he and Bavuma frustrated England. The 41 run stand lasted 13 overs and gave de Kock a platform to launch a scything attack.

#4 Quinton de Kock slays England attack

de Kock compiled a counter-attacking half-century before falling to Anderson

If Rabada and Bavuma were patient and composed, de Kock looked in monstrous mood, slashing, pulling and driving with aplomb as he raced to a half-century off 36 balls. Taking a cue from Root and Ali, de Kock decided to throw caution to the wind as he carted the English seamers to all parts of the ground.

Such was de Kock's intentions that Broad and Anderson, who had been excellent the previous day, looked lost. Off-spinners usually trouble de Kock, but the South African keeper just could not be contained. He took on Ali with success and looked set for a big knock before Ben Stokes pulled off a stunner to dismiss the keeper for 51.

#3 Philander takes South Africa's deficit to under 100 but suffers injury

Philander was struck on the hand and did not bowl in England's second innings

With South Africa still way off England's score when de Kock was caught brilliantly by Stokes, they needed Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj to show their all-round skills. The spinner seemed content in blocking out deliveries while Philander looked in sublime touch. He helped himself to a fine half-century to take South Africa closer to England's score.

However, during the knock, the South African seamer was hit on his finger by an Anderson snorter. Wincing in pain, Philander battled on to make a half-century for his side. However, he was unable to take the new ball later on in England's second innings. His X-ray did not reveal a fracture and he did return to the field later in the day although he did not bowl.

#2 Depleted South Africa punished by openers

England's openers walked out confidently and played some good looking shots

Losing Philander was a disaster for South Africa. With the Lord's pitch looking perfect for batting, South Africa needed Philander's magic with the new ball. Sadly, they did not have that and instead had Morkel opening the bowling with Rabada. The openers, Cook and Jennings, played cautiously at the start, negotiating the bounce and pace of the new ball pair.

Cook soon got into his groove by smashing Maharaj and Morkel for two fours each. Jennings meanwhile seemed content to play second fiddle to his senior partner. The duo put on a half-century stand, effectively slimming South Africa's chances in the game, before Morne Morkel ended Jennings' stay at the crease.

#1 Elgar just can't get his reviews right

Elgar's decision making has been questionable on his captaincy debut

Dean Elgar seemed all over the place from the word go. His DRS calls were unreliable in the first innings and it took a turn for the worse in England's second innings. Morkel rapped Alastair Cook on the pads early in the second innings and Elgar opted for a review only to see the on-field umpire's not-out call being upheld.

If losing one review and Philander wasn't bad enough for a team already lagging behind in the game, Elgar decided to waste one more review when Keshav Maharaj hit Cook's pad on an attempted cut. The ball was turning prodigiously and Cook was already outside the off-stump as ball tracking later revealed. South Africa lost their second review and their grip on the game loosened.