The sporting pilgrims at Lord’s may have yearned for a pulsating Test lasting five days but the South African attack deigned otherwise. It was no surprise that the first encounter between England and South Africa concluded within three days.
The visitor’s innings and 12-run triumph over a stunned host on Friday belied England’s terrific start to its cricketing summer highlighted through four victories in the game’s longest format. Those wins also ushered in the adrenaline-infused Bazball approach that new coach Brendon McCullum, in tandem with skipper Ben Stokes, propagated.
