the first students to sit formal exams since the pandemic have been getting their a—level and and btec results. the number awarded top grades in england, wales and northern ireland is down on last year — but higher than before covid. it feels amazing. because not only did i prove to, like, my future uni that i can do this. i've also proven to myself that i can do this. so i'm happy about that. competition for places at first choice universities is expected to be tougher. also this lunchtime... strike action has once again brought much of the country's railways to a halt today, with only about 20% of the usual train services running. the 87—year—old grandfather attacked

on his mobility scooter — police arrest a man on suspicion of murder. it is not clear what they are trying to target. moments later, it's clear we are the target. explosions. a special report from the front line in ukraine on the troops using drones to attack russian positions. and she's back — another big win for emma raducanu as she prepares to defend her us open title. and coming up on the bbc news channel, we'll have the latest from lord's as england take on south africa in the first test of the series. good afternoon. hundreds of thousands

of pupils in england, wales and northern ireland have been getting their a—levels and btec results today — the first group of students to sit formal exams since the pandemic. the proportion getting top grades has fallen from last year — though it's higher than 2019, the last time there were exams. the drop in the highest grades is likely to mean tougher competition for first choice places at university. the first new technical or t—levels are also being awarded in england. our education correspondent sean dilley reports. this... is what success looks like. the profound relief and celebration, clear for all to see. the profound relief and celebration, clearfor all to see. many the profound relief and celebration, clear for all to see. many here are among just over 36% achieving top grades in their a—levels in england, wales and northern ireland. and a

good yearfor many wales and northern ireland. and a good year for many btec students, too. and for those taking t—levels, a new technical qualification in england that is equivalent to three a—levels. students split their time between the classroom and on placement within industry. for others, angst. disappointed not to have got the grades they wanted. we have got the grades they wanted. - always have a plan. we wanted to get the grades back towards the levels that we saw pre—pandemic, and we have taken a big step back in the right direction. they are still a little bit higher than they were in 2019, but they are down on last year, that is right and proper. it is all part of a plan, they say, to return to pre—pandemic testing. in 2020 and 2021, a—level and ase students were awarded grades based on assessments by teachers. not so this year. some concessions have been made, with advanced revision information being made available in some subjects, and more lenient grade boundaries introduced. for those who may not have hit their marks they plan for for their future

education and employment, plenty of reassurance. education and employment, plenty of reassurance-— reassurance. there is a lot of help and support _ reassurance. there is a lot of help and support out — reassurance. there is a lot of help and support out there. _ reassurance. there is a lot of help and support out there. all - reassurance. there is a lot of help | and support out there. all colleges have got careers advisers, councillors that can help you. also, talk to the universities, look at clearing. look at different universities, look at additional courses, apprenticeships, there are past their to get you where you want to be. 3�*i�*s past their to get you where you want to be. ' , ., , , ., to be. 7196 of t-level students who a- lied to be. 7196 of t-level students who applied for — to be. 7196 of t-level students who applied for higher _ to be. 7196 of t-level students who applied for higher education - to be. 7196 of t-level students who applied for higher education have l applied for higher education have been successful. fix, applied for higher education have been successful. fix. bit applied for higher education have been successful.— applied for higher education have been successful. a bit nervous about what it will be _ been successful. a bit nervous about what it will be like, _ been successful. a bit nervous about what it will be like, obviously - what it will be like, obviously being the first year to have it. but it's amazing. i'm thrilled. university clearing, how can i help? aside _ university clearing, how can i help? aside from — university clearing, how can i help? aside from the traditional university clearance services, ucas is advertising 3700 apprenticeships and jobs. is advertising 3700 apprenticeships andjobs. employers is advertising 3700 apprenticeships and jobs. employers are also capitalising on the reality that many will be looking to start work now. the key message, though, is that this year's exams were designed to result in fewer students

achieving top marks. it's an important first step, the government says, to return in the education system to normal. sean dilley, bbc news. it's been a nevrous wait for many students across the country. 0ur education correspondent elaine dunkley has been speaking to four students who hope today will kick—start their future plans. wait, wait. 0h! the right result. joy, after years of disruption. emmanuela wants to study business and finance at york university. today, she's secured her place. i got distinction, distinction, distinction. yeah, i'm really passionate about business. so i'm just happy i got into the course. over the summer, emmanuela has been for a looking around the city and the campus. when i saw students graduating, i was thinking, that's going to be me. because i've got into uni, i've got to go through the years, and i can hopefully graduate.

i'm looking forward to just experiencing uni, being independent, student life. two as and a b. well done! j thank you. going to university isn't the only option. abigail wants to combine marketing with her love of motorsports. she is pleased with her grades, but is still on the lookout for an apprenticeship. at the moment, i've been shortlisted for two apprenticeships, but that doesn't mean it's confirmed. it is really competitive, for degree level apprenticeships, because it isjust one place per company. so, it is quite competitive. so i'm definitely still looking and just putting my cv out there. for many young people, there are big decisions ahead. that's not really heavy. praise is going to defer going to university. she wants to be a nurse in the raf. the stretcher will i come onto the back. the pandemic has taken its toll, but it hasn't taken away childhood dreams. being at home in front of the computer and just not having that kind of engagement really affected me. because ijust didn't feel

a lot of motivation. i got two bs and a d�*. getting my results today has changed everything, i've proven that i can do this. sion has got a place to study art at university in birmingham and says today isn'tjust about results, but knowing there is hope, whatever the outcome. sometimes i can't put into words how i felt. so i created art to feel those emotions for me. focus on the dreams that you want to do, because it's your passion, people who inspire you who'll get you there. oh, my god, i'm shaking. elaine dunkley, bbc news. 0ur correspondent navtej johal is at the ucas clearing centre in cheltenham. navtej — what's the advice for people who want to go to university but haven't quite made the grades they need? well, the advice we have heard time and time again is to stay optimistic

and time again is to stay optimistic and to stay flexible. if you have only narrowly missed out on the grades you needed, then you may still be able to go to the university wanted to. give them a call and see if that is possible. it's not, don't worry, there are lots of options available for you and lots of people willing to help you, including the 270 staff who have been here at the ucas headquarters in cheltenham, answering calls on social media messages since eight o'clock this morning. there are 27,000 courses available through clearing. that's a lot of options. do your research, find out if one works for you. give university a call and get a verbal offer. then you can submit your new choice from 3pm this afternoon. now, time, however, is of the essence, to a certain degree. 0ne university vice chancellor said to me today that his advice to students would be, look, don't panic, but also

don't dither. train passengers are facing more disruption today with only 20% of rail services running because of strike action. workers have walked out in a dispute over pay, job cuts and changes to terms and conditions. today's action means half of britain's railway lines have closed with the strike by more than 40,000 staff. there's similar action on saturday, with disruption likely to spill over into sunday morning. and tomorrow, a separate strike over pay and pensions will hit the london underground and overground. 0ur correspondent carrie davies has more details. another day, another strike. this is the fifth day of national rail strikes this summer, causing disruption around the country. this was a rather quiet leeds station. due to the strikes it is extremely unreliable these days. i'm finding i'm having to drive and park, and pay a lot more. i i'm having to drive and park, and pay a lot more-— i'm having to drive and park, and pay a lot more.

i'm having to drive and park, and -a a lot more. . ':: .._ , pay a lot more. i am 10096 behind the strikers, completely. _ pay a lot more. i am 10096 behind the strikers, completely. i— pay a lot more. i am 10096 behind the strikers, completely. i used _ pay a lot more. i am 10096 behind the strikers, completely. i used to - pay a lot more. i am 10096 behind the strikers, completely. i used to work. strikers, completely. i used to work in retail. _ strikers, completely. i used to work in retail. i_ strikers, completely. i used to work in retail, i have worked in bad jobs with low— in retail, i have worked in bad jobs with low pay, and i very much in favour_ with low pay, and i very much in favour of— with low pay, and i very much in favour of them. they need higher wages _ favour of them. they need higher wanes. , , . favour of them. they need higher wa.es_ , , ., ., favour of them. they need higher wanes. ,, ., ., ., ., ., wages. less than a quarter of train services were _ wages. less than a quarter of train services were running _ wages. less than a quarter of train services were running today, - wages. less than a quarter of train services were running today, like l services were running today, like this packed london 0verground train, as members of the rmt, tssa and a small numberfrom unite as members of the rmt, tssa and a small number from unite walked out. the rmt are blaming the government for the stalemate.— for the stalemate. there is a deal to be done- _ for the stalemate. there is a deal to be done- i _ for the stalemate. there is a deal to be done. i spoke _ for the stalemate. there is a deal to be done. i spoke to _ for the stalemate. there is a deal to be done. i spoke to a - for the stalemate. there is a deal to be done. i spoke to a senior i to be done. i spoke to a senior negotiator— to be done. i spoke to a senior negotiator for network rail this morning. — negotiator for network rail this morning, on this picket line. he came _ morning, on this picket line. he came along _ morning, on this picket line. he came along and said hello. we have -ot came along and said hello. we have got a _ came along and said hello. we have got a decent relationship with them. we could _ got a decent relationship with them. we could build a solution if we were allowed _ we could build a solution if we were allowed to — we could build a solution if we were allowed to. but at the moment, the politics— allowed to. but at the moment, the politics of— allowed to. but at the moment, the politics of the conservative party leadership election, i fear, is stopping _ leadership election, i fear, is stopping this dispute being resolved. ., , ,., stopping this dispute being resolved. ., ,, . ., , resolved. the transport secretary has criticised _ resolved. the transport secretary has criticised the _ resolved. the transport secretary has criticised the strikes - resolved. the transport secretary has criticised the strikes and - resolved. the transport secretaryl has criticised the strikes and urged the unions to get off the picket line and back to the negotiating table. union say they have been negotiating, but they won't back down without a pay deal that reflects the higher cost of living and protects conditions. network rail sadie politicising situation is

making it worse. i rail sadie politicising situation is making it worse.— rail sadie politicising situation is makin: it worse. ,, , making it worse. i think the problem is that we have _ making it worse. i think the problem is that we have a _ making it worse. i think the problem is that we have a very _ making it worse. i think the problem is that we have a very good - making it worse. i think the problem is that we have a very good deal- is that we have a very good deal on the table, that gives a guarantee of jobs for everyone that wants it, that deals with a lot of the long—standing issues and is an 8% pay rise over the years. but that hasn't been put to my staff. the rmt have refused to put that to a referendum. that's the problem, if they had a chance to vote on that, we believe they would accept it. the disute we believe they would accept it. the dispute continues, another strike is planned for saturday. 0ur transport correspondent katy austin is in great yarmouth now — katie, what is the disruption so far today? how bad has it been? weill. today? how bad has it been? well, this is one of _ today? how bad has it been? well, this is one of the _ today? how bad has it been? well, this is one of the places _ today? how bad has it been? -ii this is one of the places around the country where there are no trains at all today. the station behind me as completely closed. a few more routes are running in scotland today than the last time there was a national scale strike like this, but the overall picture is still that about

20% of usual services are able to run today, and they will finish a lot earlier than normal. the last train on some long—distance routes will actually depart mid afternoon. some people can now work from home, he would normally commute. but it's not an option for everybody, and a lot of leisure plans are being disrupted as well by this latest in a series of walk—outs we have now seen on the railways this summer. so, are we any closer to a resolution in these ongoing disputes? well, the tone of interviews by key players this morning was very much one of frustration, and a sense that not very much progress has been made towards agreements recently, network rail does what the rmt union to put an offer that it rejected last month to its members, to have their say. but, generally, union leaders are still saying that they will push for a pay rise that reflects the increased cost of living and, they say, job security and conditions need protecting.— say, job security and conditions need protecting. thank you. katy austin, need protecting. thank you. katy austin. our— need protecting. thank you. katy austin, our transport _ need protecting. thank you. katy -

austin, our transport correspondent. a man's been arrested on suspicion of murder after the stabbing of a pensioner on a mobility scooter in west london. thomas 0'halloran, who was 87, died at the scene in greenford after being attacked on tuesday afternoon. police are questioning a 44—year—old man. greg mackenzie reports. forensic teams, searching for evidence. in the distance, a blue crime scene tent, which marks the exact spot where 87—year—old thomas 0'halloran succumbed to his stab injuries. locals say he was a well—known and friendly face in the community. i’zre well-known and friendly face in the community-— community. i've seen him going throu~h community. i've seen him going through here. — community. i've seen him going through here, you _ community. i've seen him going through here, you know, - community. i've seen him going through here, you know, lots i community. i've seen him going through here, you know, lots ofj through here, you know, lots of times. this is a great tragedy for the family and for us, also. very, very sad- — the family and for us, also. very, very sad- he _ the family and for us, also. very, very sad. he was _ the family and for us, also. very, very sad. he was a _ the family and for us, also. very, very sad. he was a really - the family and for us, also. very, very sad. he was a really nice, i very sad. he was a really nice, friendly— very sad. he was a really nice, friendly guy. ijust don't know who could _ friendly guy. ijust don't know who could ever— friendly guy. ijust don't know who could ever do something like this.

it's absolutely horrendous, and sickening _ it's absolutely horrendous, and sickeninu. ., . it's absolutely horrendous, and sickenin.. ., . it's absolutely horrendous, and sickening-— it's absolutely horrendous, and sickeninu. ., . , ., , sickening. police say they arrested a ltit-vear-old _ sickening. police say they arrested a 44-year-old man _ sickening. police say they arrested a 44-year-old man this _ sickening. police say they arrested a 44-year-old man this morning, | a 44—year—old man this morning, following an appeal yesterday, and the release of cctv images. he was detained in southall, not too far from this location, in the early hours of this morning. the family of the 87—year—old, who was originally from county clare in the west of ireland, is being supported by specially trained officers. it is heartbreaking, _ specially trained officers. it is heartbreaking, and _ specially trained officers. it 3 heartbreaking, and it is a shock. an 87—year—old grandfather, thomas 0'halloran, has been killed the way that he was yesterday. he was an elderly man, in a mobility scooter, stabbed to death in daylight. aha, stabbed to death in daylight. a public meeting will be held this evening, at a local community centre, organised by the metropolitan police, in a bid to reassure the community over safety

fears. greg mckenzie, bbc news. our top story this lunchtime... the first students to sit formal exams since the pandemic have been getting their a—level and and btec results. and england was not the cricketers have work to do at lord's after another strong morning for south africa. coming up on the bbc news channel, we'll bring you the all latest from the european championships in munich, where world champion jake wightman has secured his place in the 800 metres final. the head of the united nations is meeting ukraine's president and other leaders in the city of lviv later, to try to find ways to end the war. it comes as ukraine's armed forces have been talking of launching a counter—offensive in the south, and now a senior military officer has told the bbc they aim to recapture the city of kherson within weeks.

the bbc�*s abdujalil abdurasulov joined one drone unit on the front line. shouting. gunfire. the war in ukraine is the war of artillery. in the south, ukrainian forces intensify shelling on the russian positions, ahead of their counteroffensive. and groups like these help them to direct fire. they are a part of ukrainian special forces. theirjob is to identify targets, with the help of drones, and pass their coordinates to artillery. this is the target they have chosen. the russians are trying to hide it in the trenches with a net. "fire when you're ready", he tells the artillery unit. the first shot misses the target. they keep trying. this one is closer,

but still a few metres off target. then the russians respond. loud boom. that's the sound of russian artillery firing nearby. it's not clear what they are trying to target, but they are hitting the forest that is behind us. moments later, it's clear we are the target. loud bangs. the unit is under attack. the russians may have realised a drone team was directing the artillery fire. shells and rockets rain down around us. senior officers believe that, in the very near future, perhaps within weeks, kherson will be taken back. translation: over the past ten days,

in the kherson area alone, _ we have destroyed more than 20 ammunition depots, lots of command and control centres and strategic targets, including bridges. the pilots lose the signal to one of the drones. they suspect the russians are jamming it. it doesn't make it back to base, but they are happy that no one is injured. these soldiers are ready to risk not just theirjobs but even their lives in order to win the war. abdujalil abdurasulov, bbc news, mykolaiv region in southern ukraine. it is estimated that 200,000 children in england live with an alcoholic parent or carer, but access to support varies across the nation. the national association for children of alcoholics says almost 27,000 young people have contacted its helpline

since the pandemic. that's a rise of over 13%. our correspondent emma glasby has this report. dearmum. i don't know how you'll react to receiving this letter but maybe now it's time. lily's mum was an alcoholic. lilly wrote her a letter about their relationship two years before her mum died. it was a secret. i told none of my friends, i skipped a lot of school because i wanted to be back home with my mum. every night, i would make sure she was still breathing, and i felt like, if i was good enough, if she loved me enough, she'd stop. as an adult, i now know that's not how it works. when lily was 15, her mum ended up in hospital. who was looking after you at that time? me, i was. years after her own experience, lily fears children are still not getting enough support when their parents

have a drinking problem. the national association for children of alcoholics says the pandemic has made things worse. its helpline received more than 23,500 contacts in 2019. last year, that rose to almost 27,000 contacts. many of our callers are living with a parent that in every other aspect might be doing quite well as a parent but every night they are physically and emotionally unavailable because they turn to alcohol. in leeds, they are taking a whole—family approach. when a parent asks forward leeds for help, the children also get support. i was drinking three, nearly four bottles of wine a night, just to take any pain away. fran struggled with alcohol after her father died during the covid lockdown. but she has turned things around since forward leeds started supporting her and her young son. i don't think he fully

understands but i think he understands they are there to support him and myself. i'm finally looking forward to a future. the government says, over the next three years, it's giving local councils more than £530 million for recovery services. but campaigners want the children affected in all areas to be a priority, so they feel supported too. emma glasby, bbc news. in afghanistan, there's been an explosion at a mosque packed with worshippers. at least 21 people have been killed and more than 30 injured. it happened in kabul during evening prayers. it comes in the week that the taliban have been celebrating the first anniversary of retaking control of afghanistan. our chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, is in kabul now. lyse, who might be responsible for this sort of attack?

what is the taliban response is likely to be?— what is the taliban response is likely to be? just two days after the taliban _ likely to be? just two days after the taliban marked _ likely to be? just two days after the taliban marked their - likely to be? just two days after the taliban marked their one i likely to be? just two days after. the taliban marked their one year likely to be? just two days after- the taliban marked their one year in power, celebrating what they call independence day, and what they see as bringing an end to the war and the arrival of police, afghans were yet again reminded that, while the last chapter of war ended, against the us led forces, a new chapter has begun. there has been a pattern of attacks by the islamic state group, and even more extremist group than the taliban, but they haven't said they carried out this attack last night, just after nightfall, when the mosques were packed, at a mosque in north—west kabul could not only was the mosque packed but there were a lot of children at the mosque, and the figures for the dead and injured have kept rising all day. it means that this has been the third attack on a prominent cleric, in a

prominent mosque or religious school in the past month alone. the islamic state group is known to be targeting common supporters of the taliban, known to be targeting in particular members of the shia hazara minority, and it has turned into the most powerful enemy of the taliban since the taliban took control of afghanistan. two islamist groups, divided is i do logically, and now fighting each other. at least 38 people have been killed in forest fires in northern algeria. the emergency services are dealing with some a0 separate fires. many of the worst blazes are in and around the town of el tarf, near the border with tunisia. hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes. in spain, firefighters are continuing to fight fires which have led to the evacuation of thousands. in one instance, a train service

between valencia and saragossa narrowly avoided being engulfed by fire. flames ripped through the land, as firefighters shout, run, run, scrambling for their lives. the might of mother nature here in spain, combined with the impact of climate change, presenting a terrifying threat to communities facing the flames. as the fire spread, north—west of valencia, ten passengers were hurt, three seriously, when they tried to escape a train caught up in a sweeping fire. this thermal image showing flames encroaching on the tracks. translation:— flames encroaching on the tracks. translation: ~ , .., ., ., translation: when they came out of the tunnel, translation: when they came out of the tunnel. they _ translation: when they came out of the tunnel, they found _ translation: when they came out of the tunnel, they found the _ translation: when they came out of the tunnel, they found the fire - translation: when they came out of the tunnel, they found the fire was i the tunnel, they found the fire was coming in front of them so the driver stopped the train. the injured were in bad condition. the passengers were scared. we gave them what did everything we could.

hundreds of homes have been evacuated, with more than 2000 people moved from the region. firefighters fear as much as 6000 hectares of land has been ravaged by the fire. another blaze, also near valencia, started by lightning late on saturday, is debited in an area twice as large. more than 25,000 hectares left smouldering, a reminder of the power of the flames. but, while this fire may be out, the summerfire but, while this fire may be out, the summer fire season still has several months left to go. an mp has pleaded guilty to breaching covid rules in september 2020. margaret ferrier, who was elected to represent the snp in rutherglen and hamilton west, and now sits as an independent, admitted that she exposed the public to coronavirus by travelling around glasgow and the surrounding area and by taking the train to london when she had been

told to self—isolate. the bbcjournalist amol rajan has been announced as the new host of the quiz show university challenge. he'll be taking over from jeremy paxman, whose last episode is due to be broadcast next summer. he said it was a dream come true to present his favourite television programme. tennis, and the british number1 emma raducanu is in good form as she prepares to defend her us open title, at the end of the month. the teenager famously won the title last year and is warming up with a series of impressive wins against former world number ones. she beat serena williams in the first round in cincinnati and has now beaten belarusian viktoria azarenka, as jane dougall reports. still basking in the glow of a straight sets win over serena williams, emma raducanu conquered anotherformer williams, emma raducanu conquered another former world number one.

williams, emma raducanu conquered anotherformer world number one. a another former world number one. a convincing anotherformer world number one. a convincing defeat of victoria azarenka, hitting back at criticism of her recent lack of success. i'zre of her recent lack of success. i've realised in _ of her recent lack of success. i've realised in the _ of her recent lack of success. i've realised in the last _ of her recent lack of success. i�*e: realised in the last year of her recent lack of success. ia: realised in the last year people of her recent lack of success. i"2 realised in the last year people are going to talk regardless of what you do, and ijust learnt to zone in internally and i didn't let myself get high or low, i was one level, and i think that helped. it seemed so, facin: and i think that helped. it seemed so. facing the _ and i think that helped. it seemed so, facing the two-time _ and i think that helped. it seemed so, facing the two-time grand i and i think that helped. it seemed i so, facing the two-time grand slam so, facing the two—time grand slam champion, raducanu, at the top of the screen, was calm and confident, game after game going her way, taking the first set 6—0 without breaking sweat. i5 taking the first set 6-0 without breaking sweat.— taking the first set 6-0 without breaking sweat. is superb effort from emma _ breaking sweat. is superb effort from emma raducanu. - breaking sweat. is superb effort from emma raducanu. the i breaking sweat. is superb effort i from emma raducanu. the former chamion from emma raducanu. the former champion left _ from emma raducanu. the former champion left wondering _ from emma raducanu. the former champion left wondering what i from emma raducanu. the former champion left wondering what wasj champion left wondering what was happening. raducanu's dominance turned into demolition. and, injust 18 hours, she had dispatched two of the game's greats.— 18 hours, she had dispatched two of the game's greats. raducanu winning bi in

the game's greats. raducanu winning big in cincinnati. _ the game's greats. raducanu winning big in cincinnati. through _ the game's greats. raducanu winning big in cincinnati. through to - the game's greats. raducanu winning big in cincinnati. through to the i big in cincinnati. through to the last 16, the _ big in cincinnati. through to the last 16, the us _ big in cincinnati. through to the last 16, the us open _ big in cincinnati. through to the last 16, the us open defending l last 16, the us open defending champion could be hitting form at the right time. england are bowling at lord's on the second day of the first test against south africa. england only managed 165 in theirfirst innings but it was a morning when cricket came together again for a cause. our sports correspondent, joe wilson, reports from lord's. look for the man in red, the man who excelled as a cricketer and captain, andrew strauss was at lord's in memory of his wife, ruth, as a fundraiser and as a father, and he wasn't alone. the crowd, the ground, the teams acknowledged the foundation, which in particular helps bereaved families the andrew was thanked in particular by sons sam and luke. so to the cricket in south africa's relentless progress, ollie pope outcome or not? if you

have one, two, three, even for microdosed at a catch, you must hold one of them, right? bowler kagiso rabada certainly thought so that he had to do the job himself up there you go for the that was pope dismissed for 73. whenjimmy dismissed for 73. when jimmy anderson dismissed for 73. whenjimmy anderson fell lbw, all out for 165, five wickets for the outstanding rabada. now here is elgar in full flow, south africa's captains opening their batting, some you hit, some you are relieved to miss. no edge, no wicket, englandjust some you are relieved to miss. no edge, no wicket, england just had to try again. stand by for another of those catching chances not taken. zak crawley the field here, nobody says it's easy, but the state of the match demands that england take wickets quickly. england these days have a philosophy they can win any match from any position but i think they would like some wickets quickly put up

yesterday was gloomy before it rained at those conditions were ideal for bowlers to stop right now, there is bright sunshine, and south africa are about to resume after lunch 27 without loss. who is the kind of batter they could look to emulate, someone who always produced some of his best cricket here on his home ground? i was thinking of andrew strauss, who isjust home ground? i was thinking of andrew strauss, who is just over there, still in his red i'm sure he has appreciated the emotion of the occasion today, but i still think he'd like to see if you wickets quite soon. indeed! thank you, joe wilson. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. but at lord's today compared to yesterday, with some heavy rainfall, but it's rare that i start with a pressure chart because low pressure dominates the weather story at the moment, and these weather fronts will continue to produce more cloud and we've seen recently. but also some thundery rain as well. we have