'We stuck to our guns and they never got away from us'

First test of the series, first over, the loosener is out of the way and in comes Matthew Hoggard for the second ball. The surprising thing about this to many is that Hoggard is actually still bowling the first over with the new ball for England.

First test of the series, first over, the loosener is out of the way and in comes Matthew Hoggard for the second ball. The surprising thing about this to many is that Hoggard is actually still bowling the first over with the new ball for England.

With all the fuss over Stephen Harmison's terrifying pace, it is easy to assume that he would be unleashed. But Hoggard is the senior man and perhaps Michael Vaughan wants to give the opposition six balls to contemplate the awful prospect ahead.

Hoggard took full advantage yesterday. The second ball swung enough to catch the edge of Graeme Smith's bat and Andrew Strauss pouched the catch low at third slip. "It set the tone for things and obviously it's good to get the man they're looking to for leadership," said Hoggard. "When you lose the toss on a flat pitch like that you don't want to be going for many runs and to go for under threes for 90 overs shows how we stuck to our guns and how patient we really were.

"South Africa never got away from us and Ashley Giles and Simon Jones bowled massive spells for us in the afternoon. The wind was very difficult all day because it was swirling and you didn't know whether you were going to have 20 miles an hour in your face, or up your behind."

If pitches continue like this, it could be pretty unusual Test cricket for the 21st century in the next four weeks. That means spectators as well as fans will have to be patient as matches evolve to a climax. Some older viewers may remember this from days of yore. As long as nobody sets out for the draw.

Hoggard struck twice later on with the second new ball and correctly opined: "I think we will have ended the day happier than them."

Jacques Rudolph, who fell seven short of a century after replacing Smith earlier than he might have expected, did not beg to differ. "Freddie bowled in good areas and they bowled good spells. We'll be looking for 350."

The highlight of the day for Rudolph though was batting with his former school friend, the 20-year-old A B De Villiers on debut. "I was getting a bit emotional about it. He was a bit nervous but settled down after his first four."

For the record they attended Afrikaans Hoer Seunsskool and De Villiers' inclusion ahead of the first Muslim to play for South Africa, Hashim Amla, will have done nothing to stifle debate about the possibility that South African cricket is still all old school chums together.