2nd June 17

Well that looked hairy for about ten minutes.

England Off To A Flier

We know how good this England batting line-up is. The answer is very good. Even so, allowing Bangladesh to make it to 260-2 in the 45th over was alarming. England have danced this dance before, and despite rallying well, Bangladesh set them a potentially tricky target of 306. Whilst you'd back England to make over 300 batting first, there's still no telling exactly how well they could chase it. 

But as I said, we know how good this England batting line up, and Joe Root, Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan make 306 look like a woefully inadequate target as England cruised to an 8 wicket win in their opening match of the Champions Trophy. Root, the anchor of the innings, scored 133 off 129, with his long term partner Hales holing out on 95, with England cruising at 165-1 when he did so. But Morgan came in and did his job superbly, walloping a quickfire 75 off just 61 balls to help Root over the line, although he did survive a scare when he holed out, only to get a reprieve through the third umpire as the ball just landed short of being caught. 

In any case, this was a totally comprehensive batting display that will have done England the world of good after their collapse to 20-6 on Monday. And such a collapse never looked like happening once Root came to the crease, although Jason Roy suffered another failure which will be a cause for concern in the England camp. 

But the bigger cause for concern will be the side strain that meant Chris Woakes could only bowl 2 overs, and will miss the rest of the tournament. With their best pace bowler missing and short a spinner with Adil Rashid dropped, not to mention having to manage Ben Stokes, England toiled in the field. But Liam Plunkett was the man who stepped up, taking 4-59 including the crucial late wickets of Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim. 

As for Bangladesh, it was Tamim who was the star of their show, with 128 off 142 balls, a score that could have been match-winning or at least the top score on another day. And he was more than adequately supported by Mushfiqur, who added 79 off 72 as the two put on 166, 7 more than Root and Hales. 

So plenty of positive signs for Bangladesh with the bat, but ultimately they had no answer to England's superior firepower, and their bowling attack was overwhelmed by three of the best and most experienced batsmen in the tournament. This match was a perfect summary of England's strengths and weaknesses. In terms of weaknesses, their bowling attack can be a tad one-dimensional and lacking in bite and control without Woakes and Rashid. But in terms of strengths? And the reason that they are firmly amongst the favourites for the tournament? They look like they can score anything, chase any target. Their batting is just phenomenal. And Joe Root in particular showed that in spades. Oh and he was injured for about half of his innings. The legend.

Murray Cruises Through In Paris

Andy Murray survived an early scare to cruise through in four sets for the second time at Roland Garros, beating Martin Klizan 6-7, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6. Murray started scrappy again, taking time to find his form and perhaps a tad fortunate to take the first set to a tie-breaker, which he duly lost anyway. But as Klizan started to tire, Murray took full advantage, and began to find his levels as the match went on, rattling off seven straight games to take the second set and losing just two more on his way to taking the third.

But Murray couldn't quite find his levels consistently and nearly handed Klizan a way back into the match as the Slovakian secured a break at 5-3 in the 4th set, only for Murray to break straight back and take the set to a tie-breaker, which this time he won, and with it the match. 

For Murray, it's a case of finding form and building his physical and mental strength ahead of the second week of a tournament where reaching the semi-finals probably wouldn't be a bad result for the Briton. And whilst his first two matches will have helped him significantly, the learning curve will have to stop as he plays Juan Martin Del Potro in Round Three, and nothing less than his best will be good enough. 

But for now, Murray is on the right track. 

The Hard and Fast Section

• New Zealand vs Australia today. Tasty. 
• Nadal, Djokovic and Muguruza in action today. 
• Griezmann to stay at Leti. Their transfer ban upheld.
• Ederson to City confirmed. Yaya Toure staying too.