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

England found the going tough after winning the toss and opting to bat first as Vernon Philander and co, aided by cloud cover and a light breeze, struck at regular intervals. Rain interrupted South Africa's progress into England's lower middle order as the hosts finished day 1, which saw just 59 overs being bowled, on 171/4.

Alastair Cook was England's saviour, remaining unbeaten on 82, while Vernon Philander was South Africa's, returning from a stomach bug incident that he suffered midday to get rid of Joe Root. He had earlier accounted for Keaton Jennings as well, whose miserable run in the series continues with a nine-ball duck.

Rabada, returning from suspension, looked a tad rusty in the beginning but set aside all such notions with a rip-roaring yorker to send back Dawid Malan. Tom Westley, one of the other three debutants in the match for England, looked solid and composed until Chris Morris generated beautiful late swing to send him back to the pavilion.

Brief Scores: England 171/4 (Cook 82*, Philander 2/17)

Here are the talking points of the first day of Oval's 100th Test match.

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#5 Tom Westley resists as England field two more debutants

Tom Westley looked assured and right in his stay at the crease

England had declared emergency the moment 340 runs separated them from South Africa at Trent Bridge and this prompted the ushering in of Dawid Malan, Tom Westley and Toby Roland-Jones. That all three of them were handed debuts reveals that England have taken this emergency quite seriously. Why else would they field a debutant at no.3? With a First-class average of 38, Westley did not inspire much confidence in terms of numbers.

That said, he showed little nerves as he stood tall at the crease and countered Morkel and Rabada with a straight bat. Philander had suffered a stomach bug and did not get a full throttle go at him also favoured him. But in his stay at the crease, Westley inspired much more confidence in his technique than Gary Ballance.

He was assured outside the off-stump and looked content to let go anything outside the fourth stump line. When Morkel strayed on to his pads, Westley was quick to dispatch him for four, a sign that he had settled on his debut. He was, however, undone on 25 by a peach from Chris Morris.

#4 Keaton Jennings just can't decipher Vernon Philander

It was business as usual for Vernon Philander as he sent back Keaton Jennings in no time

The England opener has had a tough few days in Test cricket with Vernon Philander zeroing in on him as his bunny. A nippy customer, Philander thrives on landing the ball in and around the same area consistently, with subtle movements either way. The South African born Keaton Jennings had struggled against Philander right through Lord's and Trent Bridge but seemed to have little plans up his sleeve this time around as well.

He looked bamboozled, stuck to his back foot as Philander proceeded with his rituals. He was beaten on the outside twice and looked completely lost in figuring out which way the ball was going to seam. Eventually, he nicked Philander through to Elgar at third slip to depart for a duck.

His stats against Philander in Tests wear a shabby look at the moment.

In Tests: 23 balls, 3 wickets, 2 runs.

Considering Philander's dismissal of Jennings in the Durham-Sussex clash in County cricket, his First-class average against Philander stands at 7.75.

Stats courtesy: @fwildecricket & @CricProf

#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.

#2 Rabada nails the yorker

Rabada's superb yorker to Dawid Malan set the day alight

Kagiso Rabada is known to be relentless, fiery and unforgiving. He had self-admittedly been depressed to let down his team with a suspension that ruled him out of Trent Bridge. Raring to return, Rabada took his time to find his rhythm before mustering a scintillating spell.

The best of the spell came when he knocked over Dawid Malan with a toe crushing yorker in the 44th over. Malan lost balance and fell down as Rabada sent down an in-swinging, pacy yorker to the debutant. The delivery was eerily reminiscent of Rabada's yorker to Nic Maddinson on his debut in Adelaide last year.

#1 Rain plays spoilsport as Cook holds firm

Alastair Cook compiled a fine half-century interrupted by rains

The lush green Oval had just started to witness some real action when rain tumbled down breaking the dark clouds that had silently swerved the red cherry through the defences of England batsmen all day long. The players had an extended tea break as rain kept them away from all action.

When the game resumed, Ben Stokes and Alastair Cook continued to practise perfecting their defences against a four-pronged Proteas seam attack that had been relentless all day long. Heavens soon opened up again much to the frustration of both teams, although none would have been as disturbed as Alastair Cook.

The southpaw has compiled a stable, good-looking, typical 'Alastair Cook' half-century, his 55th in Test cricket, but failed to get completely settled at the wicket owing to the rains.