England enjoy a superb opener on the morning of the first day of the second Test with South Africa

England enjoyed an excellent opening session on the first day of the second Test with South Africa because they reduced the Proteas to 77-5 at lunch.

South Africa opted to beat first in the second LV= Test against England as the tourists sought a series victory at Emirates Old Trafford.

Marc Boucher’s side picked up a set win at Lord’s last week to take a 1-0 lead but made a major change to their XI, replacing 6ft 8in all-rounder Marco Jansen with the spinner Simon Harmer.

England saw off South Africa 77-5 in the opening session of the first day of the second Test

England captain Ben Stokes (celebrates) his side’s excellent Test start at Old Trafford

Harmer was a prolific wicket-taker for Essex for a number of years but is back on the international stage after his Kolpak status ended.

England named their squad on the eve of the match, with designer Ollie Robinson making his first appearance for seven months in place of Matthew Potts. Curiously, Robinson replaced Stuart Broad opening the bowling alongside James Anderson, who had been bowling since the end named in his honor on a gray and dull morning in Manchester.

Anderson and Robinson were both getting movement with the new ball, with life becoming increasingly difficult for the South African fly-half in the spotlight.

South African captain Dean Elgar walks off the pitch after being dismissed by bowler Stuart Broad

Proteas batsman Aiden Markram scored just 14 points before his Manchester dismissal

Sarel Erwee was beaten twice on the outside edge by Robinson before Anderson located the left-handed inside edge, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes pulling off a remarkable diving catch as England broke through in the fifth. With Robinson averaging 21.28 in his nine Tests, the journey has been cut short for the tailor given he played his last game in January, with his conditioning publicly questioned and various ailments preventing him from playing. to quarrel with England.

He induced Dean Elgar’s outside edge, with the South African captain relieved to see the ball drop just before the third slide. Elgar thought he was screwed when Ollie Pope dove forward short-legged to take a huge hold, but Robinson had passed.

This isn’t the first time Robinson has given a batter a reprieve. After having Marnus Labuschagne caught behind in the Ashes in Adelaide last winter, he was ruled without a ball. Robinson’s blunder didn’t prove too costly as Broad made further inroads into South Africa’s batting, taking a wicket in his second for being overlooked for new-ball duties.

Captain Stokes is congratulated by his team-mates after taking the Markram wicket

Broad hit Elgar on the front pad and although England wisely opted against a review, with the ball drifting down the leg, the approach around the setter’s wicket, which has been so successful in the past, has again bearing fruit.

Since being pardoned on the 10th, Elgar added two more to his tally before gaining a thick advantage over whoever strayed from him, Jonny Bairstow taking a nice low hold on the third slide. South Africa’s decision to beat first seemed all the more disconcerting when they lost their third wicket as England’s tailors dominated the morning session.

Keegan Petersen had struck fairly quietly reaching 21, but was faced with the excellent Broad, edging out Joe Root, as South Africa slipped to 41 for three.