England cling to the positives as more adversity hits in South Africa

Their most established opener ruled of the series on Thursday evening and most exciting bowler ruled out on Friday morning. England’s preparations for the second Test in Cape Town could not have been worse. So to see them 67 for two, having won the toss and chosen to bat, felt like something of a success. It’s all relative at this stage.

Damaged ankle ligaments will see Rory Burns depart South Africa this evening and there is a chance if Jofra Archer’s second scan on his right elbow comes back with bad news – the first was inconclusive – then he might not play a part in the rest of the series, either. With regards to the former, England have not yet decided whether they will call up a replacement batsman.

Kent’s Zak Crawley was handed his second Test cap, albeit his first go at his preferred opening spot as Burns’ immediate replacement. Combined with Dom Sibley’s six innings at the top, the duo were England’s least experienced opening combination in Test since 1963. With Dominic Bess coming in as the off-spinner for his third appearance, Ollie Pope replacing Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran set firm, it was the first time England had gone into a Test with four players aged 22 or younger.

Naturally, the fear was an inexperienced batting card would topple over, especially when, at the end of the third over, Crawley became the first domino to fall. He managed just four – an improvement on his maiden innings of one on debut in New Zealand – before Vernon Philander drew him forward, as Philander does, and took his outside edge, as Philander does. Quinton de Kock, diving to his right completed the dismissal.

Yet from there both Sibley and Joe Denly settled into a groove. The former looked especially comfortable when South Africa strayed onto his legs. Flicking through midwicket and around the corner is a particular strength of the Warwickshire opener, who stands tall and front-on. There was, to be fair, a ping through cover which suggested he was feeling much more at ease.

And while he did reach a new high score, 34 was where it ended, squared up by Kagiso Rabada for a second diving de Kock catch. It meant the captain Joe Root had 10 minutes to negotiate before lunch. He was given a working over by Rabada: pinned on the arm and then playing and missing within the first two balls of the 27th over. His first scoring shot came in the same over, an open-faced guide to third man for four.

Root will recommence with Denly who looked assured for his 21. He took 11 deliveries to get off the mark, doing so with a skewed drive through backward point off Rabada which, to be fair to the right-hander, he kept along the floor. The 33-year old was resolute in defence and particularly sharp in the pull shot when Anrich Nortje dropped one in short.

No doubt these may be words to regret later on, but he looks in the mood for a sizeable score on a pitch that looks very good for batting. His first proper misjudgment came with the last ball before lunch, as Keshav Maharaj got one to dip and bite off the surface, passing his outside edge sharply. Something to keep an eye on as the day progresses.