LONDON: England needed a captain's innings from Joe Root and he delivered on his first day in the job.

Root hit a brilliant and tenacious 184 not out against South Africa on Thursday, leading his team out of deep trouble and to 357-5 at stumps on Day 1 of the opening test at Lord's.

Root's 12th test century was invaluable, transforming a nightmarish start to his time as captain, when England was 76-4, to a promising one by stumps on the first day of the four-test series.

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"You want to start well as captain and you want to set the example," Root said. "You have been harping on at the lads about how you want them to approach the cricket and you want to make sure you go out and do exactly what you've preached about for the last couple of days."

He did, marshalling momentum-changing partnerships of 114 with Ben Stokes (56) and an unbroken 167 with Moeen Ali (61 not out) to put England in control after it was on the verge of a collapse.

Root made the most of a number of let-offs: When he was on five, a top-edged hook dropped just over the head of the fine leg fielder. An outside edge flew through JP Duminy's hands at gully when Root was on 16. And then on 149, Root was stumped off Keshav Maharaj but was called back for a no-ball.

Elgar was by far the happier captain at lunch, but had plenty to worry about by stumps, with Root and Ali showing no signs of letting up and Elgar also having to manage the fact that the Proteas have picked just three seamers for the game.

England attacked spinner Keshav Maharaj, who ended the day with 0-107, and the Proteas had to use part-timers Theunis de Bruyn and Temba Bavuma in stages to shore up their bowling.

South Africa also bowled 13 no balls, two of which denied them wickets.

Morne Morkel bowled Stokes for 44 but overstepped by a long way. Stokes added just 12 more runs, but Root's reprieve off Maharaj's no ball is likely to cost the tourists much more.

"After lunch was disappointing. The way we came out is something we are not very proud of as a bowling unit," Morkel said. "There were too many no-balls, too many loose balls. We pride ourselves on creating pressure and we didn't do that."