Full reaction to the First Test at Lord’s
IF this is an omen for Joe Root’s fledgling captaincy then England can look to the future with optimism after he posted a magnificent century to rescue his team on the opening day of this first Investec Test against South Africa.
England were in deep trouble on 17-2 in the sixth over when Root strode out to the middle for his first innings since succeeding Alastair Cook.
The weight of expectation, not to mention the burden of responsibility, rested firmly on the Yorkshireman’s shoulders as England were forced to recover from a superb spell of new-ball bowling from Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.
However, as has so often been the case over the course of Root’s international career, he kept his head while others around him lost theirs and stood up when his team needed him the most.
South Africa were in total charge when they reduced their opponents to 76-4 shortly before lunch, Jonny Bairstow trapped lbw to become Philander’s third wicket of the morning.
Yet Root’s 12th Test hundred led his team out of danger and into a strong position by the close.
This was the first time a full-time England captain had scored a century in his first innings in the job since Kevin Pietersen – also against South Africa – at The Oval in 2008.
Root will also be glad he managed to fully capitalise on his start after converting just three of his previous half-centuries.
The 26-year-old was not the only one to respond positively to the added responsibility of the occasion, with Ben Stokes posting 56 in his first Test as vice-captain during a partnership of 114 with Root that tipped this match back in the balance. Stokes eventually departed in the evening session, feathering Kagiso Rabada behind.
But another century stand, Root this time combining with Moeen Ali, ensured England ended the day with optimism.
They say a lucky captain is a good captain and Root certainly enjoyed his fair share of fortune. He first won the toss, which more often than not proves crucial to the outcome of Test matches at Lord’s.
More pertinently, though, he was the recipient of two drops – on five and 16 – and then reprieved on 149 when he was stumped off Keshav Maharaj only to be recalled after the spinner overstepped.
The first chance, falling to substitute fielder Aidan Markram at deep fine leg, was difficult. The second, JP Duminy failing to hang on to an edge induced by Rabada, really should have been taken.
As it was Root survived all three and made South Africa pay by going on to make what was rapidly looking like a match-defining score.
England were brutally exposed during their last series, in India last year, where England’s 4-0 hammering led to Cook to stand down and lament the “stagnation” of a team which lost a record-equalling eight Tests in 2016.
Of course, it will take time for Root to imprint his own personality on this group. Yet he will need others to help him out as the narrative of this first day – the Yorkshireman bailing out England with the bat – proved eerily familiar to what had preceded it over the previous 12 months.
South Africa are tough opponents. They have not been defeated in a Test series in England since 1998 and have lost just one of their past 16 series away from home –a period spanning a decade.
Moreover, their attack is one of the best in the world.
England’s slow start should have been no surprise then, especially given the fact the top three looked woefully ill-equipped to deal with Philander, Morkel and Rabada. Cook has looked a man transformed since giving up the captaincy, scoring 1,303 runs at more than 73 for Essex this summer.
But he fell for just three on this first morning, the opener’s scratchy stay at the crease terminated in the fourth over when he edged Philander behind.
Keaton Jennings, playing his first home Test, followed when he was trapped lbw to Philander. However, the Durham batsman would have survived had he reviewed the decision by Sundaram Ravi – Hawkeye showing the ball pitching outside leg and also missing the stumps.
Gary Ballance, at the other end, should have helped Jennings out.
And Ballance, recalled for his third and final chance at Test level, exacerbated that mistake when he used up a review on his own dismissal – a plumb lbw to Morkel – as England slipped to 49-3.
The Yorkshire captain averages more than 100 in Championship cricket this season. But his contribution of 20 hardly silenced those who doubt he is the answer at the pivotal position of No.3.
Root, though, certainly did not disappoint.