Scorecard

Graeme Smith made 277 out of South Africa's total of 594 for five declared in the first Test on Saturday, leaving England captain Nasser Hussain chewing on a record-sized slice of humble pie.

England, in reply, reached 25 at tea on the third day, with Marcus Trescothick batting at the top of the order despite a fractured right index finger.

The hosts never got back to the crease as the rain that washed out the whole of Friday's play returned to Edgbaston.

Hussain had suggested on the eve of the five-match series that the South Africans were 'ripe for the taking'.

He also said he had not done any homework on Smith, suggesting the less he knew about the touring side's captain the better.

Hussain and a packed crowd had learnt plenty about the 22-year-old by 2.22 pm (1322 GMT), as he trudged back to the pavilion after his nine-hour innings ended in James Anderson's hands at deep midwicket.

By then, the imposing left-hander, in only his 10th Test, his third in charge and in his first appearance against England, had cut a swathe through the record books.

He had begun with a 338-run stand with Herschelle Gibbs on Thursday, the highest opening Test partnership recorded against England and the sixth best of all time.

On Saturday, resuming on 178 with the touring side on 398 for one, he forged relentlessly on.

First it was a personal best -- beating the 200 he made in his third Test against Bangladesh -- then it was the highest score by a South African captain, then a new record for any South African in England.

When he guided quick bowler Steve Harmison to third man for a single in the afternoon session, he passed the South African all-time Test mark of 275 shared by Daryll Cullinan and Gary Kirsten.

Two minutes later, he heaved wearily at Ashley Giles's left-arm spin and departed to thunderous applause.

"I looked up at the scoreboard when I had 262 and then realised how close I was to breaking the record," said Smith.

"I remembered Gary Kirsten getting out against England in Durban on 275, the same score as Daryll's record. I did not want that to happen.

"It would feel even better if we could go on and win the match but there is a lot of work to do."

Smith now averages 65 in 15 innings. He favours the cut, the flick off the hip and a bottom-handed drive threaded through mid-on.

His three best scores in Tests -- 151, 200 and 277 -- also suggest he lacks little in mental strength or application.

England, offered a 24-hour respite by Friday's washout, had little of note to celebrate again.

While there were wickets -- Kirsten the first, caught off Giles down the leg side for 44 after a 100 stand for the second wicket -- Hussain's bowlers never managed to exert pressure.

South Africa reached lunch on 506 for two after making 108 in the first session, and continued to score freely even though Boeta Dippenaar managed just 22 before pulling Darren Gough straight to short midwicket.

Jacques Rudolph, on 10, opened the face at a short, wide ball from Harmison and holed out at third man.

England's reply flirted with disaster after just three balls from Pollock. Trescothick edged the fourth but the umpire called a no-ball as Dippenaar shelled the simple chance at first slip.

Trescothick responded with consecutive cover drives for four off Makhaya Ntini and was 17 not out at the closed, with Michael Vaughan on four.