BUMBLE ON THE TEST: South Africa were right to bat first despite the top order collapse
England made a strong start in their bid to level the Test series against South Africa by bowling out the tourists for just 151 in their first innings and then reaching 111-3 at stumps on the first day at Old Trafford.
Sportsmail’s DAVID LLOYD picks out his talking points from the day.
England’s Stuart Broad celebrates after dismissing South Africa captain Dean Elgar
PROTEAS WILL BE PROVEN RIGHT
Call me a stubborn old so and so if you like but I still say South Africa were right to bat first after winning the toss on Thursday.
There was cloud cover and the ball moved around but the key at Old Trafford is to get through the first morning and then make hay.
It will turn here later and South Africa have included a second spinner in Simon Harmer…..
YOU’VE GOT NO CASE, RASSIE
Debate raged about Rassie van der Dussen’s lbw.
Was he hard done by? He will definitely think so because it was umpire’s call on impact and height. But the bottom line is if the ball hadn’t hit his pad it would have hit the stumps. He would have been bowled!
My colleague Paul Newman says HawkEye is predictive. Well, I predict he was out!
South Africa batsman Rassie van der Dussen felt hard done by after being given out lbw
NO VIP TREATMENT FOR ME
Turned up at Old Trafford to be greeted by a mighty kerfuffle at the gate when my accreditation card turned red. No entry!
I had to be rescued when clearance came from the highest level from someone at the ECB and I was given the green light.
I did tell them I had been to this ground once or twice before but, to be fair, they were just doing their job…
PROPER MANCHESTER GREETING
Back on my old stomping ground in Manchester and met a few chums for a swift half on the eve of the Test at the City Arms.
Three chaps came up and said ‘it’s Bumble, isn’t it?’ They were called Swampy, H and Corkie (not Dom).
Big cricket fans here for the game and kindly told me they had cancelled their Sky subscription because I wasn’t on anymore
LOOSE LEES MESSED UP
There was so much technically wrong with the dismissal of Alex Lees. Lungi Ngidi was coming round the wicket and had Lees been tight in his defence the ball would have come back towards the bowler.
But he played loosely, outside of his body width. Once you start defending towards extra cover you’re just going to nick it.
Lees knew what he had done. He stomped straight off in high dudgeon….
England opener Alex Lees was caught behind by Kyle Verreynne off Lungi Ngidi
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
I live in North Yorkshire now, of course, but it’s great to be back.
I had a good walk round the city people watching and visiting numerous pubs I always used to go in. There’s so much doom and gloom these days but happy to report they were all vibrant.
Finished up in a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown but if anybody says they saw me in Long Legs they’re lying.
STILL HEARING THE HACIENDA
Looked out of my hotel window before play and was so excited to see the Hacienda apartments on the site of the old iconic music venue.
I stood outside and could just picture all the great bands who played there. The Fall, Joy Division, Inspiral Carpets and so many more.
It reminded me of the day I met Ed Blaney, the old Fall manager, in the Circus Tavern with a bag full of chunks of wood. He were selling them. They were bits of the floor from the Hacienda….
