ENG v SA, 1st Test, Day 1 Review: Joe Root rescues his side after a tricky morning

The sport-loving Londoners were on the horns of a dilemma on Thursday. The world’s best tennis players were back after a year, donning the traditional whites at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, promising exquisite rallies as always. Meanwhile, an hour away from Wimbledon, the home of tennis, were 22 other men sporting white jerseys at the Home of Cricket. The much-awaited Test series between England and South Africa was finally here.

Those who occupied the front rows with their red and yellow ties were treated to an exhibition of batsmanship, as was the rest of the packed crowd at Lord’s. That Test cricket was dying was only a ruse, confirmed by an audience in anticipation to witness the classical form of the gentleman’s game.

There were a few unfamiliar sights on the opening day of the first Test at Lord’s. Two contrasting sets of apparel was one – England were back to their off-white sweaters, while South Africa opted for bright greenish-yellow caps – and Joe Root spinning the coin was the other. Little did he know that his first day at the helm of England’s Test side would be one that he will cherish for years to come.

A morning meltdown for hosts England

Both teams would have liked to bat first, but the coin fell in favour of the hosts. Alastair Cook, with more than 11,000 Test runs under his belt, opened the innings with Keaton Jennings who was playing his third Test. Neither experience nor youth helped England get off to a steady start. South Africa’s pacer for all seasons Vernon Philander removed both openers in the first 6 overs of the innings; Cook and Jennings failed to even get to double figures.

At one drop, Gary Ballance looked to find his groove, with his captain Joe Root holding steady at the other end. The two added 32 runs before Morne Morkel trapped Ballance in front of the stumps. The batsman’s indecision to review the verdict was with good reason, as the Morkel delivery would have slammed into middle and leg. England’s selection looked much more questionable now than at the start of the game. Even Jonny Bairstow’s recent dominance in all formats wasn’t sufficient to lift the English spirits.

South Africa were a confident side as they rushed for lunch, with England struggling at 82-4. But such is the beauty of Test cricket that it turns a man who smashed an unbeaten 103 off 63 in a T20 league into a patient and defiant middle-order batsman. Ben Stokes’ arrival was the point when the upward climb began in England’s Day 1 graph. Coming in at no. 6, Stokes provided his captain with the support he demanded.

Joe Root and Moeen Ali steady the ship

Cut to players sipping a cup of piping hot tea. England had clawed back into the game, while South Africa wilted in the second session. The Root-Stokes duo had guided England to 182, both batsmen having secured their individual fifties. Their century stand had worn out the Proteas bowlers, leaving skipper Dean Elgar out of ideas.

Against the run of play, England lost Ben Stokes, who had to depart after a constructive 56. The tea break had done the trick for South Africa, but in walked Moeen Ali to quell all hopes of the visitors surging towards the end of the day. Instead of capitalising on Stokes’ wickets, the South African bowlers wore a laissez-faire attitude. Joe Root, rooted to the crease despite wickets falling at the other end, alongside Moeen Ali, ensured England negotiated the rest of the overs in the day’s play.

Joe Root joined an elite club of England captains who scored a century in their first match as skipper. A dab sweep towards fine leg fetched Root 3 runs, thus taking him from 99 to triple figures. He lapped up the applause from a Lord’s crowd standing on its feet, a moment cricketers dream of from their salad days.

Thereafter, England seemed in no trouble whatsoever. The boundaries came thick and fast. Both batsmen played risk-free cricket to take England to 357 for 5 at Stumps. Joe Root headlined the day with his match-saving unbeaten 184 – pity he might not sleep too well with thoughts of a double century weighing him down – while Moeen Ali’s 61 once again proved why he is such an asset to this English side. The spectators at Lord’s were privy to a live exhibition of immaculate strokeplay on Day 1 of an exciting Test series, and they’ll certainly turn up tomorrow hoping to see their captain notch up a double ton.

Brief Scores

England:  (Joe Root 184*, Moeen Ali 61*; Vernon Philander 3/46)