Stuttering England finish with 282/9

 

Glenn Phillips: Brilliant, obviously they got off to a flyer, but our spinners and seamers in the middle overs brought us back in the game, restricting them to 280 was pleasing. When Stokes was rested, one left-hander was taken out, but Latham used his other options well. They played really well, the wicket is going to get better in the second innings. They bat so deep, keeping them to a total of under 300, it was a great effort.

Another astute captaincy call for the day. Livingstone was getting his eye in and he got Boult on for a wicket-maiden when captains could have easily chosen to bowl him later. Out of the blue he brought back Phillips again in the 42nd over to a set RHB and baaang, Root was bowled. Move after move, it was properly thought out understanding the limitation of his resources and how to get the best of each one of them. The result, England restricted to a total that most would not have imagined before the start of the game.

Special mention to Tom Latham for his outstanding captaincy moves. Southee out injured, Ferguson suddenly sidelined with a niggle before the game. That meant he had just two frontline pacers and needed fillers. To make it even more tricky Boult was off the boil with the new ball, but Henry put his hand up. Bowled Test match line and length ball after ball, troubling Malan and eventually getting him. Bairstow was looking good but Santner showed how varying pace can give you wickets even if there's not much turn. He put on a real beauty of a spell teasing batters and got Bairstow. Brook looked ominious when he took on Ravindra for 4 4 6, but one shot too many in the same over and he was trapped at deep mid-wicket. In a surprise move Phillips was brought on and Moeen gifted his wicket with a poor shot.