PLAYER RATINGS: Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje star but where next for Zak Crawley?

NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S rates the individual performances of every player during the first Test between England and South Africa

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ENGLAND

Alex Lees (5 & 35): Two incredibly nervy innings that didn't possess the same freedom as earlier in the summer. Got out to good balls in both innings. 3

Zak Crawley (9 & 13): 0, 40, 7, 8, 43, 9, 4, 0, 6, 25, 9, 49, 9, 13 - Crawley's last 14 innings since his century in the Caribbean make for sorry reading. Surely time for a change. 2

Ollie Pope (73 & 5): England's highest scorer of the match but his poor second innings returns continued. 6

Joe Root (8 & 6): The ICC's Test No.1 but two single-figure scores meant the hosts stood little to no chance of making a fist of it. 3

Jonny Bairstow (0 & 18): Not to be for the Yorkshireman but he was done by two beauties from Nortje, bowling in the mid-90s. 3

Ben Stokes (20 & 20; 3-71): A pair of 20s on either side an inspiring bowling display on the second evening. Field setting and bowling tactics have to be looked at, though. 6

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Zak Crawley failed again (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

Ben Foakes (6 & 0): There has never been any doubting of his keeping ability, but his form with the bat needs discussing. Now has six single-figure scores in his last nine. 4

Stuart Broad (15 & 35; 3-71): An embodiment of the spirit within this new era, even if it wasn't enough to ensure England were competitive. 6

Matthew Potts (6 & 1; 2-79): Arguably his least effective performance with the ball since coming into the team. Might be vulnerable at Old Trafford or the Kia Oval. 3

Jack Leach (15 & 0*; 1-42): Continues to be underused - he had to wait to the 42nd over of South Africa's innings to see the ball. Prospects should improve in the rest of the series. 4

James Anderson (0 & 1; 1-51): Deserved better than a single wicket in the South Africa innings and on another day gets himself on the honours board again. Naturally, looked a bit tired running from backward point on day two. 4

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Lord's turned Red for Ruth on day two (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

SOUTH AFRICA

Dean Elgar (47): Dogged in defence and inspiring in leading a South Africa team that looked badly prepared coming into this Test. A feather in his cap to stick to his team's philosophy and win out against a side that planned to attack. 7

Sarel Erwee (73): Adopted an approach while batting that, while alien to his opponents, still has a place in this format of the sport. Ground England down and helped give South Africa a good lead. 7

Keegan Petersen (24): Showed some flashy shots but got out a bit softly. 4

Aiden Markram (16): Played a rather average shot to be dismissed by Leach. Caught well in the slips. 5

Rassie van der Dussen (19): Was helpless to keep back the Stokes steam train. Timed the ball well but was trapped lbw

Marco Jansen (48; 2-30 & 2-13): A young, tall left-arm that will give right-handers nightmares for years to come. Attacks the stumps and though he can be expensive gets big, prized wickets. 7

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Keshav Maharaj hit key runs and took crucial wickets (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

Kyle Verreynne (11): A quiet game behind the stumps but that isn't always a bad thing. 6

Keshav Maharaj (41; DNB & 2-35): Found crucial runs down the order in the partnership with Jansen on the third evening. Backed that up with top-order wickets of Crawley and Pope. 7

Kagiso Rabada (3; 5-52 & 2-27): Arrived off the back of an ankle issue but bowled at full gas, taking seven wickets across the match including a first-innings five-for. The star of a multi-skilled attack. 8

Anrich Nortje (28; 3-63 & 3-47): A performance of breathtaking pace and skill. Nortje added some key runs on the third morning and made England pay with some wonderful quick bowling at the middle-order. Got Bairstow and Foakes in both innings. 8

Lungi Ngidi (0; 0-12 & 1-15): Didn't possess the wicket-taking threat of Rabada and Nortje but he was economical and allowed others to take advantage. 6


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