England closed on 171/4 against South Africa at the end of an eventful first day of the 100th Test at the Oval.

Opener Alastair Cook made 82 not out on a rain-interrupted day in London as the two sides go head-to-head in the third Test with the series level at 1-1.

England started the day by handing first caps to three debutants - Tom Westley, Dawid Malan and Toby Roland-Jones - but former captain Cook was the rock of the hosts' innings after South Africa produced some impressive bowling to remove Keaton Jennings (0), Westley (25) Joe Root (29) and Malan (1).

Cook and Ben Stokes (21 not out) will resume in the morning as England look to post a strong first-innings total.

Team News and Toss 

England handed out three new caps before the start of play at Tom Westley, Dawid Malan and Toby Roland-Jones made their debuts. Gary Ballance (finger), Mark Wood (heel) and Liam Dawson made way from the side that lost the second Test at Trent Bridge. Jimmy Anderson was also presented with a special cap by team-mate Stuart Broad to mark his 125th Test appearance.  

South Africa made one change as Kagiso Rabada returned from suspension in place of Duanne Olivier.

England won the toss and Joe Root elected to bat first.

England: Cook, Jennings, Westley, Root (c), Malan, Stokes, Bairstow (w), Ali, Roland-Jones, Broad, Anderson.

South Africa: Elgar, Kuhn, Amla,de Kock (w), Du Plessis (c), Bavuma, Morris, Philander, Maharaj, Rabada, Morkel.

Story of the morning - Essex boys build solid partnership 

Tale of the afternoon - South Africa strike but Cook reaches half-century

Ball of the Day - Rabada destroys Malan's stumps

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Stat of the Day

Tom Westley became only the 2nd player in the 21st Century to make their England Test debut as a number 3 after Owais Shah in 2006.

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