sport news England FIVE wickets down at lunch against South Africa trends now
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England's all-too-familiar top order failings left them immediately on the back foot at the beginning of their series with South Africa.
They reached lunch on the opening day at Lord's on 100 for five after their opening pair of Alex Lees and Zak Crawley, in-form Yorkshiremen Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, and captain Ben Stokes all fell.
But there was at least some resistance from Ollie Pope, who defied a ferocious barrage from Kagiso Rabada and Co to reach the interval on an unbeaten 51.
Jonny Bairstow is clean bowled by Anrich Nortje as England suffered another batting collapse
Bairstow has been England's main man all summer but his middle stump was removed here
It was comprehensively South Africa's morning at Lord's as their bowlers ripped England apart
Ollie Pope at least offered some resistance as he reached the lunch break unbeaten on 51
This will now be a stern examination of the 'Bazball' principles that served England so well in the Tests against New Zealand and India earlier this summer.
For one thing, they won't be chasing a victory target in the fourth innings after South Africa captain Dean Elgar won the toss and elected to bowl.
So the question now is whether they can forge enough middle and lower-order partnerships to post a
