England struggled with the bat on the opening day. ©Getty
"Good morning and welcome to sunny Lord's," a volunteer, in a voice as bright as an MCC tie, bawled on Wednesday (August 17) as the hordes streamed out of St John's Wood tube station, bound for cricket's grandest ground half-a-kilometre away. For a session and more, she was right. Sort of.
Amid, around and between bits and bobs of sunshine, grey, gloomy clouds huffed and puffed but didn't blow cricket's house down. But, six overs after lunch, they managed to fly in formation well enough to douse the place. Thus emboldened, the rain intensified and thunder and lightning flashed and crashed through the scene.
How significant was the storm by South African standards, Vernon Philander was asked on commentary. "This is a little tiny one," he said. It was bigger than that, and it prevented any further play - which was called off for the day 90 minutes before the scheduled close with 58 overs left unbowled.
England were no doubt relieved, as well as dazed and confused. For the first time since 'Bazball' began blazing its trail four Tests - all of them won batting last - or 14 months ago, they are
