England walked into the crucial third Test against South Africa at The Oval with as many as three debutants and was looking well set to pay the price for it when Tom Westley and Dawid Malan could score only 25 and 1, respectively.
However, the decision to hand Toby Roland-Jones his debut cap turned out to be a masterstroke, as the Middlesex bowler destroyed South Africa’s top-order to put England firmly in command of the proceedings of the penultimate game of the series.
Following Ben Stokes’ brilliant century that helped the hosts to post 353, the visitors finished the day two on 126 for eight after Roland-Jones’ burst of four for 15 in 24 balls made light work of their top-order. He took the first four South African wickets to fall and finished the day with figures of four for 39.
“It’s obviously very pleasing. This is the moment that every young kid dreams of representing their country and I’m no different to that,” Roland-Jones said after the day’s play. “The way it unfolded was something I hadn’t pictured. You try to have a simple plan in your head. I felt in a nice rhythm and I enjoy bowling from that end. As far as conditions here at the Oval go, they’re as super friendly as you’re going to find.”
Remarkably, Roland-Jones did not appeal for his first wicket in Test cricket when Dean Elgar edged the ball to Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps. The Proteas opener had gone on to review the decision but fortunately for the debutant, the umpire’s decision was not overturned as there was a clear edge.
“It wasn’t the most convincing of reactions from me,” he admitted. “I hadn’t heard anything but the guys behind the stumps were convinced they heard it. But it didn’t take anything away from it. It was a pretty special feeling.”
The right-arm pacer also expressed his delight to take the key wicket of Hashim Amla few deliveries after wasting an unsuccessful review of an LBW decision against South Africa’s number three.
“It seemed to get a little bit of extra bounce,” he said of the wicket. “The first ball I thought was pretty close. Having never used the review system before managed to fail at my first attempt. It was nice to see the back of him and we always know it’s going to be a key wicket.”