England vs South Africa: Joe Root stars on opening day with an unbeaten 184

[caption id=“attachment_3786415” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] England captain Joe Root acknowledges applause from the crowd as he ends the first day’s play with an unbeaten score of 184. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3786423” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] England got off to a wobbly start with both of its openers dismissed cheaply by South Africa’s Vernon Philander(second from left) AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3786425” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] South African spearhead Vernon Philander troubled the England batsmen with his pace and swing. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3786429” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] England’s innings stabilised with a 114-run partnership between captain Joe Root and Ben Stokes(R). AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3786431” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Joe Root became the sixth Englishman to score a century in his first test as captain. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_3786439” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] England consolidated and got to a very comfortable position on the opening day courtesy the 167-run partnership between Joe Root(R) and Moeen Ali. AP[/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_3786443” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] England captain Joe Root(R) shakes hands with South Africa captain Dean Elgar as he walks off at the end of the day’s play. AP[/caption]