On a day of raw emotion at The Oval which began with tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II, and a profoundly observed minute’s silence on Saturday, England drew on the energy of a 30 000 strong crowd and produced a stunning bowling display to dismiss South Africa for a meagre 118 before allowing their advantage to slip with a collapse from 84-2 at tea to 154-7 by the close of play on the ‘first’ day of the final test.
Ollie Robinson claimed 5-49 and Stuart Broad took 4-41 to dismantle South Africa’s fragile batting before over-ambition with the bat and equally penetrative seam bowling from South Africa saw the tourists fight their way back into the game.
But for many spectators, and players, it was the start of the game which will live longest in the memory with the adapted National Anthem – ‘God Save the King’ – being sung in public for the first time in over 70 years.
For the first time in international sport: God Save The King. pic.twitter.com/uSkaxkjvqQ
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 10, 2022
“It was incredible to be a part of,” Broad told Sky after the day’s play. “Walking down the stairs you could hear a pin drop. The respect shown by everyone in the stadium was incredible and to be able to sing the national anthem, with a full house, was brilliant. It felt like a celebration of the Queen's life today and it felt good to be out there representing the badge like we did.”
Broad, who drew level with Australia’s Glenn McGrath with 563 test wickets in second place among seam bowlers behind teammate Jimmy Anderson, almost suggested that conditions were too weighted in favour of the bowlers when play began on a pitch which had been under cover for most of the preceding 24 hours. Almost – but not quite.
“Earlier this morning it was too bowler-friendly - but you know I'd never really say that! But it seamed a lot, I was surprised, it was nipping around three or four balls an over, but we also knew that we had some work to do,” Broad said.
On England’s ultra-positive approach with the bat, Broad was adamant it was the right thing to do: “It's not our mentality to prod and poke around, we knew that runs were going to be at a premium, so we had that mindset that we had to go out and put the South African bowlers under pressure. Because there's a good ball (at any time) in that pitch.”