Ouch! Treatment for Gough from physio Wayne Morton

The injury-prone Yorkshireman was hit on the hand by a lifting Allan Donald delivery while batting at the end of the second day of the First Test at Edgbaston.

The fast bowler was playing his first Test in almost a year after being ruled out of this winter's West Indies with a chronic hip complaint.

He will be sorely missed by captain Alec Stewart as he tries to force England's advantage home following their first innings total of 462.

BBC reporter Pat Murphy at close of play

Gough made 16 not out and gained some revenge over Donald by smashing him for 10 in one over, but the pain was obvious every time he hit the ball, and physio Wayne Morton twice ran onto the pitch to administer treatment.

At close of play he was taken to hospital where X-rays confirmed his worst fears.

Wickets but no collapse

The injury took the shine off another good day for England, which came despite success at last for Donald, who took three quick wickets either side of an hour's break for rain in the final session.

Earlier, spinner Paul Adams was the pick of the bowlers taking two wickets and tying the English batsmen down with some fine bowling.

Donald celebrates Atherton's wicket

It was Donald who struck first - removing Mike Atherton.

The former captain failed to add to his first day 103, and was caught behind off a lifting delivery.

His successor Alec Stewart, then Nasser Hussain were next to go - within five balls as England fans feared a familiar collapse.

Stewart was one short of a fifty when Daryl Cullinan caught him off the bowling of Lance Klusener.

Atherton's innings, the pitch, Hussain's dismissal - England coach David Lloyd on the first two days of the series

Hussain received an unplayable delivery from Paul Adams which barely bounced, and skidded through, trapping him lbw for 35.

Just after lunch Graham Thorpe had his middle stump taken out by Shaun Pollock for 10, at 329-5.

Pollock gets Thorpe with the fastest ball of the day

Pollock's delivery was the sort he had spent over a day trying to bowl - a fast inswinging yorker.

And when Adams bowled Mark Ealham for 5 before at 356-6 the alarm bells were starting to ring.

But Dominic Cork came out to join Mark Ramprakash, and they saved England from throwing away much of their good work on the first day.

Donald strikes back

However with the light beginning to fade and the score 411-6, South African captain Hansie Cronje took the new ball and threw it to Donald.

Ramprakash out: how BBC Radio 4's Test Match Special described Donald's deadly delivery

The effect was immediate and spectacular. He clean bowled Ramprakash with his first delivery.

The Middlesex captain was on 49 - just like Stewart.

Paul Adams: 3 wickets

Robert Croft joined Cork, but just 6 more runs were added before a shower of rain came down, forcing a 62 minute delay.

They returned with a clear intention of accelerating the scoring rate, and this was achieved, albeit at the cost of two more quick wickets to Donald.

Cork was caught by Shaun Pollock at third man, and Croft was caught behind.

It represented success at last for the South African paceman on his home county ground.

Unlikely last stand

Croft's dismissal brought England's last pair, Angus Fraser and Gough to the wicket with the light fading and the tourists' fastest bowlers in the attack.

The delivery which hit Gough

Gough's innings included tha ball which broke his finger but also a stunning cover drive off Donald which was one of the best shots of the day.

And Fraser rubbed salt into the wounds by heaving Pollock through mid wicket for four in the following over.

The unlikely last stand produced 25 runs before Fraser was caught by Hansie Cronje at mid off later in the same Pollock over.

Finely balanced day

South African coach Bob Woolmer reflects on his side's better day

Afterwards South African coach Bob Woolmer was far happier with the second day's work although admitted the team were under severe pressure after a poor first day.

His English counterpart David Lloyd was also pleased - even if the 19,000 capacity crowd did not get much in the way of entertainment.

Lloyd said: "In our last Test match, in Antigua, we lost our last seven wickets for only 26 runs, so it was important here to get a bit of resolution down the order.

"There is still some moisture around, and it looks as if there will continue to be movement as the game progresses. The South African batsmen are not used to this much movement, so we will see how they get on."

Scorecard

England 1st innings

• M Butcher c Kallis b Adams 77
• M Atherton c Boucher b Donald 103
• A Stewart c Cullinan b Klusener 49
• N Hussain lbw Adams 35
• G Thorpe b Pollock 10
• M Ramprakash b Donald 49
• M Ealham b Adams 5
• D Cork c Pollock b Donald 36
• R Croft c Boucher b Donald 19
• D Gough not out 16
• A Fraser c Cronje b Pollock 9

Extras 54

Total 462

FoW: 1-179, 2-249, 3-309, 4-309, 5-329, 6-356, 7-411, 8-430, 9-437.