At the end of a slightly anti-climactic day one I'd reckon that honours are pretty much even at Edgbaston. While the home side will be pleased to have made 209 runs with only three wickets down in a truncated day, I'd reckon that we'll be pleased to have kept the run rate to under three an over while bagging three good wickets, including talismanic skipper Darren Maddy.
I'm pleased to have correctly called Morris' final eleven last night and they all bowled steadily. No wickets for Charl, but Waggy, Clare and Wavell all took one while Nayan Doshi bowled a very accurate spell of slow left arm.
The thing is things can quickly change. Langeveldt is often more effective on a second day with an older ball with the reverse swing going and after Tim Ambrose, due in next, they have the two spinners and then the three seamers. Without being cruel, if the Cricinfo batting order is correct, Martin and Woakes must be poor batsmen if Boyd Rankin (a surprise inclusion) is at nine. Two quick wickets tomorrow morning, with 209-3 becoming 230-5 and they could struggle to top 300.
Conversely we must keep our discipline and not let them get away. Trott and Troughton are both good players and if they get away we could be chasing leather till teatime and a first innings of 450. We have a comfortingly long batting order here, with Clare and Wagg at eight and nine but we know how fragile that early order can be and must hope that from here onwards they fire on all cylinders.
Tomorrow, tomorrow - its only a day away!
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