Alastair Cook’s appetite for runs digs England out of trouble against South Africa

England invested in future potential with three debutants at The Oval but closed day one in debt to an old favourite as former captain Alastair Cook bailed them out against South Africa.

Cook moved above Allan Border up to ninth among the world’s all-time record runscorers, having long been England’s number one, when he scored the first of his unbeaten 82 out of 171 for four in the third Investec Test.

As he moved towards a 31st Test century – and new-boy batsmen Tom Westley and Dawid Malan mustered 26 between them – England had good reason yet again to be grateful for his remorseless appetite for runs which has left him with a running total of 11,256.

Welcome to Test cricket

New number three Tom Westley began with a flourish, a four off his legs from his fifth ball at this level and his first 16 runs coming in boundaries – before he overplayed his hand straight after lunch. Dawid Malan then had an almighty struggle for his solitary run, before his stumps were rearranged without addition by a Kagiso Rabada yorker.

Tweet of the day

Former England captain Michael Vaughan is enthused by England’s approach in the opening exchanges, following his stinging criticism of their efforts in the second Test at Trent Bridge.

Cook the constant

Alastair Cook is bereft of the captaincy these days, of course, after his winter resignation. But normal service continues unabated at the top of the order, much to England’s relief on a day when they badly needed their all-time record-holder to live up to his billing. Cook has moved up into the all-time top nine global Test runscorers with 11,256, and has plenty of time to rise inexorably further up the list.

Stat of the day

Three in three – not a hat-trick, but Keaton Jennings’ paltry return of runs to innings in his most recent attempts here and in Nottingham. England will be loath to make any more changes unless they have no option. But after his century on debut in Mumbai last December, Jennings is now in dire need.

What next?

‘Big first hour’, as they say so often in these circumstances. On this occasion, it may well be true on Friday morning when England must try to turn a foothold into something more substantial, and South Africa could yet bowl them out well under par.