England asked to bowl first at Lord's

Andrew Strauss could at last concentrate on cricket again, as he must, marking his 100th Test this morning by leading England against South Africa on his home ground at Lord's.

Strauss had to field inevitable questions yesterday about Kevin Pietersen's contract wrangles and consequent absence from this must-win final Investec Test. But the England captain made it clear then he would be setting all those issues aside for the next five days as his team seek the victory they need to share this series and therefore stop South Africa taking away their world number one status.

Proteas captain Graeme Smith won the toss and chose to bat first on a cloudy morning, with the tourists unchanged after the draw at Headingley.

Strauss was congratulated, in his 50th Test as captain, by England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier on becoming only the ninth English cricketer to reach a century of appearances at the highest level.

He received a special silver commemorative bat before play from the ECB, listing all the Test series he has featured in for England since his debut against New Zealand in 2004.

Collier said: "Nobody should be in any doubt whatsoever about the value of Andrew Strauss's contribution to the England team and the vital role he has played in taking our Test side to the top of the ICC's Test rankings.

"His record of 21 Test hundreds speaks volumes about his qualities as an opening batsman; he has been an integral member of three Ashes-winning sides - twice as captain - and as well as being an outstanding leader and a consummate professional, is a superb ambassador for the sport as a whole.

"It is fitting that Andrew should reach this momentous landmark on the ground where he has played so much cricket for both his county and his country, and where he first announced himself as an international cricketer with a marvellous debut Test hundred."

Strauss was joined in the England line-up as expected by Jonny Bairstow, in Pietersen's place. Steven Finn, slightly more surprisingly, retained his place at the expense of Tim Bresnan, who was the seamer sacrificed to allow for the return of off-spinner Graeme Swann.

South African Smith made history himself today, in his world-record 94th Test as captain.