Ton-up Root leads strong England charge

Joe Root celebrated his first innings as England's Test captain with a brilliant unbeaten 184 against South Africa to help his side recover from a poor start in the first Test at Lord's on Thursday.

After opting to bat, England collapsed to 76 for 4 but Root helped it finish on 357 for 5 at stumps on the first day with his 12th hundred in 54 Tests and his third at Lord's.

Root received good support from Ben Stokes, the new vice-captain who made 56 in a tide-changing a fifth-wicket stand of 114. Root followed up that partnership with an unbroken 167-run stand with Moeen Ali, who remained unbeaten on 61.

South Africa's pacers and Vernon Philander, in particular, used the green-tinged pitch to good effect in the first session. Alastair Cook, in his first Test since relinquishing the Test captaincy in February, fell caught behind when he edged Philander to Quinton de Kock before Keaton Jennings fell lbw to the same bowler, although he would have been saved by DRS had he opted for a referral.

Philander's double-strike left England 17 for 2 and it could have been worse for the home side had Root's top-edge off Kagiso Rabada been caught by Aiden Markram, the substitute fielder who was not right back on the rope at long-leg.

Root survived another sacre on 16 when an edge off Rabada flew through JP Duminy's hands at gully. However, Gary Ballance (20) and Jonny Bairstow (10) fell cheaply, leaving England in trouble at lunch which was taken at 82 for 4.

After the break, it was all about England taking control, as well as advantage of more good fortune, with Stokes being bowled off a Morne Morkel no-ball on 44.

Stokes, however, fell soon after when his top-edge off Rababa lobbed to de Kock behind the stumps.

But Root kept going and got to a 150-ball century by sweeping Keshav Maharaj, the left-arm spinner. Incredibly, his ton meant the last four England Test captains -- Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Cook and now Root himself -- had all scored a century in their first games as captain.

Root, though, should have been out for 149 when he was stumped, but yet again the bowler - Maharaj, this time - had overstepped.

The second new ball too failed to produce a breakthrough, with Root and Moeen taking control.