South Africa’s Khaya Zondo finds redemption on delayed Test debut

A grand old crumbling institution, racked with death, but held aloft by duty, service and succession. Yes, this certainly was a big day for Test cricket. And also for the royal family, as the Oval crowd offered its own soft, sombre hello-goodbye to the monarchical succession.

It always felt like the right thing to do. People don’t want to be told to stay in their homes and mourn dutifully. Here the adverts were dimmed, the staging sparse – no greater love hath any governing body than removing its Cinch banners – and the anthems brilliantly sung by Laura Wright, most notably God Save the King, which is going to take a while. The best part was the silence.

After which this became a story of twin batting struggles, South Africa’s significantly more feeble. And, also, looking a little more closely, of two middle-order batsmen, one on each side. On a day that had already had its say on inheritance, power, status and all the rest, it seemed significant that it should be Khaya Zondo who battled through the morning for South Africa; and then Ollie Pope who decorated the afternoon for England.

It is hard to think of two batters whose journey to this point offers a greater contrast: princeling and commoner, outsider and the heir apparent, lessons both in the way this sport still works. This was Zondo’s first Test innings, 15 years into his career as a black South African batsman. The journey here has involved lost years, predictable public horrors and a sense of crawling, Shawshank-style, though a very long, dark pipe.

His best moment came 12 minutes before lunch. With South Africa 56 for six and Jack Leach on for a twirl, Zondo skipped down and lifted the ball in a lovely soft arc over Ben Stokes at long on, who watched it go