With a misfiring top order becoming a bad habit, there’s only so long that a middle-order rescue act can be relied upon

PRINGLE’S VIEWPOINT

Trouble ahead: Gary Ballance was out to a nothing shot and the England top three curse had struck again
PICTURE: Getty Images

It was Michael Atherton, the sage of Sky, who reckoned that you don’t get far in Test cricket without a good top three, a contention England have done their best to disprove these past two years up to and including yesterday’s innings against South Africa at Lord’s. Batting...