Root celebrates after bringing up his 12th Test century
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Joe Root did not disappoint in his first Test as captain as he scored a breathtaking 184 not out to put England in a strong position against South Africa at the end of the first day at Lord’s.
Root became just the sixth England skipper to score a Test hundred on captaincy debut after Archie MacLaren, Allan Lamb, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook.
Opting to bat first, Cook was on his way back to the pavilion in the fourth over as he was caught behind off the bowling of Vernon Philander for three runs.
Philander struck again in his next over as Keaton Jennings was given out lbw for eight runs.
Gary Ballance, who returned to the Test side following a number of strong performances for Yorkshire in the County Championship, looked in good touch early on as he took the attack to the South African bowlers.
However, his innings came to an end on 20 when he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Morne Morkel.
With Jonny Bairstow suffering the same fate as Jennings when he was on 10, England found themselves in a spot of bother at 76/4.
Philander dismissed Cook, Jennings and Bairstow
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However, Root and Ben Stokes came to the rescue with a 114-run partnership, during which both batsmen surpassed their half-centuries.
Stokes scored his ninth Test fifty
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Stokes, however, was unable to build on his fifty as he was caught behind off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada for 56 off 108 balls, which included eight boundaries and a six.
Root and Moeen Ali dominated for the rest of the day as they amassed an unbeaten 167-run stand before stumps was called.
Moeen struck five boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 61
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Root ended up finishing on 184 off 227 balls, which included 26 boundaries and a six, while Moeen remained undefeated on 61 off 105 deliveries, which included five boundaries.
Philander was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Morkel and Rabada claimed one wicket each.
England ended day one on 357/5 and will continue batting on Friday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.