"Very, very strange" - former England captain Chris Cowdrey with Henry Blofeld on Test Match Special

His first day in charge has so far consisted of losing the toss, being put in to bat, and then sitting back in the pavilion and watching his openers move on to 151 without loss at tea.

Mike Atherton and Mark Butcher were both unbeaten on 65, as they walked off to warm applause from a surprised Edgbaston crowd in the First Test against South Africa.

Allan Donald's return 'home' has been a disappointment - so far

The afternoon session had started brightly for England with the pair accelerating from the the lunch score of 67-0.

Before too long the hundred was up with South African captain Hansie Cronje rotating his bowlers but failing to make a breakthrough.

Cronje would have hoped for at least two or three wickets by lunch rather than none by tea, and his frustration was clear for everyone to see when he bowled four wides through third slip.

Henry Blofeld of BBC Test Match Special describes Atherton's 50

His opening pair Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock both returned to the attack at their 'home' county ground after lunch, but neither showed their true world class as Atherton and Butcher continued to accumulate runs.

There was frustration too for the other bowlers with less local knowledge, including Cronje himself, and after lunch he turned to the sixth member of his attack, Jacques Kallis.

Mike Atherton back to form

But that ploy did not work, and Atherton reached his 50 by pulling Donald for a single - an achievement met with rapturous applause.

Butcher always looked as though he would follow and he did it in style, straight-driving Donald for a four.

Lance Klusener, who had been expensive during the morning then returned to the attack, but Atherton and Butcher continued, despite an improvement from the third South African seamer.

Jonathan Agnew describes Butcher's 50

For Atherton it was all a sharp contrast to his recent poor form and captaincy troubles, and it was clear a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

And Butcher too looked a very different figure to the nervous batsman who had lined up against Australia last summer.

Their partnership is a new record for England against South Africa at Edgbaston beating a record from the 1920's.

The 150 was reached five minutes before tea.

New captain Alec Stewart will probably have enjoyed his first two sessions as a test captain almost as much as Atherton has relished losing the responisibility.

But both are experienced enough to know that there is much work to be done, especially with bowlers like Donald and Pollock around.

England First Innings

MA Butcher not out 65
MA Atherton not out 65

Extras: 21

Total: 151-0 off 62 overs

To Bat: N Hussain, GP Thorpe, MR Ramprakash, AJ Stewart, DG Cork, MA Ealham, RDB Croft, D Gough, ARC Fraser.

FoW: n/a

Bowling (O-M-R-W):

Donald 13-2-37-0
Pollock 14-5-20-0
Klusener 13-4-35-0
Cronje 7-3-10-0
Adams 8-0-19-0
Kallis 7-2-16-0

South African team: