Moeen Ali clinched six wickets as England beat South Africa by 211 runs to win the first Test at Lord’s with more than a day to spare on Sunday.
Here we discuss the talking points from Joe Root’s first Test win as captain.
SPIN IS IN
Moeen Ali’s career-best bowling helped Joe Root start his tenure as England Test captain with a resounding 211-run victory inside four days.
Spin did much of the damage on a decidedly helpful surface, as Moeen (six for 53) finished with a 10-wicket match haul and Liam Dawson did his bit too with two scalps.
Moeen Ali.
PITCH PERFECT
The surface has been out of keeping with many at Lord’s of late. Pace and carry on day one soon fizzled out, to be replaced with early spin – mostly from the rough, but increasingly wicket-to-wicket – and variable bounce.
Some may yearn for the featherbeds of previous summers, but conditions produced a fair balance between bat and ball and surely a good Test for all.
Joe Root scored 190 in England’s first innings.
JONNY ON TOP
Bairstow has hit a half-century in all but one of his last five Tests – maintaining his standards even through England’s losing run in India last winter, falling only a single short in his one match without a half-century.
He was back with another hugely valuable 51 at Lord’s, albeit after an early stroke of fortune, and then proved his worth behind the stumps too with an outstanding leg-side catch.
Jonny Bairstow plays a reverse sweep as Quinton de Kock watches on.
STAT OF THE DAY
Four for 10, three for two. You will not win many matches with two nifty collapses like the above, both of which featured in England’s hectic morning.
They were still able to set South Africa 331, only 10 fewer than the ground-record run chase, though.
Liam Dawson is bowled by Kagiso Rabada.
WHAT NEXT?
Trent Bridge.
South Africa have an extra day to ready themselves to try to stay in with a chance of winning the four-match series, but must do so without Kagiso Rabada – banned for the second Test for swearing after dismissing Ben Stokes in the first innings.
Kagiso Rabada celebrates the wicket of Ben Stokes.