Balance of power goes South Africa’s way as pace out-Bazballs England | Barney Ronay

Ben Stokes was not alone in his inability to withstand 90mph in-duckers as South Africa made impressive start to first Test

The Lord’s clock had already ticked past 1pm by the time Anrich Nortje turned to bowl the final ball of the morning, scowling his game-face scowl as he glanced up at Ben Stokes: a genuinely terrifying expression, the face of a man with a deep and irresolvable sense of injustice, who can also – did we mention this? – bowl 97mph chest-thudding in-duckers.

Nortje really is a wonderful fast bowler. Here, his morning was split between two short spells, one from each end. He isn’t tall, but has a fearsome whippy strength, skips off his back foot into a thrilling catapult motion, chest on but still smooth and easy in his movements.