England vs South Africa 2017, 3rd Test: Day 1, 5 talking points

#3 Philander overcomes stomach bug to send Joe Root packing

Joe Root perished to Philander after a promising start

The England skipper had started on a positive note, racing to 24 at run-a-ball with four boundaries and looked in majestic touch. South Africa had suffered a blow with Vernon Philander walking off with a stomach bug and the onus was on the remaining pacers to contain a free-flowing Joe Root. The flamboyant batsman looked in his zone, thumping Morris for four boundaries between the 24th and 29th overs.

Philander returned from his extended break with a clear cut plan in his mind. In the first over, he was pretty full to Joe Root, getting the odd ball to nip back in but otherwise generating gentle swing aided by cloud cover in the ground.

In the next, he immediately reverted to a shortish length and seamed the ball away, catching Root by surprise. The skipper nicked through and Quinton de Kock held onto a stunner despite being on his wrong foot initially.