COMPTON AND TAYLOR REPAIR THE DAMAGE

Recalled duo make contrasting half-centuries as England grind away

Whether or not you believe their respective omissions were justified, what is undeniable is the debt England owe Nick Compton and James Taylor after the opening day of the four-Test series in South Africa.

At Kingsmead in Durban, the pair rescued the tourists from the sticky position of 49 for 3 after they had been sent in with a stand of 125 to place them, if not in the complete ascendancy, then certainly in a more favourable light when a shortened day was brought to a close by the increasing gloom.

Compton, back after an absence of two and a half years, was the more limpet-like of the two, grinding his way to an unbeaten 63 from 170 well-studied deliveries while Taylor, in his second Test after an even lengthier period back in the county game, was more ambitious in his effort of 70 from 137 balls faced.

The Nottinghamshire man’s stay was brought to an end shortly before stumps as Dale Steyn, easily the pick of the home attack, enticed him to edge behind but it shouldn’t detract from what was a praiseworthy stint.

At the other end, Compton remained unperturbed and if it was solidity at first drop the selectors were looking for, then they may well be treating themselves to a satisfied smile this evening.

Some of the revisionist history that has done the rounds in recent weeks has painted Compton as a wronged man, the victim of a regime which frowned upon the intense method which the Middlesex man utilises.

It may be the case that a touch more lightness would have been preferable to those in charge but if the two Tests against New Zealand in early 2013 are any evidence to go by, Compton’s painful innings at both Lord’s and Headingley were those of a man who knew he was under pressure for his place.

And a desire to see Joe Root open the batting, which can hardly be put down as a far-fetched stab in the dark, meant Compton, who was never going to usurp Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell in the middle order, was always going to be the one to miss out.

But that was then and this is now. With Bell sent back to Warwickshire and Gary Ballance not deemed up to a recall, his time has come again and he’s making a pretty good fist of it.

After Alastair Cook had fallen in Steyn’s second over, edging to second slip, debutant Alex Hales caught at the wicket from the same bowler and Root trapped in front from spinner Dane Piedt’s first ball of the series, Compton got his head down and helped engineer a more than useful recovery.

England aren’t out of the woods yet – there is a second new ball due in just under 15 overs’ time – but with a batting order that sees Chris Woakes, included for the injured James Anderson, coming in at nine they will fancy their chances of posting something substantial.