England can hit back against South Africa by exposing batting frailty | Daniel Gallan

Innings defeat for Ben Stokes’s side in the first Test could be turned around if his bowlers raise their game at Old Trafford

After his side’s thumping victory at Lord’s last week the South Africa captain, Dean Elgar, praised his batting unit’s ability to score “ugly runs”. For a man whose own technique has been compared to a scuttling crab, this was a compliment of the highest order.

“We batted hard,” Elgar told the BBC. “We batted really gritty, ugly runs, which was kind of needed on a wicket that was not really batter friendly.”