Root’s ideal start in captain’s role

Vital 184 against South Africa

Joe Root made the most of his good fortune and substantial skill too as he marked his first day as Test captain with a century England badly needed against South Africa at Lord’s.

Root (184no) might easily have fallen to Kagiso Rabada on five or 16 on his way to and well beyond a 150-ball century which contained 15 fours and aided his team’s recovery after Vernon Philander impressively took three early wickets.

South Africa had England 17 for two, and then 76 for four.

But the tourists simply did not help themselves, and Root very much did in century stands for the fifth and sixth wickets with Ben Stokes (56) and Moeen Ali (61no) in a stumps total of 357 for five in this first Investec Test.

Root, who won the toss on a glorious day, responded to early travails to complete his 12th century in his 54th Test.

He was in the middle much sooner than he doubtless hoped as Philander nipped out both openers cheaply, but went on to become the sixth England captain in Test history to make a century in his first innings in charge

Philander struck in his second and third overs as Root’s captaincy predecessor Alastair Cook and then Keaton Jennings succumbed, as did Jonny Bairstow after Gary Ballance fell to Morne Morkel.

On a pitch tinged with green and providing good carry, Cook was caught behind when Philander got one to run down the slope for an outside edge.