NOTTINGHAM, July 14: Returning South Africa captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and chose to bat first in the second test against England on Friday.

The decision, slightly risky with cloud cover overhead, suited England with captain Joe Root saying he wanted to bowl first anyway at Trent Bridge.

England kept the same team after a convincing 211-run win inside four days in the opening Test at Lord’s, Root’s first in charge since replacing Alastair Cook.

South Africa made three changes: JP Duminy was dropped for Du Plessis to return after the captain missed the Lord’s test for the birth of his first child. Also, allrounder Chris Morris came in for batsman Theunis de Bruyn, and Duanne Olivier replaced quick bowler Kagiso Rabada, who is suspended.

The changes gave South Africa four seamers, like England, after the Proteas’ three-man seam attack was overworked in the first test.

Lineups:

England: Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Chris Morris, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Morne Morkel.

 
• joe root
 
• faf du plessis
 
• jp duminy
 
• ben stokes