The problems of bowling on a really good pitch, that is one with even bounce and with enough pace for batsmen to play strokes but also for bowlers to undo the ill-equipped, confused England yesterday morning and by lunch appeared to have done for them.

Why modern English fast-medium bowlers think that banging the ball into the middle of a decent pitch will upset a Test batsman is anyone's guess but there is more to the gifted Darren Gough than a bouncer, more to the promising Alan Mullally than deliveries that batsmen cannot reach and more to the enthusiastic Chris Silverwood than a long hop.

There is a craft to cricket, a way of cunning to bring success by outwitting the opponent and not always by looking to outgun him.

To see two slips and a gully set as attackers, along with three fielders in the cover ring, a mid-on, a midwicket and a long leg as defenders to indifferent bowling just an hour into play against the weakest Test team in the world was sad. To see bowl- ing that allowed for 56 runs to be scored on one side of the wicket and 48 on the other before lunch was heartbreaking. There must be more to the game than this but where had it gone.

Thankfully Croft found it and thankfully his skill and sheer bloody-mindedness inspired his fellow bowlers, who began first to find their feet and then to locate their presence of mind.

During an afternoon of the final Test of last summer at the Oval the watching Sir Colin Cowdrey said there was a moment in Croft's action - when he reached his fullest height and began the pivot on his front foot - when he was reminded of Jim Laker. After that moment, noted Sir Colin, Croft collapsed just a fraction, while Laker retained his height and bowled with his neck and head still upright and his chest puffed proudly towards the batsman.

Croft heard this and decided to do something to improve, which he has. Watch Croft now, in only his second Test, taller than ever and imposing his lovely flight, loop and crafty away swerve upon the batsmen. Watch his bounce and bubble, his zip and his pride. Why, if he dressed in turned-up flannels and hitched them a little after each ball that he bowled, it might be Jim himself. Well, not quite, but the Welshman suggested so much that it was hard not to be carried along with his wave of effort and triumph.

The triumphs against Alistair Campbell and David Houghton were the best and most important. The field was set deep for the intouch Campbell, who was keen to attack. Up it went, high above eye level, inviting the drive, and down came Campbell to take the challenge. The ball dipped late and turned a little, enough though to find the edge of the batsman's wild, panic-stricken smite, then fell softly and safely into the hands of backward cover.

For Houghton the field was set half in and half out. Some were in the distance for Houghton's addiction to attack, others were up close to stop his cocky prod. Soon after lunch, Zimbabwe's most dangerous player pushed limply at the curving arm-ball which spat from a good length and flicked the edge of the bat.

Alec Stewart held on to the chance and rejoiced. His colleagues rejoiced with him for they knew they were back in the game thanks to Croft and his craft.