By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

There might be some criticism of Andrew Strauss's decision to put South Africa into bat on the first day of the Centurion Test, but not from me.

The pitch was well grassed and had been very damp the previous day. Although the clear overhead conditions made the decision more of a gamble I think Strauss also sensed a feeling of vulnerability about the South Africans and that, as he put it, he wanted to "get stuck in." My criticism is that they should have played another bowler.

Playing only four leaves you vulnerable if one is injured - Graham Onions was unavailable for much of the second half of the day with a strained calf muscle - and if the conditions are such that you are putting the opposition into bat, it suggests the spinner will not make much of an impact.

Kallis has a fine record against England, and proved his value again

In fact, Graeme Swann bowled really well, especially considering that Jacques Kallis deliberately got after him and tried to hit him out of the attack when he first came on. Understandably, he was not very threatening on this first day pitch.

Watching Paul Collingwood and Jonathan Trott ambling in gave the appearance of England treading water while giving their front liners a break. Although they were tidy, there wasn't any pressure on the batsmen. Fitness was also an issue. The team simply is not acclimatised to the 5,000 feet altitude here having only returned from sea level on Sunday and the bowlers were all flagging in the final session.

The pitch did not offer a great deal, and England were guilty of wasting the new ball at the start of the day. The pick was Onions who nipped the occasional one back, testing the decision review system which gave Ashwell Prince a reprieve after being given out lbw on 19.

On that occasion the system worked well, and the right decision was reached relatively quickly. England were convinced they had AB de Villiers caught behind off Swann, and immediately called for a review of Steve Davis's not out verdict. It did not look like gamesmanship to me - why waste a precious referral? - and the players looked thoroughly agitated when the not out decision was confirmed by the third umpire.

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In the absence of "Hot Spot", there was not the appropriate technology available to detect the edge, but Swann gained his revenge in his next over when De Villiers edged to Alastair Cook at short leg for 32. With a failed review against Kallis as well, England have used both of their chances.

For a man who had not played a match for a month, Kallis batted with great aplomb. He is the most unflappable of characters and, not for the first time, prevented England from taking control.

But the new ball will still have some hardness and shine on the second morning, and having kept the scoring rate in check, England will have the chance to pick up early wickets.

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