Keith Exton, the Glamorgan groundsman, was conducting running repairs on the edge of the pitch last night after the drag of Mitchell Johnson cut up an area a foot or so from the stumps behind the crease at the Cathedral Road End.

The problem has arisen because of improvements to the outfield during the winter. As part of the work, Exton levelled the approach to the square — but roots of the new turf have not been able to grow into the very firm clay base.

Even by lunch, Johnson had taken half an inch from the top with his back foot, but Exton dismissed fears that bowlers will struggle to maintain their footing later in the game.

The obvious concern for England would be regarding Andrew Flintoff — who has a history of four operations on his left ankle — should he want to reproduce the successful policy of 2005 of bowling around the wicket to the Australia left-handers. Adam Gilchrist has admitted that he never recovered from a failure to combat the tactic.

Exton eased worries by promising that the hole will be filled in overnight in the same way that the batting creases are often filled between sessions. “We did not bother doing it at lunch or tea because it is not very deep at all,” Exton said. “It had nothing to do with dampness, just the effect of studs on the top.”

After all the speculation about the surface, Exton could reflect with satisfaction, pride and, no doubt, relief on proceedings as he puffed on a calming cigarette after tea. “It has played the way I thought it would,” he said. “I expected that if there was any help it would be in the first session, and that is what happened.”

This time last year, Exton was the groundsman at Oakham School, alma mater of Stuart Broad. “Most people would not have been brave enough to make a big move like that,” Chris Wood, the ECB pitches consultant, said.