Rob Smyth's Blog, page 138
November 8, 2018
Sri Lanka v England: first Test, day three – as it happened
Keaton Jennings scored an unbeaten 146 as England took control of the first Test against Sri Lanka, who are 447 runs behind with two days remaining
Women’s World T20: team-by-team guide to the action1.25pm GMT
Related: Keaton Jennings: there were times when I was waking up panicking and stressing
12.21pm GMT
Related: Keaton Jennings hits undefeated 146 as England set Sri Lanka 462 to win
12.02pm GMT
Related: Women’s World T20: team-by-team guide to the action in West Indies
12.00pm GMT
And with that, I’m gone. We’ll be back for more tomorrow, and I hope to see you then!
11.56am GMT
Rob Smyth has handed me a couple of interesting stats:
72 Keaton Jennings’ average in three Tests in Asia. In his other 10 matches, all played in England, he averages 18.
11.54am GMT
Keaton Jennings has a chat with Sky. He talks extremely quickly.
It’s been a very special day for myself personally, and it’s very special to be in such a good position in this Test match. Hopefully we can go on and win it. It felt like there was a ball out there that could get you out so I suppose it was a cat and mouse game, trying to get off strike, trying to keep pressure on the bowler in order to get that bad ball to get off strike.
It’s tough. When you bat with a guy like Stokesy because of his aura, the way he hits the ball and the way he goes about playing, it is made easier. Jos walks in and hits it all over the place as well. Just a really good performance from a team perspective.
I suppose all you can do is try to score runs when you get that opportunity. At the end of the day the summer was tough, and my performances weren’t up to scratch. I’m happy to admit that. Hopefully I can keep putting in match-winning performances.
I did a year ago, and I think I got myself into quite a state, reading that and waking up in the middle of the night stressing about it. But not any more. I try to isolate myself and listen to a core group of people who have stuck with me for the last 25, 26 years.
We were told two overs and then there was one ball left. I felt that we were just going to go at that point, but no, one more ball and get the reverse sweep out again.
11.39am GMT
So England have two days to eke out 10 wickets on a pretty flat pitch, with quite a lot of rain forecast, as it has been for each of the three days that have so far been played without interruption.
11.37am GMT
7th over: Sri Lanka 15-0 (Karunaratne 7, Kaushal 8) Jack Leach bowls the final over of the day, England’s fifth bowler. Kaushal edges the ball into his pad and it lands just wide of Jennings at short leg for an easy single. And that is as close as England come to a breakthrough.
11.33am GMT
6th over: Sri Lanka 13-0 (Karunaratne 6, Kaushal 7) England think they might have god Kaushal Silva, Foakes having dived forward to collect a ball that deflected to him off Jennings and hit the stumps as the batsman turned to ground his bat, but replays show he got it down just in time.
11.29am GMT
5th over: Sri Lanka 12-0 (Karunaratne 6, Kaushal 6) A fifth bowler in as many overs at the start of an innings would surely have been a historic achievement, but England turn down the opportunity. Moeen goes again, and Karunaratne cuts the ball past point for four. Two overs to go.
11.27am GMT
4th over: Sri Lanka 7-0 (Karunaratne 2, Kaushal 5) Rashid is the fourth bowler in the first four overs, bowling with a slip, a leg slip and a short leg clustered around the bat. Twice the batsmen set out on a run, change their minds and return whence they came, the only real discomfort so far being that which they have created for themselves.
11.24am GMT
3rd over: Sri Lanka 6-0 (Karunaratne 2, Kaushal 4) And swiftly to spin, with Moeen Ali. A couple of singles and very little batting discomfort follow.
11.20am GMT
2nd over: Sri Lanka 3-0 (Karunaratne 1, Kaushal 3) A lovely delivery from Anderson practically slices Kaushal in two, but flies just wide of the bat. Talking of ducks, this just in from John Starbuck: “Earlier on Talksport2, Darren Gough was telling how he got a pair and got back to the dressing-room to find Mark Ealham had put a pear in his shoe.”
11.15am GMT
1st over: Sri Lanka 0-0 (Karunaratne 0, Kaushal 0) Sam Curran bowls the first over, pitching the ball full, looking for swing and not finding much. A maiden. “I think duck eggs send entirely the wrong subliminal message to the the fragile cricketing subconscious,” counters Kim Thonger. “Especially a pair of them.”
11.11am GMT
The players are back out, and Sri Lanka will face seven overs at the end of a long, hot, tiring, sweaty, ice cream-free day in the field.
11.04am GMT
And with that Joe Root beckons the players in! Sam Curran’s innings was a personal highlight. Rangana Herath leaves the field ahead of his team-mates, milking a little individual applause after his last effort with the ball for Sri Lanka before retirement.
Big fan of Sam Curran raising his bat there after coming on at the nonstriker's end for one ball. #SLvEng
11.02am GMT
93rd over: England 322-6 (Jennings 146, Curran 0) The wicket was the third dot ball in the last three overs, in which England have scored 20 runs.
11.00am GMT
Foakes goes for a big ‘un again and doesn’t get enough on it. As it comes down to earth there are two fielders underneath it, and Mendis completes the catch!
10.55am GMT
92nd over: England 313-5 (Jennings 142, Foakes 32) Joe Root has changed into his whites, presumably in anticipation of a bit of fielding before the day’s out. Nobody else on England’s balcony has got the message, though, and the rest of the team are in varying states of undress. There are 10 overs remaining today. “As I head off to sleep, having thoroughly enjoyed today’s play, the eternal pessimist in me still sees rain ruining this for England,” writes Phil Withall. “Sometimes its impossible to move on from a default setting of cynical pessimism.” The weather forecast for Galle has been terrible all week, without the Test being interrupted. The next two days are much the same.
10.51am GMT
91st over: England 303-5 (Jennings 140, Foakes 30) Having forced the field back towards the boundary with a few big boundaries, England are now enjoying all the cheap singles and twos they can plunder in the resulting space. “In fun* ice cream fact news, my first job was as Mr Whippy on St Annes-On-Sea pier,” writes Phil Sawyer. What a gig. “I could pull four cones in one hand in my prime. Life’s been pretty much downhill since that peak. And anyway, what’s wrong with ice cream for breakfast? The first thing I used to do in the morning was pull myself a cone – just to check the quality of the ice cream, you understand. Oh, and also, Kim Thonger needs to explore duck eggs. Once you’ve had duck eggs you’ll never go back to hens. Lovely big, rich yolks. Although even I might draw the line at a fried egg with ice cream. Mind you…”
10.45am GMT
90th over: England 302-5 (Jennings 135, Foakes 28) Jennings hits high over midwicket, the ball landing an inch before the rope. It’s the 110th delivery bowled by Herath today, and the first boundary he has conceded. Meanwhile I was going to suggest you spend the drinks break reading this, but then I didn’t. So, here it is now:
Related: Women’s World T20: team-by-team guide to the action in West Indies
10.40am GMT
89th over: England 293-5 (Jennings 128, Foakes 26) So how will England approach this final half-session of the day? Will they continue with their gentle run-accumulation or will they ... hang on ... golly ... that is massive! Foakes thunders the ball over midwicket and into the stand, and then the next disappears over cow corner! Seventeen runs off Dananjaya’s over, so that’s that question answered, I suppose. England lead by 432.
10.30am GMT
88th over: England 276-5 (Jennings 124, Foakes 13) Back to the singles, and now a quick drinks break.
10.27am GMT
87th over: England 274-5 (Jennings 123, Foakes 12) Another Jennings single from the first ball of Perera’s over, and then blam! Foakes thumps a fine four, and thwam! The next ball disappears over mid on for six! Yes, thwam.
10.24am GMT
86th over: England 262-5 (Jennings 122, Foakes 1) Another over, another run. “As the current vogue seems to be that this England team should actually be a squad, with horses for courses selections and rotation rather than players being dropped, have we seen the first batting example of an England player who will only play on the sub continent?” wonders Mark Gillespie. “In the same way as we only play a third spinner there, and rarely even play a second outside there, is this going to be the only place Keaton Jennings plays? He now averages 62.4 on the sub-continent, and 17.7 in England. Following on from David Malan, who was apparently picked and then dropped rotated out of the team based on his suitability for Australian pitches, are we going to get a generation of English players who only play in the team on certain tours?” Um, I doubt it, but Jenning’s predilection for these conditions is certainly becoming increasingly clear.
10.21am GMT
85th over: England 261-5 (Jennings 121, Foakes 1) Back to the grindstone for Jennings, who continues to creep forward, one run at a time.
10.17am GMT
84th over: England 258-5 (Jennings 119, Foakes 0) Fabulous catch, that. Really very fine. Down low to his right, with next to no time to react.
What a grab from Kaushal at silly point!
It’s unlikely to have any bearing on the result but at least Sri Lanka have something to cheer.
Watch #SLvENG here https://t.co/AgoUHQz056
Over-by-over blog https://t.co/seYIArYqTR pic.twitter.com/pN7iNdQCDP
10.13am GMT
82nd over: England 258-4 (Jennings 119, Buttler 35) This may not arrive to you in proper chronological order. Sorry. On the plus side, this is a good stat.
The last England opener before Keaton Jennings to score a Test century without Alastair Cook in the side was Andrew Strauss who made 128 at Mumbai in March 2006! #SLvsENG #SLvENG
10.12am GMT
That’s a super reaction catch at silly point, and Sri Lanka have their breakthrough!
10.08am GMT
81st over: England 251-4 (Jennings 113, Buttler 34) So Chandimal and De Silva are both off the field, receiving treatment to injuries, the scoreboard is looking increasingly nasty, and the batsmen haven’t really been ruffled for ages, and if and when they eventually are there are plenty more to come. This is not a good time for Sri Lanka.
“I have been very vocal in my criticism of Mr Jennings. And I stand by most of it,” says Gary Bartley. “I think that of all the openers England have tried out post-Strauss, he looks the most ungainly and the least likely to make runs. I would have dropped him far earlier than they did and would never have brought him back into the side. However, I am chuffed to bits for him to have made a century after such a difficult run. And he does seem like a thoroughly decent chap. I hope that he now continues to make me look a fool in front of my mates.”
10.03am GMT
80th over: England 249-4 (Jennings 112, Buttler 33) Perera takes the new ball, and Buttler thumps a sweep to the rope. “Are those of us who did not join the chorus of disapproval of Keaton Jennings now allowed a modicum of smug satisfaction?” wonders Brian Withington. “I suspect my own reticence was part indolence and part aversion to the sort of abuse regularly directed at the blessed Alastair. Anyway, the lad will do well if he has a test career long enough to garner the same volume of nonsense, never mind the runs. Watching his batting can at times resemble witnessing bitcoin being mined, but maybe he can grind out another 50 or so here to be getting on with.”
9.59am GMT
Replays show the ball hitting the De Silva’s right thumb and flicking it back like some kind of flimsy toy. It’s been strapped up, and he is leaving the pitch. Meanwhile, the new ball has been taken.
9.57am GMT
79th over: England 243-4 (Jennings 111, Buttler 28) Jennings finally lets loose! De Silva bowls, and he thunders a drive high to the bowler’s right! De Silva flings out a hand and gets fingertips to it, but there’s no stopping it! Four runs for Jennings, and immediate physio treatment for Di Silva!
I have only watched Keaton Jennings live in two test matches and he has got a hundred in both I must be his lucky charm !!! Well played fantastic and thoroughly deserved by the hard work u have put in @JetJennings
9.53am GMT
79th over: England 236-4 (Jennings 106, Buttler 26) Buttler tries to clip a leg break through midwicket, and outside-edges it in entirely the other direction. Still it’s safe enough.
9.52am GMT
78th over: England 233-4 (Jennings 105, Buttler 24) The new ball will become available in two overs. For now, De Silva continues.
9.48am GMT
77th over: England 228-4 (Jennings 102, Buttler 22) Though 10 of Jennings’ 13 Tests have been played in England, four of his five best Test innings have been played in either India or Sri Lanka. He certainly seems ideal for these conditions: endlessly patient, happy to work his way towards a decent total in lots of ones and a handful of twos.
9.43am GMT
76th over: England 224-4 (Jennings 100, Buttler 20) Buttler gets a single off the first, and Jennings has five more opportunities to reach his ton. He takes the first of them, clipping off his pads to deep square leg!
“‘This might be my last test innings, I want to enjoy it,’ said Jennings before the Headingley test this summer,” notes Sachin Paul. “I have to say that his calm, laid back demeanour is really admirable. We often talk about mental health etc in sport. But having a cool approach to things despite not having the best run takes some balls. Hats of to Keaton. What a beaut of an innings this has been.”
9.39am GMT
75th over: England 222-4 (Jennings 99, Buttler 19) Jennings goes to sweep the first ball of the over, and the ball bounces away to the boundary. Did he get a nick on it? No, they’re byes! The wait continues! From the next ball he picks out a fielder at cover, the one after that is reverse swept into the hands of backward point, and after that he seems to accept that he’s going to have to wait a bit longer and calmly negotiates the remainder of the over without drama of any sort.
9.36am GMT
74th over: England 218-4 (Jennings 99, Buttler 19) With no real time issues, England will presumably look to bat for most of this session, perhaps all of it, and extend their lead, currently 357, by another 100 runs or so. De Silva bowls, and Buttler punches to the long-off boundary. Jennings, meanwhile, takes another pigeon step towards a century.
9.32am GMT
The players are back out. Can Jennings tiptoe his way all the way to 100? We’re about to find out!
9.27am GMT
“Am as appalled as you are by Sky’s ice cream nonsense,” nods Kim Thonger. “But porridge is not the answer. The fried egg and peanut butter sandwich is. Ideally use Burford brown eggs. These rare birds originally from Patagonia were crossbred to create generations of pedigree hens that to this day lay beautiful, colourful, hard-shelled eggs with deep yellow yolks. Keep yolks runny. Lots of black pepper. A little salt. Skippy peanut butter if poss. The breakfast of double centurions.” I have never tried, or even glimpsed, a fried egg and peanut butter sandwich and the very idea does seem purgatorial, which I suppose is exactly what we’re looking for.
9.12am GMT
And that is tea. 101 runs and a single wicket in that session, another fine one for the tourists. I’ll be back in a little bit.
9.11am GMT
73rd over: England 212-4 (Jennings 98, Buttler 14) Buttler hits Denanjaya’s first delivery for a single, giving Jennings five balls to get the two runs he needs to shuffle into triple figures. After four ambition-free dots he goes for a reverse-sweep off the last and pings it ... straight to a fielder!
9.07am GMT
72nd over: England 211-4 (Jennings 98, Buttler 13) Tea hoves into view, with Jennings still on the precipice of a century, as he has been for about 45 minutes.
9.02am GMT
71st over: England 209-4 (Jennings 97, Buttler 12) Ooof! De Silva bowls to Jennings and the ball unexpectedly goes straight on, towards middle stump. The batsman thrusts his bat towards it and just about gets there in time. A pretty free-scoring over by recent standards, three singles off it.
8.58am GMT
70th over: England 206-4 (Jennings 95, Buttler 11) So Buttler came out of his shell, and was promptly pushed right back into it again. Then he faces only a single delivery of Herath’s over, and he’s beaten again! It was a poor shot, as he waved his bat limply at a ball that missed it by a smidge.
8.56am GMT
69th over: England 205-4 (Jennings 94, Buttler 11) Crack! Buttler charges down the wicket and thwacks the ball down the ground for six! Whoops! Buttler tries to repeat the dose off the next ball, gets a gentle nick into his front pad, off which it deflects just to the right of Dickwella, who neither takes the catch nor completes the stumping! A very sharp chance, given the ball’s sudden change of direction off Buttler’s pad, but a chance nonetheless.
8.53am GMT
68th over: England 198-4 (Jennings 93, Buttler 5) I barely noticed over No68, I must admit. It wooshed past, with the addition of one run.
8.48am GMT
67th over: England 197-4 (Jennings 92, Buttler 5) Jennings continues his calm stroll towards a century. He tickles the final ball of Perera’s over fine for three, the ball crawling past a vacant slip cordon and rolling gently down the ground for a bit, before stopping to wait for someone to come and pick it up.
8.45am GMT
66th over: England 192-4 (Jennings 88, Buttler 4) On Sky they are debating whether now would be a good time for an ice cream. Totally inappropriate breakfast-time broadcasting and very poor dietary advice. Sure, they’re in a different time zone and enjoying significantly warmer weather than anyone in Britain, but the British are their key target audience and do not require ice-cream-based discussion before the clock has struck nine. By way of revenge, I suggest immediately serving them a nice, warm bowl of porridge.
8.41am GMT
65th over: England 191-4 (Jennings 87, Buttler 4) A maiden over from Perrera, which Buttler can’t quite make anything of.
8.38am GMT
64th over: England 191-4 (Jennings 87, Buttler 4) The paragraph I quoted a couple of overs back was absolutely and totally wrong. Here’s the actual, pertinent bit of the rulebook, with 22.1.3 in bold:
22.1 Judging a Wide
22.1.1 If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a No ball, the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if, according to the definition in clause 22.1.2
22.1.4 For bowlers whom umpires consider to be bowling down the leg side as a negative tactic, the strict limited over Wide interpretation shall be applied.
8.34am GMT
63rd over: England 190-4 (Jennings 87, Buttler 3) Shot! Perera bowls, and Jennings hits a reverse sweep with perfect timing, the ball pinging enthusiastically to the boundary.
8.33am GMT
62nd over: England 186-4 (Jennings 83, Buttler 3) There’s a bit of umpire-captain chatter before Herath’s over gets under way, the speculation being that the officials are unhappy with the leg-side bowling. Sky say they have been quoted law 22.1.3, which reads as follows:
[Random bit of totally wrong law removed from here. See over 64 for details]
8.27am GMT
61st over: England 182-4 (Jennings 81, Buttler 1) The wicket-taking delivery was a beauty, and Stokes got absolutely nowhere near it. “Am finding it very disturbing waking up these days,” writes Kimberley Thonger. “Normally when England are on tour I emerge from slumber to the news that our top order have collapsed to 38 for 6. How am I to deal with this new reality? Coffee doesn’t seem appropriate. Should it be champagne and oysters for breakfast? Or am I actually still asleep and in the middle of a dream?” England did lose three wickets for 14 runs, something of a micro-collapse. Does that count, or does the calm run-accumulation that has followed - Stokes’s departure notwithstanding - expunge it officially from the memory banks?
8.24am GMT
Perera has sent a few balls of late just down the leg side, and this one starts off in the same direction before turning off the pitch, past the bat and into off stump!
8.20am GMT
60th over: England 179-3 (Jennings 80, Stokes 61) Hello world! So it appears that my arrival has been timed perfectly to coincide with a noticeable acceleration from England and in particular Ben Stokes, after an extremely pedestrian start to the session. He comes down the track to Dananjaya and hoists the ball down the ground for a third six, and then tries to reverse sweep the next only to miss it entirely.
8.10am GMT
59th over: England 171-3 (Jennings 78, Stokes 54) Stokes skipped a few gears during that fifty. His first 25 runs came from 66 deliveries, the second 25 from 16. Right, that’s it from me. Simon Burnton will update you for the rest of the day - you can email him here. Thanks for your company, bye!
8.06am GMT
58th over: England 168-3 (Jennings 77, Stokes 53) Stokes hits his second six, slog-sweeping Dhananjaya high over midwicket to take England’s last past 300. A cut through extra cover for four takes him to an increasingly authoritative fifty from 82 balls. Well played.
8.02am GMT
57th over: England 154-3 (Jennings 77, Stokes 39) Now that’s what I call Ben Stokes. He jumps down the track to drive Perera for a beautiful straight six, the first of the innings. After a tricky little spell against Dananjaya, he is in control now.
“Evening Rob,” says Phil Withall. “I’ve often wondered how OBO guardians cope with early starts and slow play. I get up at four each morning and, if work is slow, really start to struggle as the day progresses. Any tips?”
7.55am GMT
56th over: England 145-3 (Jennings 76, Stokes 31) Jennings reverse sweeps Dhananjaya into the ground, from where it bounces over gully’s head for four. That’s only his second boundary of the day, I think, but he looks in total control here and should, all things being equal, make a hundred. He’s 26 away.
7.51am GMT
55th over: England 138-3 (Jennings 70, Stokes 30) A maiden from Perera to Jennings, who starts to feel for a spitting delivery before aborting the stroke. The pitch is just staring to deteriorate as we expected.
7.48am GMT
54th over: England 138-3 (Jennings 70, Stokes 30) A couple of no-risk singles take Jennings into the seventies. Though it hasn’t exactly been epiphany-inducing to watch, he has played extremely well.
7.44am GMT
53rd over: England 135-3 (Jennings 68, Stokes 29) Stokes reaches outside off stump to slam a sweep to the midwicket boundary off Perera. That, in the face of admittedly minimal competition, is the best shot of the day so far.
7.41am GMT
52nd over: England 128-3 (Jennings 68, Stokes 23) Jennings is inching, via the medium of singles, towards a second Test century. Another one takes him to 68 and then Stokes defends the rest of the over. Of course he does.
7.37am GMT
51st over: England 127-3 (Jennings 67, Stokes 23) Perera replaces Dhananjaya and serves up a piece of filth that Stokes flays through extra cover for four.
7.33am GMT
50th over: England 122-3 (Jennings 66, Stokes 19) Stokes, sweeping vigorously, is beaten by a good delivery from Dhananjaya. This is Dhananjaya’s best spell of the match, with Stokes looking increasingly uncomfortable. It’s a maiden.
7.30am GMT
49th over: England 122-3 (Jennings 66, Stokes 19) There have been two boundaries all day. Is this a satirical response to their first-innings batting?
7.27am GMT
48th over: England 119-3 (Jennings 65, Stokes 17) It’s a good thing we haven’t been up since 3am or this passage of play would be in serious danger of putting us to sleep. Jennings is getting ’em in singles; Stokes is getting ’em in dot balls; Sri Lanka look resigned to a slow death.
7.23am GMT
47th over: England 117-3 (Jennings 64, Stokes 16)
7.22am GMT
46th over: England 116-3 (Jennings 63, Stokes 16)
7.18am GMT
45th over: England 112-3 (Jennings 61, Stokes 14) We still haven’t reached the halfway point of the match, which shows how much time England have to take care of business. You never know what the weather will do, mind you, so I’m sure they will kick on at some stage. For now progress is slow - they’ve scored 74 runs in 33 overs today.
7.15am GMT
44th over: England 112-3 (Jennings 61, Stokes 14) It’s Akila Dananjaya from the other end, and he beats Stokes with a cracking delivery which dips, curves and spits past the edge. That was a good over.
“Is this game demonstrating another case of TIC - Third Innings Conundrum?” wonders Brian Withington. “Context: your team is decently ahead at the halfway stage but then things start getting a little sticky on the second dig. Hypothesis: is this a reassuringly positive sign that the first innings lead is becoming more valuable with the passage of time and the wearing of the wicket. Or evidence of frailty at a key juncture of proceedings? In essence, cause for hope, or despair? Conclusion: ask Rob to reach out to Professor Ian.”
7.12am GMT
43rd over: England 111-3 (Jennings 60, Stokes 14) Peep peep! Dhananjaya de Silva begins the second third of the third day, bowling a maiden to Ben Stokes. The boys in the Sky studio think Stokes should play with a bit more of a strut. Since he came back into the Test team in New Zealand his strike rate is 40; before that it was 64.
6.34am GMT
Lunchtime chit-chat
“You get the feeling Root has not done justice to his talent ever since that almost double century in his first innings as captain,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “Whether it might be because of his captaincy duties or not is another topic of discussion. While the form has seemingly come back in the ODIs, and he is one of the classiest people on the planet whenever he bats, his numbers have fallen behind the likes of Kohli and Smith. Williamson had a legendary run in the IPL, but the lack of international cricket has hampered his flow.
6.33am GMT
42nd over: England 111-3 (Jennings 60, Stokes 14) That’s lunch. In isolation it was a good session for Sri Lanka, who took three wickets for 73 runs, but England are still in total control of the game. They lead by 250. Keaton Jennings played the spinners expertly and needs 40 runs to make his second Test century. That would, if not exactly silence his doubters, then at least give them a couple of seconds’ pause for thought before they resume their ignorant, narcisstic, misanthropic spoutings. See you in half an hour for the afternoon session.
6.26am GMT
41st over: England 110-3 (Jennings 60, Stokes 13) Jennings survives a really big shout for LBW, this time from Dhananjaya de Silva. That was really close. He squeezed it but it was definitely pad first, and I’m surprised Sri Lanka didn’t review that. Indeed replays show that, had they done so, Jennings would have been given out by the third umpire.
6.23am GMT
40th over: England 106-3 (Jennings 58, Stokes 11) Jennings has reverse swept confidently all morning, and does so again to get a single off Herath. He’s proving again that he’s one of England’s best players of spin. Stokes, probably their most improved player of spin, cuts a couple to move into double figures. England have restored calm after that dodgy little spell either side of drinks. They lead by 245.
6.20am GMT
39th over: England 103-3 (Jennings 57, Stokes 9) “Moeen needn’t worry about the unknown knowns, it’s the unknown unknowns that turn round and bite you on the bum when you least expect it, as they just have,” says Andrew Benton. “He’s a totally excellent bowler, and all he’s doing at three is proving he shouldn’t be there.”
I think we can all agree that he’s in no position to go into the unknown not knowing. (NB: Clip contains lively language.)
6.17am GMT
38th over: England 101-3 (Jennings 56, Stokes 8) A single from Jennings brings up England’s hundred. They’re still in a great position despite a slightly disappointing morning.
“As we all know,” assumes Ian Copestake, “a key feature of modern poetry is the line-break which also allowed the use of a fancy French word (enjambment) to describe how make poetry can further confuse Mac users but delight others:
Oh, Mo.
England are two
6.15am GMT
37th over: England 97-3 (Jennings 53, Stokes 7) A long hop from Akila is dismissed through midwicket for four by Stokes. That was imperious. He could do with some runs here, too. He’s not under pressure for his place, not yet, but the less he bowls, the more runs he needs. Things are getting very congested in that middle order and I’m not sure anyone is completely safe moving bloody well forward.
6.11am GMT
36th over: England 92-3 (Jennings 52, Stokes 3) “Rob,” writes John Starbuck. “Lord Snooty should forget about F5 anyway. On the Mac, you simply go back to the saved favourite Cricket/Sport...The Guardian and then click on the ‘England v Sri Lanka - Live!’ heading to get the refresh going. It’s an Apple device, so you are expected to work these things out, not have it all done for you.”
Yes, I should have explained. If we update an existing entry the auto-refresh doesn’t work. That’s why often we have that ugly business of the wicket in one entry and then the description above it. But it looks so much better to describe the wicket as part of th same entry in which you annouce the wicket. I thought I could get away with it this morning as I assumed nobody was reading.
6.06am GMT
35th over: England 85-3 (Jennings 50, Stokes 2) Perera is replaced by Akila Dananjaya. After missing a couple of attempted sweeps, Jennings gets one away to reach a serene and important half-century, his first in 20 innings. He’s played really nicely.
6.03am GMT
34th over: England 84-3 (Jennings 49, Stokes 2) Herath, bowling around the wicket to the left-handes, has consecutive LBW appeals against Jennings turned down by Marais Erasmus. The first was outside the line; the second was closer but probably pitched outside leg.
5.59am GMT
33rd over: England 81-3 (Jennings 47, Stokes 1) Things are happeing out there, Tony. Things. Jennings, beaten by a lovely delivery from Perera, responds by punching an excellent extra cover drive for four. That’s the first boundary of the day.
“On Mac, all that pressing F5 does is dim the screen,” says Lord Snooty. “Please advise.”
5.56am GMT
32nd over: England 76-3 (Jennings 42, Stokes 1)
5.54am GMT
Beautifully bowled! Herath gets Root for the second time in the match with a classic dismissal: accuracy, curve and just enough turn to take the edge as Root pushed forward defensively. Dickwella took a smart catch behind the stumps. England lead by 213. Should.
5.51am GMT
31st over: England 73-2 (Jennings 40, Root 3) Smart bowling from Perera, who skids one on that almost gets through Jennings’ cut stroke. Jennings played it well enough in the end, cutting a single to move into the forties for the second time in the match. He’s been excellent.
Meanwhile, here’s Ian Copestake. Dr Ian Copestake to you. “Does Mo have a Test average of 14 in the top three because he knows he has that average and now associates those positions with a poor average which renders him unable to escape the reality of a perception of reality rather than him making a new reality?”
5.48am GMT
30th over: England 71-2 (Jennings 39, Root 2) “Well, instead of just ‘Oh, Mo’ in the commentary, how about actually telling us how he was dismissed!” sniffs Lord Snooty.
I did. You have to press F5 to read it. Or would you like me to do that for you as well?
5.47am GMT
29th over: England 70-2 (Jennings 39, Root 1) “Afternoon Rob,” says Phil Withall. “The Ali experiment, has it run its course? I can understand the reasoning behind his move to three but, in a position that is pretty vital to the building of an innings, I suspect now is not the time for him to play that role.”
I can also understand why they are doing it – somebody has to bat there – but I’m not sure it’s right for him. The problem England have is that five of this XI, plus Jonny Bairstow, would ideally bat at No6 or No7. For this series you could move Stokes or Buttler up to No3, though they probably aren’t long-term options.
5.42am GMT
28th over: England 68-2 (Jennings 38, Root 0) If Sri Lanka are going to pull of a miraculous victory, this is the time to strike. Herath and Perera are bowling in tandem, and two more wickets before lunch might cause England to start thinking the unthinkable.
5.41am GMT
27th over: England 67-2 (Jennings 37, Root 0) The new batsman Root survives a big LBW appeal after missing a sweep. He was miles outside the line. That Moeen dismissal was exasperating, but I do have some sympathy for him because he shouldn’t really be batting in the top three. He has a Test average of 14 when he does so.
5.36am GMT
Oh, Mo. England are two down. Moeen Ali falls to a poor shot, driving Perera straight to Herath at mid-on. Herath, never the most agile fielder, just about held on to the catch as he collapsed towards the ball.
5.30am GMT
26th over: England 66-1 (Jennings 36, Moeen Ali 3) The retiring Rangana Herath comes into the attack to replace Suranga Lakmal. England take a couple of singles from his first over to complete a quiet first hour - 28 runs from 14 overs with no boundaries and the wicket of Rory Burns, who was frustratingly run out for 23. That’s drinks.
5.27am GMT
25th over: England 64-1 (Jennings 35, Moeen Ali 2) A jaffa from Perera spits past the edge of Jennings, who smiles a little wryly. There was nothing much he could have done about that.
5.23am GMT
24th over: England 63-1 (Jennings 35, Moeen Ali 1) Moeen gets off the king pair by defending his first delivery from Lakmal, and then off the pair by dragging a pull for a single. England’s lead clicks up to 200.
“When I umpired (as a No11, I did the first ten overs so I could have a beer or twelve in peace on the boundary) I thought that if any part of the ball hit the pad in line with the stumps, it satisfied that element of the LBW law,” says Gary Naylor. “The DRS protocol suggests I was wrong. Good job I never gave anyone out then.”
5.19am GMT
23rd over: England 60-1 (Jennings 33, Ali 0) That was the last ball of the over. Moeen Ali is the new batsman, and he’s on a king pair.
5.17am GMT
Ach, this is a frustrating dismissal. Rory Burns takes a quick single to mid-on off Perera and is just short of his ground when Karunaratne’s throw hits the base of the stumps. It was a lovely, smooth pick up and throw, but Burns will feel he’s left plenty of runs out there in this match.
5.13am GMT
22nd over: England 58-0 (Burns 23, Jennings 32) Burns looks much happier against Lakmal and flicks a pair of twos into the leg side. England’s lead is 197.
5.07am GMT
21st over: England 52-0 (Burns 18, Jennings 32) Burns survives another big shout for LBW from Perera after missing an attempted sweep. He was just outside the line, and he gloved it as well. This is a nice test of Burns’ temperament because Perera is all over him at the moment.
5.04am GMT
20th over: England 51-0 (Burns 17, Jennings 32) Lakmal moves over the wicket to Jennings, who has had trouble with that angle of attack against seamers like Philander and Bumrah. The ball isn’t moving in the air or off the pitch here, however, and Jennings plays out another maiden. We’ve had 13 runs from eight overs this morning.
4.59am GMT
19th over: England 51-0 (Burns 17, Jennings 32) England’s average opening partnership in Tests this year is 24, their lowest for any wicket except the tenth, so this is a welcome stand. Burns misses a vigorous reverse sweep at Perera and then gets a leading edge that falls well short of extra cover. All of a sudden he’s looking a little jittery.
4.57am GMT
18th over: England 50-0 (Burns 17, Jennings 31) Burns mistimes a hook off Lakmal which goes high in the air and plops safely in the vacant midwicket region. A single from Jennings brings up a rare fifty partnership for England’s first wicket.
We’ve had 12 runs in the first six overs, all singles. Not the most mind-altering of starts, but a decent one for England. Jennings in particular looks excellent. I wonder whether the day will come where someone like Jennings is an automatic pick in Asia and an occasional pick elsewhere.
4.49am GMT
17th over: England 45-0 (Burns 15, Jennings 29) Burns survives a big LBW shout from Perera - but Sri Lanka are going to review. This looks close. It skidded on to hit the pad as Burns pushed defensively outside the line. The only thing that will save him is if he was outside the line. Here comes the replay... he’s not out. It was close, but the point of contact was ‘umpire’s call’ and that meant Burns survived.
4.45am GMT
16th over: England 42-0 (Burns 13, Jennings 28) “Morning, Rob,” says John Starbuck. “Can you tell us a bit more about in-out field placings for spinners, please?”
It’s both attacking and defensive, with two or three close catchers but also a few boundary riders. The downside is that it can give the batsmen easy singles but stopping boundaries is clearly important for the confidence of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid in particular.
4.41am GMT
15th over: England 40-0 (Burns 12, Jennings 27) The first bit of turn for Perera, who beats Burns outside off stump during another maiden. England have started slowly, with two runs from the first three overs. That’s understandable - both these batsmen know that, if they get in, they have a great chance of making a half-century at least.
4.37am GMT
14th over: England 40-0 (Burns 12, Jennings 27) Suranga Lakmal, the only seamer in this side, starts at the other end with a harmless maiden to Jennings. There have been no early terrors for England.
4.33am GMT
13th over: England 40-0 (Burns 12, Jennings 27) Dilruwan Perera opens the bowling to Rory Burns, who tucks the first ball of the day off his pads for a single. Jennings, who has a fledgling average of 48 in Tests in Asia, gets his first run of the day with a cut through the covers for a single.
4.23am GMT
Moeen Ali speaks “We’re very, very pleased. The seamers were fantastic yesterday and then the spinners bowled quite well. We want to play the long game and stay in control, which is why we’ve had in-out fields [for the slow bowlers]. If we’re not hit for boundaries then it doesn’t knock our confidence as it has previously in the subcontinent.”
4.20am GMT
A bit of news Jimmy Anderson has been given a demerit point for his contretemps with the umpire Chris Gaffaney yesterday. That’s his second demerit point - if you get four within a two-year period, you are banned for a Test.
4.13am GMT
Some pre-play reading
Related: England’s spin trio leave Sri Lanka reeling as Foakes continues to impress
Related: Jack Leach delight after Test wicket marks friendship forged at Somerset
6.51pm GMT
Morning. England don’t win many Tests in Asia, and they certainly don’t dominate many as they have so far in Galle. They will start day three on 38 for none, a lead of 177 on a pitch that is likely to get worse, and it’s increasingly hard to imagine a scenario in which theyt do not win this first Test.
If they do, it’ll be a major achievement. Sri Lanka have won their last eight Tests at home to non-Asian opposition, most by thumping margins, while England haven’t won a Test overseas for two years. It’s a good time to be an England fan, even at 4am.
Continue reading...
Sri Lanka v England: first Test, day three – live!
9.32am GMT
The players are back out. Can Jennings tiptoe his way all the way to 100? We’re about to find out!
9.27am GMT
“Am as appalled as you are by Sky’s ice cream nonsense,” nods Kim Thonger. “But porridge is not the answer. The fried egg and peanut butter sandwich is. Ideally use Burford brown eggs. These rare birds originally from Patagonia were crossbred to create generations of pedigree hens that to this day lay beautiful, colourful, hard-shelled eggs with deep yellow yolks. Keep yolks runny. Lots of black pepper. A little salt. Skippy peanut butter if poss. The breakfast of double centurions.” I have never tried, or even glimpsed, a fried egg and peanut butter sandwich and the very idea does seem purgatorial, which I suppose is exactly what we’re looking for.
9.12am GMT
And that is tea. 101 runs and a single wicket in that session, another fine one for the tourists. I’ll be back in a little bit.
9.11am GMT
73rd over: England 212-4 (Jennings 98, Buttler 14) Buttler hits Denanjaya’s first delivery for a single, giving Jennings five balls to get the two runs he needs to shuffle into triple figures. After four ambition-free dots he goes for a reverse-sweep off the last and pings it ... straight to a fielder!
9.07am GMT
72nd over: England 211-4 (Jennings 98, Buttler 13) Tea hoves into view, with Jennings still on the precipice of a century, as he has been for about 45 minutes.
9.02am GMT
71st over: England 209-4 (Jennings 97, Buttler 12) Ooof! De Silva bowls to Jennings and the ball unexpectedly goes straight on, towards middle stump. The batsman thrusts his bat towards it and just about gets there in time. A pretty free-scoring over by recent standards, three singles off it.
8.58am GMT
70th over: England 206-4 (Jennings 95, Buttler 11) So Buttler came out of his shell, and was promptly pushed right back into it again. Then he faces only a single delivery of Herath’s over, and he’s beaten again! It was a poor shot, as he waved his bat limply at a ball that missed it by a smidge.
8.56am GMT
69th over: England 205-4 (Jennings 94, Buttler 11) Crack! Buttler charges down the wicket and thwacks the ball down the ground for six! Whoops! Buttler tries to repeat the dose off the next ball, gets a gentle nick into his front pad, off which it deflects just to the right of Dickwella, who neither takes the catch nor completes the stumping! A very sharp chance, given the ball’s sudden change of direction off Buttler’s pad, but a chance nonetheless.
8.53am GMT
68th over: England 198-4 (Jennings 93, Buttler 5) I barely noticed over No68, I must admit. It wooshed past, with the addition of one run.
8.48am GMT
67th over: England 197-4 (Jennings 92, Buttler 5) Jennings continues his calm stroll towards a century. He tickles the final ball of Perera’s over fine for three, the ball crawling past a vacant slip cordon and rolling gently down the ground for a bit, before stopping to wait for someone to come and pick it up.
8.45am GMT
66th over: England 192-4 (Jennings 88, Buttler 4) On Sky they are debating whether now would be a good time for an ice cream. Totally inappropriate breakfast-time broadcasting and very poor dietary advice. Sure, they’re in a different time zone and enjoying significantly warmer weather than anyone in Britain, but the British are their key target audience and do not require ice-cream-based discussion before the clock has struck nine. By way of revenge, I suggest immediately serving them a nice, warm bowl of porridge.
8.41am GMT
65th over: England 191-4 (Jennings 87, Buttler 4) A maiden over from Perrera, which Buttler can’t quite make anything of.
8.38am GMT
64th over: England 191-4 (Jennings 87, Buttler 4) The paragraph I quoted a couple of overs back was absolutely and totally wrong. Here’s the actual, pertinent bit of the rulebook, with 22.1.3 in bold:
22.1 Judging a Wide
22.1.1 If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a No ball, the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if, according to the definition in clause 22.1.2
22.1.4 For bowlers whom umpires consider to be bowling down the leg side as a negative tactic, the strict limited over Wide interpretation shall be applied.
8.34am GMT
63rd over: England 190-4 (Jennings 87, Buttler 3) Shot! Perera bowls, and Jennings hits a reverse sweep with perfect timing, the ball pinging enthusiastically to the boundary.
8.33am GMT
62nd over: England 186-4 (Jennings 83, Buttler 3) There’s a bit of umpire-captain chatter before Herath’s over gets under way, the speculation being that the officials are unhappy with the leg-side bowling. Sky say they have been quoted law 22.1.3, which reads as follows:
[Random bit of totally wrong law removed from here. See over 64 for details]
8.27am GMT
61st over: England 182-4 (Jennings 81, Buttler 1) The wicket-taking delivery was a beauty, and Stokes got absolutely nowhere near it. “Am finding it very disturbing waking up these days,” writes Kimberley Thonger. “Normally when England are on tour I emerge from slumber to the news that our top order have collapsed to 38 for 6. How am I to deal with this new reality? Coffee doesn’t seem appropriate. Should it be champagne and oysters for breakfast? Or am I actually still asleep and in the middle of a dream?” England did lose three wickets for 14 runs, something of a micro-collapse. Does that count, or does the calm run-accumulation that has followed - Stokes’s departure notwithstanding - expunge it officially from the memory banks?
8.24am GMT
Perera has sent a few balls of late just down the leg side, and this one starts off in the same direction before turning off the pitch, past the bat and into off stump!
8.20am GMT
60th over: England 179-3 (Jennings 80, Stokes 61) Hello world! So it appears that my arrival has been timed perfectly to coincide with a noticeable acceleration from England and in particular Ben Stokes, after an extremely pedestrian start to the session. He comes down the track to Dananjaya and hoists the ball down the ground for a third six, and then tries to reverse sweep the next only to miss it entirely.
8.10am GMT
59th over: England 171-3 (Jennings 78, Stokes 54) Stokes skipped a few gears during that fifty. His first 25 runs came from 66 deliveries, the second 25 from 16. Right, that’s it from me. Simon Burnton will update you for the rest of the day - you can email him here. Thanks for your company, bye!
8.06am GMT
58th over: England 168-3 (Jennings 77, Stokes 53) Stokes hits his second six, slog-sweeping Dhananjaya high over midwicket to take England’s last past 300. A cut through extra cover for four takes him to an increasingly authoritative fifty from 82 balls. Well played.
8.02am GMT
57th over: England 154-3 (Jennings 77, Stokes 39) Now that’s what I call Ben Stokes. He jumps down the track to drive Perera for a beautiful straight six, the first of the innings. After a tricky little spell against Dananjaya, he is in control now.
“Evening Rob,” says Phil Withall. “I’ve often wondered how OBO guardians cope with early starts and slow play. I get up at four each morning and, if work is slow, really start to struggle as the day progresses. Any tips?”
7.55am GMT
56th over: England 145-3 (Jennings 76, Stokes 31) Jennings reverse sweeps Dhananjaya into the ground, from where it bounces over gully’s head for four. That’s only his second boundary of the day, I think, but he looks in total control here and should, all things being equal, make a hundred. He’s 26 away.
7.51am GMT
55th over: England 138-3 (Jennings 70, Stokes 30) A maiden from Perera to Jennings, who starts to feel for a spitting delivery before aborting the stroke. The pitch is just staring to deteriorate as we expected.
7.48am GMT
54th over: England 138-3 (Jennings 70, Stokes 30) A couple of no-risk singles take Jennings into the seventies. Though it hasn’t exactly been epiphany-inducing to watch, he has played extremely well.
7.44am GMT
53rd over: England 135-3 (Jennings 68, Stokes 29) Stokes reaches outside off stump to slam a sweep to the midwicket boundary off Perera. That, in the face of admittedly minimal competition, is the best shot of the day so far.
7.41am GMT
52nd over: England 128-3 (Jennings 68, Stokes 23) Jennings is inching, via the medium of singles, towards a second Test century. Another one takes him to 68 and then Stokes defends the rest of the over. Of course he does.
7.37am GMT
51st over: England 127-3 (Jennings 67, Stokes 23) Perera replaces Dhananjaya and serves up a piece of filth that Stokes flays through extra cover for four.
7.33am GMT
50th over: England 122-3 (Jennings 66, Stokes 19) Stokes, sweeping vigorously, is beaten by a good delivery from Dhananjaya. This is Dhananjaya’s best spell of the match, with Stokes looking increasingly uncomfortable. It’s a maiden.
7.30am GMT
49th over: England 122-3 (Jennings 66, Stokes 19) There have been two boundaries all day. Is this a satirical response to their first-innings batting?
7.27am GMT
48th over: England 119-3 (Jennings 65, Stokes 17) It’s a good thing we haven’t been up since 3am or this passage of play would be in serious danger of putting us to sleep. Jennings is getting ’em in singles; Stokes is getting ’em in dot balls; Sri Lanka look resigned to a slow death.
7.23am GMT
47th over: England 117-3 (Jennings 64, Stokes 16)
7.22am GMT
46th over: England 116-3 (Jennings 63, Stokes 16)
7.18am GMT
45th over: England 112-3 (Jennings 61, Stokes 14) We still haven’t reached the halfway point of the match, which shows how much time England have to take care of business. You never know what the weather will do, mind you, so I’m sure they will kick on at some stage. For now progress is slow - they’ve scored 74 runs in 33 overs today.
7.15am GMT
44th over: England 112-3 (Jennings 61, Stokes 14) It’s Akila Dananjaya from the other end, and he beats Stokes with a cracking delivery which dips, curves and spits past the edge. That was a good over.
“Is this game demonstrating another case of TIC - Third Innings Conundrum?” wonders Brian Withington. “Context: your team is decently ahead at the halfway stage but then things start getting a little sticky on the second dig. Hypothesis: is this a reassuringly positive sign that the first innings lead is becoming more valuable with the passage of time and the wearing of the wicket. Or evidence of frailty at a key juncture of proceedings? In essence, cause for hope, or despair? Conclusion: ask Rob to reach out to Professor Ian.”
7.12am GMT
43rd over: England 111-3 (Jennings 60, Stokes 14) Peep peep! Dhananjaya de Silva begins the second third of the third day, bowling a maiden to Ben Stokes. The boys in the Sky studio think Stokes should play with a bit more of a strut. Since he came back into the Test team in New Zealand his strike rate is 40; before that it was 64.
6.34am GMT
Lunchtime chit-chat
“You get the feeling Root has not done justice to his talent ever since that almost double century in his first innings as captain,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “Whether it might be because of his captaincy duties or not is another topic of discussion. While the form has seemingly come back in the ODIs, and he is one of the classiest people on the planet whenever he bats, his numbers have fallen behind the likes of Kohli and Smith. Williamson had a legendary run in the IPL, but the lack of international cricket has hampered his flow.
6.33am GMT
42nd over: England 111-3 (Jennings 60, Stokes 14) That’s lunch. In isolation it was a good session for Sri Lanka, who took three wickets for 73 runs, but England are still in total control of the game. They lead by 250. Keaton Jennings played the spinners expertly and needs 40 runs to make his second Test century. That would, if not exactly silence his doubters, then at least give them a couple of seconds’ pause for thought before they resume their ignorant, narcisstic, misanthropic spoutings. See you in half an hour for the afternoon session.
6.26am GMT
41st over: England 110-3 (Jennings 60, Stokes 13) Jennings survives a really big shout for LBW, this time from Dhananjaya de Silva. That was really close. He squeezed it but it was definitely pad first, and I’m surprised Sri Lanka didn’t review that. Indeed replays show that, had they done so, Jennings would have been given out by the third umpire.
6.23am GMT
40th over: England 106-3 (Jennings 58, Stokes 11) Jennings has reverse swept confidently all morning, and does so again to get a single off Herath. He’s proving again that he’s one of England’s best players of spin. Stokes, probably their most improved player of spin, cuts a couple to move into double figures. England have restored calm after that dodgy little spell either side of drinks. They lead by 245.
6.20am GMT
39th over: England 103-3 (Jennings 57, Stokes 9) “Moeen needn’t worry about the unknown knowns, it’s the unknown unknowns that turn round and bite you on the bum when you least expect it, as they just have,” says Andrew Benton. “He’s a totally excellent bowler, and all he’s doing at three is proving he shouldn’t be there.”
I think we can all agree that he’s in no position to go into the unknown not knowing. (NB: Clip contains lively language.)
6.17am GMT
38th over: England 101-3 (Jennings 56, Stokes 8) A single from Jennings brings up England’s hundred. They’re still in a great position despite a slightly disappointing morning.
“As we all know,” assumes Ian Copestake, “a key feature of modern poetry is the line-break which also allowed the use of a fancy French word (enjambment) to describe how make poetry can further confuse Mac users but delight others:
Oh, Mo.
England are two
6.15am GMT
37th over: England 97-3 (Jennings 53, Stokes 7) A long hop from Akila is dismissed through midwicket for four by Stokes. That was imperious. He could do with some runs here, too. He’s not under pressure for his place, not yet, but the less he bowls, the more runs he needs. Things are getting very congested in that middle order and I’m not sure anyone is completely safe moving bloody well forward.
6.11am GMT
36th over: England 92-3 (Jennings 52, Stokes 3) “Rob,” writes John Starbuck. “Lord Snooty should forget about F5 anyway. On the Mac, you simply go back to the saved favourite Cricket/Sport...The Guardian and then click on the ‘England v Sri Lanka - Live!’ heading to get the refresh going. It’s an Apple device, so you are expected to work these things out, not have it all done for you.”
Yes, I should have explained. If we update an existing entry the auto-refresh doesn’t work. That’s why often we have that ugly business of the wicket in one entry and then the description above it. But it looks so much better to describe the wicket as part of th same entry in which you annouce the wicket. I thought I could get away with it this morning as I assumed nobody was reading.
6.06am GMT
35th over: England 85-3 (Jennings 50, Stokes 2) Perera is replaced by Akila Dananjaya. After missing a couple of attempted sweeps, Jennings gets one away to reach a serene and important half-century, his first in 20 innings. He’s played really nicely.
6.03am GMT
34th over: England 84-3 (Jennings 49, Stokes 2) Herath, bowling around the wicket to the left-handes, has consecutive LBW appeals against Jennings turned down by Marais Erasmus. The first was outside the line; the second was closer but probably pitched outside leg.
5.59am GMT
33rd over: England 81-3 (Jennings 47, Stokes 1) Things are happeing out there, Tony. Things. Jennings, beaten by a lovely delivery from Perera, responds by punching an excellent extra cover drive for four. That’s the first boundary of the day.
“On Mac, all that pressing F5 does is dim the screen,” says Lord Snooty. “Please advise.”
5.56am GMT
32nd over: England 76-3 (Jennings 42, Stokes 1)
5.54am GMT
Beautifully bowled! Herath gets Root for the second time in the match with a classic dismissal: accuracy, curve and just enough turn to take the edge as Root pushed forward defensively. Dickwella took a smart catch behind the stumps. England lead by 213. Should.
5.51am GMT
31st over: England 73-2 (Jennings 40, Root 3) Smart bowling from Perera, who skids one on that almost gets through Jennings’ cut stroke. Jennings played it well enough in the end, cutting a single to move into the forties for the second time in the match. He’s been excellent.
Meanwhile, here’s Ian Copestake. Dr Ian Copestake to you. “Does Mo have a Test average of 14 in the top three because he knows he has that average and now associates those positions with a poor average which renders him unable to escape the reality of a perception of reality rather than him making a new reality?”
5.48am GMT
30th over: England 71-2 (Jennings 39, Root 2) “Well, instead of just ‘Oh, Mo’ in the commentary, how about actually telling us how he was dismissed!” sniffs Lord Snooty.
I did. You have to press F5 to read it. Or would you like me to do that for you as well?
5.47am GMT
29th over: England 70-2 (Jennings 39, Root 1) “Afternoon Rob,” says Phil Withall. “The Ali experiment, has it run its course? I can understand the reasoning behind his move to three but, in a position that is pretty vital to the building of an innings, I suspect now is not the time for him to play that role.”
I can also understand why they are doing it – somebody has to bat there – but I’m not sure it’s right for him. The problem England have is that five of this XI, plus Jonny Bairstow, would ideally bat at No6 or No7. For this series you could move Stokes or Buttler up to No3, though they probably aren’t long-term options.
5.42am GMT
28th over: England 68-2 (Jennings 38, Root 0) If Sri Lanka are going to pull of a miraculous victory, this is the time to strike. Herath and Perera are bowling in tandem, and two more wickets before lunch might cause England to start thinking the unthinkable.
5.41am GMT
27th over: England 67-2 (Jennings 37, Root 0) The new batsman Root survives a big LBW appeal after missing a sweep. He was miles outside the line. That Moeen dismissal was exasperating, but I do have some sympathy for him because he shouldn’t really be batting in the top three. He has a Test average of 14 when he does so.
5.36am GMT
Oh, Mo. England are two down. Moeen Ali falls to a poor shot, driving Perera straight to Herath at mid-on. Herath, never the most agile fielder, just about held on to the catch as he collapsed towards the ball.
5.30am GMT
26th over: England 66-1 (Jennings 36, Moeen Ali 3) The retiring Rangana Herath comes into the attack to replace Suranga Lakmal. England take a couple of singles from his first over to complete a quiet first hour - 28 runs from 14 overs with no boundaries and the wicket of Rory Burns, who was frustratingly run out for 23. That’s drinks.
5.27am GMT
25th over: England 64-1 (Jennings 35, Moeen Ali 2) A jaffa from Perera spits past the edge of Jennings, who smiles a little wryly. There was nothing much he could have done about that.
5.23am GMT
24th over: England 63-1 (Jennings 35, Moeen Ali 1) Moeen gets off the king pair by defending his first delivery from Lakmal, and then off the pair by dragging a pull for a single. England’s lead clicks up to 200.
“When I umpired (as a No11, I did the first ten overs so I could have a beer or twelve in peace on the boundary) I thought that if any part of the ball hit the pad in line with the stumps, it satisfied that element of the LBW law,” says Gary Naylor. “The DRS protocol suggests I was wrong. Good job I never gave anyone out then.”
5.19am GMT
23rd over: England 60-1 (Jennings 33, Ali 0) That was the last ball of the over. Moeen Ali is the new batsman, and he’s on a king pair.
5.17am GMT
Ach, this is a frustrating dismissal. Rory Burns takes a quick single to mid-on off Perera and is just short of his ground when Karunaratne’s throw hits the base of the stumps. It was a lovely, smooth pick up and throw, but Burns will feel he’s left plenty of runs out there in this match.
5.13am GMT
22nd over: England 58-0 (Burns 23, Jennings 32) Burns looks much happier against Lakmal and flicks a pair of twos into the leg side. England’s lead is 197.
5.07am GMT
21st over: England 52-0 (Burns 18, Jennings 32) Burns survives another big shout for LBW from Perera after missing an attempted sweep. He was just outside the line, and he gloved it as well. This is a nice test of Burns’ temperament because Perera is all over him at the moment.
5.04am GMT
20th over: England 51-0 (Burns 17, Jennings 32) Lakmal moves over the wicket to Jennings, who has had trouble with that angle of attack against seamers like Philander and Bumrah. The ball isn’t moving in the air or off the pitch here, however, and Jennings plays out another maiden. We’ve had 13 runs from eight overs this morning.
4.59am GMT
19th over: England 51-0 (Burns 17, Jennings 32) England’s average opening partnership in Tests this year is 24, their lowest for any wicket except the tenth, so this is a welcome stand. Burns misses a vigorous reverse sweep at Perera and then gets a leading edge that falls well short of extra cover. All of a sudden he’s looking a little jittery.
4.57am GMT
18th over: England 50-0 (Burns 17, Jennings 31) Burns mistimes a hook off Lakmal which goes high in the air and plops safely in the vacant midwicket region. A single from Jennings brings up a rare fifty partnership for England’s first wicket.
We’ve had 12 runs in the first six overs, all singles. Not the most mind-altering of starts, but a decent one for England. Jennings in particular looks excellent. I wonder whether the day will come where someone like Jennings is an automatic pick in Asia and an occasional pick elsewhere.
4.49am GMT
17th over: England 45-0 (Burns 15, Jennings 29) Burns survives a big LBW shout from Perera - but Sri Lanka are going to review. This looks close. It skidded on to hit the pad as Burns pushed defensively outside the line. The only thing that will save him is if he was outside the line. Here comes the replay... he’s not out. It was close, but the point of contact was ‘umpire’s call’ and that meant Burns survived.
4.45am GMT
16th over: England 42-0 (Burns 13, Jennings 28) “Morning, Rob,” says John Starbuck. “Can you tell us a bit more about in-out field placings for spinners, please?”
It’s both attacking and defensive, with two or three close catchers but also a few boundary riders. The downside is that it can give the batsmen easy singles but stopping boundaries is clearly important for the confidence of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid in particular.
4.41am GMT
15th over: England 40-0 (Burns 12, Jennings 27) The first bit of turn for Perera, who beats Burns outside off stump during another maiden. England have started slowly, with two runs from the first three overs. That’s understandable - both these batsmen know that, if they get in, they have a great chance of making a half-century at least.
4.37am GMT
14th over: England 40-0 (Burns 12, Jennings 27) Suranga Lakmal, the only seamer in this side, starts at the other end with a harmless maiden to Jennings. There have been no early terrors for England.
4.33am GMT
13th over: England 40-0 (Burns 12, Jennings 27) Dilruwan Perera opens the bowling to Rory Burns, who tucks the first ball of the day off his pads for a single. Jennings, who has a fledgling average of 48 in Tests in Asia, gets his first run of the day with a cut through the covers for a single.
4.23am GMT
Moeen Ali speaks “We’re very, very pleased. The seamers were fantastic yesterday and then the spinners bowled quite well. We want to play the long game and stay in control, which is why we’ve had in-out fields [for the slow bowlers]. If we’re not hit for boundaries then it doesn’t knock our confidence as it has previously in the subcontinent.”
4.20am GMT
A bit of news Jimmy Anderson has been given a demerit point for his contretemps with the umpire Chris Gaffaney yesterday. That’s his second demerit point - if you get four within a two-year period, you are banned for a Test.
4.13am GMT
Some pre-play reading
Related: England’s spin trio leave Sri Lanka reeling as Foakes continues to impress
Related: Jack Leach delight after Test wicket marks friendship forged at Somerset
6.51pm GMT
Morning. England don’t win many Tests in Asia, and they certainly don’t dominate many as they have so far in Galle. They will start day three on 38 for none, a lead of 177 on a pitch that is likely to get worse, and it’s increasingly hard to imagine a scenario in which theyt do not win this first Test.
If they do, it’ll be a major achievement. Sri Lanka have won their last eight Tests at home to non-Asian opposition, most by thumping margins, while England haven’t won a Test overseas for two years. It’s a good time to be an England fan, even at 4am.
Continue reading...November 7, 2018
Ed Smith’s clever picks have given England a Ferguson-style makeover | The Spin
It’s often said that selectors, like wicketkeepers and umpires, are doing their best work when you don’t notice them. Since taking over as national selector, Ed Smith has been in the news more than many of the players he has picked – yet he’s doing a brilliant job.
There are two main reasons for Smith’s profile. The first, a slightly cringeworthy media obsession with his education, is not his fault. And the second is a virtue – a series of selections that have managed to be innovative and eye-catching without being ostentatious.
Related: England’s spin trio leave Sri Lanka reeling as Foakes continues to impress
Smith and his team have interrogated normative thinking. Why can’t you have a specialist batsman at No7?
Related: Sri Lanka v England: first Test, day two – live!
Continue reading...Sri Lanka v England: first Test, day two – live!
9.32am GMT
Joe Denly is on for Burns, with Keaton Jennings wedged into short leg as Moeen continues the over that was interrupted by that injury before tea. And he catches Mathews first ball after the restart!
9.24am GMT
The word is that Burns is OK and is getting some ice in the changing rooms but may not field after tea.
9.18am GMT
Here’s a big call from Adam Giles: “With the overwhelming successes of recent introductions to the team, such as Mssrs. Curran and Foakes, is it just me or is this England team starting to feel like one that could keep going for a fair amount of time, much like the Australia team of the 90s and early noughties, when the likes of Gilchrist, Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Warne and McGrath grew into quite the formidable force. Perhaps too early to set such lofty ambitions, but when the likes of Broad and Anderson are entering the twilight of their careers, as well as the recently departed Chef, perhaps a formal changing of the guard is impending.”
Feels a bit early to compare the side to that Australia side if I’m honest, and the top order still looks like a shambles. But from five down, England seems to have plenty of potential and options.
9.10am GMT
The umpires take the players off for tea while Burns continues to be treated on the pitch. He’s sitting up now, with the physios manipulating his head and neck. Hard to tell from here, but the fact he’s sitting up and looks alert and conscious feels like a good sign. Think the physios are just going through their checks thoroughly rather than being too alarmed. Ah, and he stands up and walks from the field unaided, which is an even better sign.
9.08am GMT
There is a pause in play after Dickwella sweeps Moeen hard, and the ball cannons off Rory Burns at short leg. That hit him hard, on the full, on the back of his neck/top of his back. He goes down and the England physios are on very quickly. That’s nasty but he’s conscious and talking but there is plenty of concern on the pitch.
9.04am GMT
49th over: Sri Lanka 135-5 (Dickwella 10, Mathews 52) Stokes come on, which is a good call I think. But the field is set up for length bowling, rather than some short stuff, which is less of a good call I think. Dickwella glides him to third man for a single, before Mathews pulls him for four because Stokes does drop short and there’s no man at deep square. Not great cricket, that. The field is tweaked, and though Stokes gets tighter, he allows Mathews to drive him punchily through the covers to reach his 50 - his 30th in Test cricket.
8.59am GMT
48th over: Sri Lanka 126-5 (Dickwella 9, Mathews 44) Moeen begins to find a little turn, whipping one into Mathews’ pads from out of a foothole. Could be a sign of what’s to come on days three and four. A maiden.
Throwing this one out to the hive mind:
@TomBry I don't follow Test cricket that closely so for all I know the answer is "summer 2018", but when did England last take the first five wickets of an innings with five different bowlers?
8.56am GMT
47th over: Sri Lanka 126-5 (Dickwella 9, Mathews 44) Anderson ploughs on and a clam Mathews guides him to third man for a single as he continues to make something of a point to a board that was keen on dropping him.
8.52am GMT
46th over: Sri Lanka 125-5 (Dickwella 9, Mathews 43) Moeen comes on and comes around the wicket in an attempt to turn the ball away from the left-handed Dickwella. He drifts one across the batsman, hitting on the full on the pads, but the ball was heading down the leg side. Another delivery is almost at yorker length as he attempts to force Dickwella to drive. As so often with a Moeen over, it is tight right up until the point he is slog swept for four.
“In the last two years seven Surrey players have made an England debut (Ansari, Stoneman, CurranT, SCurran, Pope, Foakes and Burns),”emails Dominic Cole. “There are also another four Test players on the books in Clarke, Plunkett, Batty and Borthwick. But here’s the truly baffling bit - they’ve won 40 odd caps between them and seven of them have two caps or less.That simply has to be a record. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise either if Roy and Virdi (with the A squad this winter) also soon made an appearance. That leaves Dernbach as the odd one out and he once made the Test squad and was 12th man. Don’t think evenYorkshire can match that.”
8.49am GMT
45th over: Sri Lanka 121-5 (Dickwella 5, Mathews 43) Anderson does continue and Dickwella sticks with his attacking instincts, keeping things ticking over at a run a ball so far. Stokes is still virtually hand in hand with Foakes behind the stumps, so concerned is he that the ball won’t carry. There’s not been much suggestion of a nick so far.
8.44am GMT
44th over: Sri Lanka 118-5 (Dickwella 2, Mathews 43) That was a lovely delivery from Rashid, drawing Chandimal down the track then some dip and decent turn sent the ball past the edge of his bat, into Foakes’s gloves, allowing the keeper to stump him very cleanly. It brings the left-handed keeper into bat which could have Root thinking about changing Anderson at the other end. Dickwella is off the mark with a swept single before Mathews clobbers a single to deep cover to add to his earlier run and the new man milks another.
8.40am GMT
A stunning piece of bowling and some lovely work behind the stumps as Rashid draws Chandimal down the track then sends the ball past him. Brilliant all round from England.
8.38am GMT
43rd over: Sri Lanka 114-4 (Mathews 41, Chandimal 33) Seems Anderson was warned, giving him one more life before he would be removed the attack for the rest of the innings. In this heat, he might be tempted. He’s bowling full to Matthews and Chandimal, not throwing in any cutters as yet but the batsmen work him away for a single each.
8.34am GMT
42nd over: Sri Lanka 112-4 (Mathews 40, Chandimal 32) Rashid’s sticking to his leg spin, avoiding the temptation to drop in too many variations. He’s bowling slowly, looking for turn (and finding it). That’s a very decent maiden.
8.31am GMT
41st over: Sri Lanka 112-4 (Mathews 40, Chandimal 32) Anderson, in a paddy with the umpire, steams in with a short mid-off, gully and one slip in place. It’s Stokes at slip, and he’s stood almost level with Foakes in a bid to make sure the ball carries. Matthews cuts a single from the over. After it, Chris Gaffeney has a word with Root about Anderson, who is fuming about being talked to about running on the wicket.
“Perusing Ben Foakes’ career stats, I see he has actually bowled in a first class match,” emails Kimberley Thonger (well, he’s bowled an over). “I wonder, given the rich vein of form he’s in and with his confidence obviously sky high, whether Root realises this? Can someone get a message to Joe to give the gloves to Buttler for a few overs and bring Ben on to bowl?”
8.26am GMT
40th over: Sri Lanka 111-4 (Mathews 39, Chandimal 32) Actually, Anderson was much less than impressed by that talking to, and hurled the ball to the ground a few deliveries later. Hmm. Rashid continues at the other end and the batsmen run a single and a leg bye from a very solid over.
8.23am GMT
39th over: Sri Lanka 109-4 (Mathews 39, Chandimal 31) Joe Root has been listening to Rob, and he throws the ball to Jimmy Anderson to throw in some pace and guile. He bowls full, and Matthews opens his shoulders and drives for two before Anderson gets a talking to for running on the pitch. Not sure it was a full blown warning, but he didn’t look delighted about it.
“There was much discussion about Root being a so-so captain, and Eoin Morgan being brilliant,” emails Zaph Mann. “Could you see a side captained by Eoin Morgan being very different? Who would he displace on merit? Would it be the dynamic of the selectors that gets in the way/puts up a good check?” Ignoring Morgan’s red ball issues, suspect he would be funkier on the field and a bit more proactive in making changes (assuming he’d follow the lead he sets in white ball cricket) but not sure how much the selection of the team would change.
8.18am GMT
38th over: Sri Lanka 107-4 (Mathews 37, Chandimal 31) Hello all, I think Rob’s right (as ever) – England could do with a change of pace and change of attack to knock these two out of their comfort zone. My choice would be a few overs of aggressive stuff from Stokes to get the batsmen leaping about a bit. Rashid continues though, with Stokes firmly ensconced at slip, and his second ball is a doozy - dipping and turning a mile across Chandimal’s bows. He drops it too short a few balls later and is clouted for four through midwicket.
Meanwhile, this caught my eye earlier - Northern Districts duo Joe Carter and Brett Hampton managed to plunder 43 runs from an over in the Ford Trophy.
8.11am GMT
37th over: Sri Lanka 102-4 (Mathews 36, Chandimal 27) The runs are coming more comfortably for Sri Lanka. It feels like England need a change of pace, either Anderson or Stokes, at Moeen’s end. But I would say this partnership has been more about good batting than bad bowling; Chandimal and Mathews have played expertly. It’s still a pretty good pitch and England did really well to take those four early wickets.
That’s drinks, and time for me to do one. Tom Bryant will be with you for the rest of the day – you can contact him on tom.bryant@theguardian.com. Bye!
8.08am GMT
36th over: Sri Lanka 95-4 (Mathews 33, Chandimal 23) Chandimal survives a referral to the third umpire. England thought he was out, caught low by Stokes at slip off a beautiful delivery by Rashid. Chandimal stood his ground and the umpires went upstairs – the soft signal was out, but replays suggested it bounced fractionally short of Stokes. There were no complaints from England. Rashid is getting into his work now, and later in the over Chandimal inside-edges not far short of the man at short leg.
8.02am GMT
35th over: Sri Lanka 89-4 (Mathews 33, Chandimal 17) Chandimal laps Moeen for two, a premeditated shot that prompted Foakes to charge down the leg side without success. On Sky, Mike Atherton makes the good point that England’s slightly passive tactics have allowed Sri Lanka back in the game after lunch - just as Sri Lanka did with their slightly defensive approach at the same stage yesterday. It might be time for Ben Stokes to try to rough up the wounded Chandimal.
7.59am GMT
34th over: Sri Lanka 83-4 (Mathews 31, Chandimal 13) Not a great over from Rashid, who hasn’t got his length right yet. You can understand him being a bit more nervous in Test cricket than when he plays under Eoin Morgan.
7.55am GMT
33rd over: Sri Lanka 80-4 (Mathews 29, Chandimal 12) This low-key partnership of 40 in 16 overs, with only a couple of boundaries, is just what Sri Lanka needed in the circumstances. England won’t be worried yet, but they will if Mathews and Chandimal are still together in a couple of hours’ time.
7.52am GMT
32nd over: Sri Lanka 75-4 (Mathews 24, Chandimal 12) Adil Rashid gets his first bowl, replacing Jack Leach, who bowled a good spell of 12-2-17-1. A quiet first over goes for three.
7.48am GMT
31st over: Sri Lanka 72-4 (Mathews 22, Chandimal 11) These are Sri Lanka’s two best players, both averaging just under 45 in Test cricket, and so far they have played with calm authority.
7.45am GMT
30th over: Sri Lanka 69-4 (Mathews 20, Chandimal 11) So far, day two has been the same as day one: a flurry of wickets before lunch and sensible accumulation thereafter. The game is drifting at the moment, which suits Sri Lanka more than England.
7.42am GMT
29th over: Sri Lanka 66-4 (Mathews 18, Chandimal 10) “Can anyone tell me why I dreamt I was having a cup of tea with Alan Curbishley in the living room of my childhood home last night?” sniffs Niall Mullen. “Like most people I stopped dreaming about Curbs a decade ago so I’m a bit stumped.”
What’s it worth?
7.39am GMT
28th over: Sri Lanka 64-4 (Mathews 17, Chandimal 9) Mathews and Chandimal are looking increasingly comfortable, so it might be time for a change. I’d get Anderson and/or Rashid on.
7.37am GMT
27th over: Sri Lanka 61-4 (Mathews 17, Chandimal 6) Mathews reverse-sweeps Moeen for four. Any why not?
7.32am GMT
26th over: Sri Lanka 55-4 (Mathews 11, Chandimal 6) Leach turns a peach past Mathews’ defensive push. This pitch seems to reward the spinners when they bowl it a bit slower. England don’t have Jeremty Snape, alas, but I’m looking forward to seeing Adil Rashid. His natural pace is the slowest of the three spinners.
7.29am GMT
25th over: Sri Lanka 54-4 (Mathews 10, Chandimal 6) Chandimal, having made two from 27 balls, sweeps Moeen firmly round the corner for four. Sri Lanka needed that hit of oxygen. It’s their first boundary since the sixth over.
7.27am GMT
24th over: Sri Lanka 49-4 (Mathews 9, Chandimal 2) Leach has a huge LBW shout against Chandimal turned down by Marais Erasmus. England decide not to review, and replays show there was an inside edge. It almost deflected to Foakes, who dived sharply to his right but couldn’t reach it.
“Morning Rob,” says Finbar Anslow. “Here in North Italy it’s finally stopped raining, just crossed and alarmingly full River PO – re: Joe Root’s fielding, was it Mr Trescothick who invented the kneelslip?”
7.23am GMT
23rd over: Sri Lanka 48-4 (Mathews 8, Chandimal 2) Moeen gets one to kick and bounce at Matthews, who wears it on the thigh. The ball isn’t turning often, but when it does it goes a fair way.
“OK condolences withdrawn,” says Zaph Mann. “My sensitivity to early hours is borne from late night habits and… I’m standing in on former partner’s cow feeding duties (twice a day 12 hours apart & fork up the patties) with a mix of nostalgia at my loss and relief that I’m not stuck with this now as I was for years day in day out. At which thought the idea of a herd of fielders, a thicket of slips and a growth of wicketkeepers occurred… at least it’s not ‘inspired’ poetry per yesterday.”
7.20am GMT
22nd over: Sri Lanka 47-4 (Mathews 7, Chandimal 2) England have a slip and short leg for Leach. They could perhaps be a bit more attacking, but then again they are applying pressure through dot balls. Sri Lanka have scored 15 runs from the last 14 overs.
“Allow me to respond ever so humbly to John Starbuck’s 16th over aspersions, that have in no way cut me to the quick,” says Brian Withington. “Said discarded thigh pads were likely not of schoolboy origin, since the nets were used extensively by local clubs and indeed Essex CCC. Rumour even had it that some kit was left by a young Graham Gooch (local Ilford club man making good).
7.17am GMT
21st over: Sri Lanka 46-4 (Mathews 6, Chandimal 2) Chandimal is beaten by Moeen. His injury means Sri Lanka can only walk singles, which won’t help to alleviate the pressure. Quite the predicament they’re in here.
“Hi Rob,” says Tim Maitland. “Wouldn’t a group of wicketkeepers be called something more like a ‘nice-one-nice-one-I-like-that of wicketkeepers’?”
7.14am GMT
20th over: Sri Lanka 43-4 (Mathews 4, Chandimal 1) Jack Leach starts after lunch to Angelo Mathews. Nothing happens, and life goes on.
“Morning Rob,” says Harry Mann. “Walking the halls of the excellent St George’s hospital, Tooting after the birth of my daughter Tilly yesterday has given me ample opportunity to keep abreast of goings-on in Galle. This new upstart Foakes seems to be playing without the pressure or hindrances of recent first timers - is this good management, good talent or something else? If the former, what’s changed and if the latter, where has he been for the past year or so? Either way it’s an encouraging start - and given me something to read whilst awaiting the opening of the M&S coffee shop - many thanks.”
7.02am GMT
“Hello Rob,” says Zaph Mann. “Commiserations on the unholy time to be up typing. For once being in Oregon is handy timing at least for the first two sessions. Given the thrashings you mention I was wondering if this is a one-off because:
“1) It’s rainy and overcast - English conditions?
6.32am GMT
19th over: Sri Lanka 42-4 (Mathews 3, Chandimal 1) Moeen continues to Chandimal, who is definitely struggling with his groin. Mathews wanted to take a quick single off the second ball, at which point Chandimal sent him back with a decisive bark. A maiden from Moeen completes a spectacular opening session for England.
Ben Foakes made a century on debut and then England’s first four bowlers took a wicket apiece to put them in complete control of the match. See you in half an hour for the afternoon session!
6.29am GMT
18th over: Sri Lanka 42-4 (Mathews 3, Chandimal 1) I can’t believe I’m saying this before lunch on day two, but it’s getting hard to see any other result than an England victory. And if they do win, we shouldn’t underestimate what an immense result it would be. Australia and South Africa were completely thrashed in Sri Lanka.
Chandimal walks a single off Leach. He hasn’t yet needed to break into a jog. But given Mathews’ run-out problems, it could be an interesting partnership.
6.25am GMT
17th over: Sri Lanka 40-4 (Mathews 2, Chandimal 0) The new batsman is the captain Dinesh Chandimal, batting down the order because he was off the field with a groin problem. We’ll soon see whether he’s able to run.
6.23am GMT
It’s spin at both ends, with Moeen Ali replacing Sam Curran - and he strikes third ball! Dhananjaya premeditates a lap stroke, misses and is bowled middle stump. That’s an abysmal shot in the circumstances, very similar to Stokes’s at the same stage yesterday. England were in trouble then. Sri Lanka are breast-deep in the malodorous stuff now.
6.20am GMT
16th over: Sri Lanka 38-3 (Dhananjaya 12, Mathews 2) Another good over from Leach yields just a single. Repetition is the key to so much of his success, and he is in a nice groove here.
“Thigh-pads at schoolboy cricket level (14th over)?” sniffs John Starbuck. “There’s posh!”
6.16am GMT
15th over: Sri Lanka 37-3 (Dhananjaya 11, Mathews 2) Angelo Mathews has plenty to prove after that weird shemozzle before the ODIs. He’s still a brilliant player, perhaps Sri Lanka’s best, and England would love to get rid of him before he gets his eye in. He plays a couple of confident drives off Curran without piercing the field. A maiden. This has been a good second spell from Curran, 3-1-2-0 I think.
“For those seeking online commentary there’s always Guerilla Cricket,” says Phil Withall, “where you can sometimes catch Gary Naylor (OBO stalwart) commentating.”
6.11am GMT
14th over: Sri Lanka 37-3 (Dhananjaya 11, Mathews 2) Leach has got his pace just right now, around 50mph. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he ended up as Man of the Match in this game. Root is fielding on his knees at gully, literally, for the new batsman Mathews.
“I’d quite forgotten about the unfounded accusation against John Lever’s magnificent performances on his India tour (6th over),” says Brian Withington. “Nice guy, too - occasionally supervised our winter nets in the early 70s at Bill Morris’s celebrated indoor cricket school behind the Beehive Pub in Ilford. Considerably more laid back than Stuart Turner, who could be a bit, erm, enthusiastic off just a one-pace run-up. Rather shocking for a schoolboy, in fact, considering he was considered no more than a busy trundler off his full run. The memory is somewhat sharpened by recall of the aroma of lost and discarded thigh pads and other protective changing room flotsam and jetsam ...”
6.07am GMT
Beautifully done by Jack Leach. That’s a craftsman at work. He was building pressure through relentless accuracy and now he has taken his first wicket. The line and length were perfect and the ball turned just enough to find the edge as Mendis pushed forward defensively. Stokes took a smart low catch at slip.
6.04am GMT
13th over: Sri Lanka 34-2 (Dhananjaya 10, Mendis 19) Curran angles a good delivery past the edge of Mendis. For a while it looked like Sri Lanka wanted to counter-attack, but since the introduction of Leach they have been forced back. The last six overs have brought only four runs.
“A bellowing of wicketkeepers?” says Ian Forth. “Good enough for bullfinches.”
6.01am GMT
12th over: Sri Lanka 33-2 (Dhananjaya 10, Mendis 18) Leach hasn’t turned it yet, that first ball aside, but he’s building pressure with his accuracy. Another maiden gives him figures of 3-2-1-0.
5.57am GMT
11th over: Sri Lanka 33-2 (Dhananjaya 10, Mendis 18) Five overs is a lot in this heat, even for Jimmy Anderson, so he is replaced by Sam Curran. Dhananjaya, who has calmed down after a busy start, pulls a short ball for a single in an otherwise uneventful over. I say ‘otherwise’; pulling a single isn’t exactly the event of the year. Look, cut me some slack, it’s 5.57am.
5.53am GMT
10th over: Sri Lanka 32-2 (Dhananjaya 9, Mendis 18) A maiden from Leach, who has started with his usual accuracy, to Mendis. I reckon he could drop the pace a touch - hey man, slow down - but it’s been an encouraging start.
5.51am GMT
9th over: Sri Lanka 32-2 (Dhananjaya 9, Mendis 18) Anderson is moving the ball back into the right-handers, both in the air and off the pitch, and draws an inside-edge from Dhananjaya. It’s been a really good spell from Anderson. With his fitness, skill and enthusiasm, he is a disgrace to the average 36-year-old man.
“In response to George’s request for TMS overseas link - I don’t think TMS have got the rights,” says Bob Moule. “Radio commentary is on Talksport2. I dunno about Norway, but the easiest way to get Talksport2 in Malaysia is to go via the Talksport webpage.”
5.46am GMT
8th over: Sri Lanka 31-2 (Dhananjaya 9, Mendis 17) Jack Leach replaces Sam Curran, who did his job with a spell of 3-0-14-1. Two things to look out for here: the new ball did a lot for the spinners yesterday, and Perera in particular got more from the pitch when he bowled it slower. Leach’s first ball is a jaffa, tossed up and gripping enough to beat Mendis’s defensive push. He is used to bowling on helpful pitches at Taunton/Ciderabad and has the capacity to be a matchwinner in these conditions. An excellent start.
“Rob,” says Brian Withington. “Mike Atherton on Sky has just been musing at a collective noun for wicket keepers in view of England’s current riches, and preferred an ‘irritation’. My first thought was that a ‘clutch’ of keepers might be more appropriate, although I suppose a ‘quandary’ might also fit the bill?”
5.42am GMT
7th over: Sri Lanka 30-2 (Dhananjaya 9, Mendis 16) Sri Lanka are keen to counter-attack, Mendis in particular. Anderson, despite bowling expertly, has been relatively expensive: 4-0-16-1. Mind you, at least half those runs came off the edge.
“Morning, Rob,” says John Starbuck. “Karunaratne’s review indicates two things: one, he genuinely didn’t feel the nick and two, everybody needs more education and training on what the DRS is really for. Oh, and what about Lakmal’s five-for - worth a mention at least?”
5.38am GMT
6th over: Sri Lanka 28-2 (Dhananjaya 7, Mendis 16) Mendis drives consecutive deliveries from Curran for four, the first through midwicket and the second through mid-off. Those were majestic strokes.
“Sam Curran reminds me a lot of another blond swinger, John Lever,” says Gary Naylor. “He took 37 wickets at 20 in India, so a bit of movement in with the odd one holding its line might be handy.”
5.35am GMT
5th over: Sri Lanka 19-2 (Dhananjaya 6, Mendis 8) Mendis is beaten, feeling for a beauty just outside off stump, and then edges at catchable height for four. There’s a gap between second and third slip, and the ball went straight through it. Ach! Anderson is making the batsmen play more than is often the case with the new ball, an acknowledgement of the conditions. It’s been an emphatic start with the ball from England.
“Will ‘Smyth calls Galle’ become one of those things that people wait for every time there’s a test played there?” says Phil Withall. “Can we expect Peter Snow levels of enthusiasm and hyperbole in the future?”
5.30am GMT
4th over: Sri Lanka 14-2 (Dhananjaya 5, Mendis 4) I don’t know how to break this to you, but England are now in serious danger of winning an overseas Test for the first time since 2016. Their performance since lunch yesterday has been admirable, and they almost get a third wicket when the new batsman Kusal Mendis edges Curran wide of the slips for four.
“Top of the morning Rob,” says George Murphy. “A fine morning in Southern Norway compounded by Foakes’ debut ton. As much as I enjoy OBO it is reasonably difficult to keep up to date whilst pottering about on the scaffold in front of Stavanger cathedral. Despite my Cornish Heritage, I lack a third arm to refresh the thread whilst also maneuvering a hammer and chisel. Any chance for the TMS YouTube link? Standard searches only seem to produce old posts not the live link.”
5.27am GMT
That’s why England gave Sam Curran the new ball! Kaushal Silva has gone, plumb LBW to the inswinger. It was beautifully bowled by Curran, a textbook dismissal for a left-arm swing bowler to a right-handed batsman.
5.24am GMT
3rd over: Sri Lanka 10-1 (Silva 1, Dhananjaya 5) Dhananjaya tries to cut a lifting nipbacker from Anderson and so nearly drags it onto the stumps. This has been a superb start from Anderson, who recognises the importance of the new ball in these conditions.
“At the risk of being an incorrigible ne’er-do-well curmudgeon, may I express some slight disappointment that Ben Foakes stopped channelling his inner Cook as soon as he reached his well-deserved century?” says Brian Withington. “I hope Jimmy didn’t feel too slighted by the lack of faith shown in his willow yielding staying powers. Glad I got that off my chest.”
5.20am GMT
2nd over: Sri Lanka 8-1 (Silva 0, Dhananjaya 4) There was a suggestion England might open with Jack Leach, but the ball swung enough in that Anderson over to justify the use of Sam Curran. He too gets a soupcon of swing to the right-handers, though it’s nothing they can’t handle. One from the over.
“Why,” says John Leavey, “are there two TVs in my lounge?”
5.16am GMT
1st over: Sri Lanka 7-1 (Silva 0, Dhananjaya 3) The new batsman Dhananjaya inside-edges Anderson for a single. This has been some start for England. On Sky, Mike Atherton highlights England’s new, post-Cook cordon: Root at first slip, then Stokes, Burns and Buttler.
“Well, less than mid-term cricket prediction?” asks Bill Hargreaves. “Will this score hold water? (Chucking it down here in Dublin.)”
5.12am GMT
Anderson strikes second ball - but Karunaratne has reviewed it straight away! It was a tempting back-of-a-length outswinger which Karunaratne followed outside off stump, and England were certain he nicked it through to Ben Foakes. And that’s why they were certain: Ultra-Edge shows he did get a thin edge. Why the bloody blazes did he review that?
4.59am GMT
Foakes falls to the last ball of the over, trying to get as many quick runs as possible. He sliced Lakmal high towards extra cover, where Dhananjaya took a good diving catch. That was such a fine innings from Foakes: 107 from 202 balls with 10 fours.
4.58am GMT
97th over: England 342-9 (Foakes 107, Anderson 0) He’s done it! Ben Foakes drives Lakmal down the ground for four to reaches an outstanding century on debut! He gets a standing ovation from the crowd and the England balcony. Foakes takes off his helmet, smiles with boyish joy and raises his bat modestly to all corners of the ground. He’s only the fifth wicketkeeper to make a century on debut, and it’s been a near flawless innings.
As soon as he reaches the century, he goes into T20 mode and clouts Lakmal over midwicket for the third boundary of the over. And then...
4.52am GMT
96th over: England 330-9 (Foakes 95, Anderson 0) There are four men round the bat for Anderson. Make that five men - silly point, short leg, two slips and a gully. He edges his third ball this far short of slip and leaves the fourth to elaborate cheers from the Barmy Army.
4.49am GMT
Foakes will be nervous now! Leach edges to slip, where Dhananjaya de Silva takes a smart low catch. It was very close to a no-ball but he had a millimetre of heel behind the line. That’s Perera’s fifth wicket of the innings, and there are four balls left in the over.
4.45am GMT
95th over: England 330-8 (Foakes 95, Leach 15) Foakes pushes Lakmal square on the off side for two, and then for another single. Five to go. He doesn’t look remotely nervous or hurried, and isn’t attempting to farm the strike at this stage.
4.40am GMT
94th over: England 326-8 (Foakes 92, Leach 14) Leach dances down the track and chips Perera just short of the man at short extra cover. Two balls later he is beaten by a big-spinning delivery; he won’t mind that too much given he’s about to bowl on this pitch. Another maiden.
4.38am GMT
93rd over: England 326-8 (Foakes 92, Leach 14) Suranga Lakmal starts at the other end. Foakes, missing a work to leg, survives a strangled LBW appeal from a ball that would have bounced over the stumps. A maiden.
“Nespresso aside, what’s your mid-term prediction, Mr. Smyth?” asks Bill Hargreaves. “(The pitch looks like they’ve had a fair on the outfield in that photo.)”
Related: Midterm elections latest: Democrats take House, Republicans hold Senate – live
4.34am GMT
92nd over: England 326-8 (Foakes 92, Leach 14) Dilruwan Perera opens the bowling. Ben Foakes states his intentionos for the morning, driving the first ball of the morning superbly through extra cover for four. That takes him into the nineties. The over ends with Leach surviving a big shout for LBW. That looked close and I suspect Sri Lanka would have sent it upstairs had they not frittered away their reviews yesterday. This one might have been slipping past leg stump. Yes, replays show it was missing.
“Morning Rob,” says John Leavey. “Bit pissed now and aiming to move to the lounge to watch the whole day of England domination/rain. Question is, how drunk can I get and fit in a nap before heading out for tonight’s piss up? Advice welcome. Cheers (hic).”
4.27am GMT
Play will start on time, according to my snout in Galle, also known as Cricinfo. Bear with me, I’m a bit bleary eyed. Another five minutes with my face in a vat of Nespresso should resolve the problem.
4.07am GMT
Some pre-play reading
Related: When heroes of the first world war made playing fields out of battlefields | Andy Bull
8.33pm GMT
Morning. Right, that’s enough of the formalities: Ben Foakes is 13 short of an exceptional debut century, and not even the most incorrigible ne’er-do-well would begrudge him that. England will resume on 321 for eight, a score which, depending on whose opinion you agree with, is over-par, under-par, a fine effort or a missed opportunity.
On a normal Galle pitch, England could declare and still have a chance of an innings victory, but the wet weather has made it harder to judge what a good score might be in this match. We know the pitch will deteriorate; we don’t know how much and how quickly it will do so. We’ll soon find out.
Continue reading...November 6, 2018
Sri Lanka v England: first Test, day one – as it happened
The debutant Ben Foakes made a superb 87 not out to help England recover from losing five wickets before lunch on the first day of the series
11.52am GMT
Close of play report
If there are any flies on Vic Marks, they’re paying rent. His report from Galle has already landed and been through the editing machine, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company, emails
and poetry
today. See you tomorrow!
Related: Debutant Ben Foakes unbeaten on 87 after leading England recovery in Galle
11.50am GMT
Ben Foakes is chatting to the chaps on Sky
“It’s been a whirlwind day. I had a lot of emotions going on this morning, so to get out there was fantastic. My nerves weren’t too bad – I was better than I thought I would be – and I wanted to just grind and make it hard for them to get me out. I haven’t got the array of shots of these guys so I just try to use my feet and play a simple game.
11.38am GMT
Meet the new England, same as the etc. They lost five wickets before lunch, when they played with reckless abandon, before the proper batsmen down the order knuckled down. England, who were 103 for five, reached a solid 321 for eight on a pitch that should deteriorate.
Sam Curran and Adil Rashid, who hit five sixes between them, played very nicely. But the undoubted star was the debutant Ben Foakes, who played an Alastair Cook tribute innings of 87 not out from 184 balls. His judgement and shot selection were almost flawless, and he has given the England selectors another headache to go with the ones they were already nursing. When do nice headaches become nasty?
11.33am GMT
91st over: England 321-8 (Foakes 87, Leach 14) It’s hard to know whether Leach should play like a nightwatchman or with Foakes’s possible century in mind. He scampers back for a second after edging Dhananjaya, which suggests the former. Then he cuts a poor ball through the covers for three, which suggests the latter. At least it would have been three, had Lakmal not decided to pick the ball up even though both feet were behind the ropes. Four runs. “I don’t think you can do that…” says Bumble on Sky.
The last ball of the day is edged by Leach and goes straight through first slip for four more! He didn’t lay a hand on it. That means Leach will resume tomorrow morning. So, more importantly, will the superb Ben Foakes.
11.28am GMT
90th over: England 311-8 (Foakes 87, Leach 4) Perera is hunting his usual Galle five-for, and I have no idea how he didn’t get it in that over. Leach was beaten by three consecutive deliveries and then edged the next two. The first fell short of slip and the second brushed the fingers of the man at second slip as he plunged to his right. Technically that’s a dropped catch but even Garry Sobers would have struggled to take it.
The 90 overs have been bowled but because the over-rate has been so good, we’ll have time for an extra over.
11.25am GMT
89th over: England 308-8 (Foakes 87, Leach 1) Foakes is happy to take a single off Herath’s first ball. Leach can hang around – he helped Jonny Bairstow to a century on his Test debut – but he’s still a tailender so there is risk in that approach. Leach survives a big LBW appeal from Herath, having been well outside the line, and then drives a single off the fourth delivery. We should only have time for two more overs, so I think Foakes is happy to sleep on it.
11.21am GMT
88th over: England 306-8 (Foakes 86, Leach 0) It’s the eyes. It’s the eyes that make Ben Foakes resemble Alastair Cook when he’s under a helmet. That and the fact he bats like it’s 1982. No, that was a compliment. But he might have to bat like it’s 2018 if he wants to get a century, because Sri Lanka are now into the tail.
11.19am GMT
Rashid’s frisky romp ends when he edges a drive to slip. That’s a fourth wicket for Perera, who has lived up to expectations as Sri Lanka’s dangerman. It was a cracking cameo from Rashid: 35 from 38 balls with four fours and two sixes.
11.16am GMT
87th over: England 305-7 (Foakes 85, Rashid 35) Rashid drives Herath mighily over extra cover for four to bring up a rapid fifty partnership from 55 balls. We might look back on this as an important day in England’s move towards (for want of a better phrase) bits-and-pieces Test cricketers. Not for the first time this year, more than half the runs have been scored by Nos 7-9.
11.13am GMT
86th over: England 300-7 (Foakes 84, Rashid 31) A nasty delivery from Perera is gloved wide of short leg by Rashid. Every now and then a ball has really exploded from the pitch. On Sky, David Lloyd and Brad Hogg make the point that England may want to open with a spinner, either Moeen or Leach, to make the most of the extra bounce. That’s an excellent shout.
Foakes pushes a single down the ground to take England to 300. It feels like a par score for the conditions today but better than par for the match, if that makes sense. It doesn’t? Even better.
11.09am GMT
85th over: England 296-7 (Foakes 82, Rashid 29) Herath, who has switched ends, is chipped to cow corner for four by Rashid. Two balls later he lofts a sweet straight six, his second of the innings. This is the jauntiest of cameos from Rashid, who has raced to 29 from 28 balls.
“Hi Rob,” says Pete Salmon. “What is even more stunning than the rhyming of the three final phonemes, is that the three names have utterly diverse etymologies.
11.06am GMT
84th over: England 282-7 (Foakes 79, Rashid 18) Perera, on for Herath, is pulled round the corner for four by Foakes. It’s been a very simple innings, with low-risk shots and firm punishment of the bad ball. If you forget the beard, Foakes even looks a bit like Alastair Cook under the helmet.
11.01am GMT
83rd over: England 276-7 (Foakes 74, Rashid 17) Rashid top-edges a hook for six off Lakmal, with Dhananjaya helping it on its way as he fell over the fine leg boundary. England are inching towards 300, which would be a fine effort after losing five wickets before lunch.
“Rhyming cricketers?” says Dave Lovely. “Ahem...”
10.56am GMT
82nd over: England 268-7 (Foakes 73, Rashid 10) Chandimal has left the field again with his groin injury. As Mike Atherton says on Sky, that’s a big problems these days because you are no longer allowed a runner. There could be fun and games if a wounded Chandimal and Angelo Matthews are at the crease together.
Back in the present, Rangana Herath shares the new ball. Foakes continues to bat in his bubble, pushing a single down the ground to move to 73. He is 27 away from becoming the second English wicketkeeper after Matt Prior to make a century on debut. That was a very different innings.
10.53am GMT
81st over: England 267-7 (Foakes 72, Rashid 10) Suranga Lakmal takes the second new ball and gets a bit of outswing to Rashid, who crashes an excellent cover drive for four. He has started very perkily.
“I note that England’s attack has right and left arm seam to complement wrist and finger spin,” says Gary Naylor, “but have they got drinks too? Always a handy option when a captain needs a wicket.”
10.48am GMT
80th over: England 262-7 (Foakes 71, Rashid 6) Rashid gets his first boundary with one of the most stylish shots of the day, a wristy chip over midwicket off Dhananjaya. The new ball is due and will surely be taken straight away.
“Rhyming cricketers?” says Stephen Wolstencroft. “We had a full rhyming XI at one point: Cooky, Straussy, Vaughney, Trotty, Belly, Colly, Matty, Broady, Ashley, Harmy, Jimmy.”
10.44am GMT
79th over: England 254-7 (Foakes 68, Rashid 1) Foakes pushes Dilruwan fractionally short of the swooping Mendis at short leg.
Since Sam Curran made his debut, only Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Jos Buttler have faced more balls in Test cricket than him. #SLvEng
10.41am GMT
78th over: England 252-7 (Foakes 67, Rashid 0) Chandimal, the Sri Lankan captain, started limping as he began to celebrate that catch. He hurt his ground earlier in the day and, though I’m sure he’ll bat, I doubt he’ll be taking any quick singles.
“All this poetry inspired me,” says Matt Dony. “Just struggled with the last rhyme...
A dry, turning pitch in Sri Lanka;
A home win is often a banker.
10.39am GMT
Sam Curran falls after the drinks break. He tried to flash a wide delivery from Dhananjaya through the off side and edged to slip, where Chandimal took a smart catch. Curran played a stylish, confident innings and will be frustrated to miss out on a third Test fifty.
10.33am GMT
77th over: England 251-6 (Foakes 66, Curran 48) “With Woakes, Foakes and Stokes all potentially in the same team,” says Mark Hooper, “has there been a rhyming trio of cricketers in a Test match before?”
Hick, Trescothick and Caddick played together a bit in 2000-01, if they count. Hold that thought, because it’s drinks.
10.29am GMT
76th over: England 249-6 (Foakes 65, Curran 46) Akila Dhananjaya, the most expensive bowler today, returns in place of Dhananjaya de Silva. Curran, who has accumulated patiently when not hitting sixes, moves to within four of a half-century. England have so well since lunch, which they took in a bit of a mess at 113 for five.
“I’m pretty sure the last time we had any semblance of a genuine Big Narstie in the side was when Tremlett had his one great tour of Australia in 2010/11,” says Harkarn Sumal. “The Curran lads are more Kris Kross really. Tremendous fun. As for Anderson and Broad, well, I’ll make you an opening offer of PJ Harvey and Nick Cave.”
10.25am GMT
75th over: England 246-6 (Foakes 65, Curran 43) Dilruwan brings a man into an unusual fielding position for Curran, halfway down the pitch on the line of short leg. I don’t know what you call that position. Extra short leg? Absurd mid-on? Desperate measure?
“Continuing the poetic theme,” begins Jake Garlick, “I advocate Woakes being selected next Test so that the following limerick can be wheeled out (at least five times per session):
There was an all-rounder named Stokes,
And they picked another named Woakes.
10.21am GMT
74th over: England 243-6 (Foakes 64, Curran 42) Dhananjaya da Silva tosses one up to Curran, who drives it lazily down the ground for a one-bounce four. The next ball is a nervous long hop that Curran pulls extravagantly for his third six. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this kid! This has been another superb innings. Who needs a top order when you’ve got Sam Curran at No8?
“Morning Rob,” says Matt Emerson. “I was listening to the radio coverage on my way in (TalkSport are doing a good job - Gareth Batty and Matt Prior were excellent) and Atherton said that Galle is in his top half dozen of overseas grounds, along with Adelaide, Newlands, and the Antigua Recreation Ground. None of which I’ve been to, but I wondered if some of the fellow OBOers had? It’s about time I dragged the entire family half way round the world to watch a cricket match they’re utterly uninterested in, rather than going into London for the same outcome...
10.17am GMT
73rd over: England 231-6 (Foakes 63, Curran 31) Two spinners are an OBO writer’s worst nightmare, with the exception of the recurring dream in which your fingers freeze at the precise moment England win an Ashes decider by one run. They get through the overs so quickly that they become almost indistinguishable. That last over, from Dilruwan, brought only a single to Foakes.
10.13am GMT
72nd over: England 230-6 (Foakes 62, Curran 31) “Rob,” says Brian Withington. “Your reference to a piece of filth courtesy of Perera put me in mind of early forays into adult cricket as a 70s adolescent. One middle-aged, rotund slow bowler in particular prided himself on describing his own bowling as left-arm ‘flighted filth’ with frankly troubling lasciviousness. Younger batsmen were lured into his sordid web and terrified of succumbing to one of his flighted dirt bombs that resembled a mortar shell for ‘hang time’ and often landed with similar effect. Disturbing days.”
And I thought the world of light entertainment was bad in the 70s.
10.10am GMT
71st over: England 226-6 (Foakes 60, Curran 29) Foakes is dropped at short leg! It was a sharp chance to Kusal Mendis off the bowling of Dilruwan, who got one to turn sharply into Foakes. He flicked it towards short leg, where Mendis reacted smartly but was unable to hang on to his left.
10.07am GMT
70th over: England 226-6 (Foakes 60, Curran 29) The offspinner Dhananjaya da Silva - not to be confused with Akila Dhananjaya, unless you’re a racist - comes into the attack for the first time. Curran almost gives a return catch, with the ball landing just short of the bowler. That aside, it’s a quiet over.
10.04am GMT
69th over: England 224-6 (Foakes 59, Curran 28) In recent years, Sri Lanka have routinely bowled non-Asian opposition out for less than 200, sometimes less than 100. They look a bit confused by England’s inability to commit hara-kiri. Foakes has 59 from 135 balls, Curran 28 from 76. This, I suspect, is the main reason Curran was picked ahead of Stuart Broad, and so far it has worked.
“So Rob,” says Phil Harrison. “What the heck do you do when Bairstow’s fit? It’s bordering on impossible, isn’t it? I’m wondering if they might have to look at Stokes up the order, possibly at three? It sounds ridiculous but I just don’t see what else they can do. Dropping Foakes would be crazily harsh after this performance, Buttler played well today and was England’s best batter in their last series and Bairstow (just about) still has enough credit in the bank. It’s ridiculously tough.”
10.01am GMT
68th over: England 223-6 (Foakes 59, Curran 27) It’s easy to forget, as I type the OBO while muscular flunkies wave a fan either side of my freshly moisturised phizog, that the humidity in Sri Lanka is hideously uncomfortable. When he made a century against Murali in Colombo in 1992-93, Robin Smith didn’t go to the toilet for 48 hours afterwards. Foakes and Curran look a little hot and bothered, though it has yet to affect their decision-making with the bat. It’s been a superbly judged partnership.
9.57am GMT
67th over: England 221-6 (Foakes 58, Curran 26) “Foakes has tickled my imagination,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “He has been solid in defence, and has unfurled compact shots at appropriate moments - considering he can keep too, maybe he is the orthodox batsman this rather inventive English Test has needed. He has also managed to tickle my poetic muse, which has allowed me to write this small rhyme to chug us along on what has sometimes been a slow, if still absorbing, day of good ol’ cricket!
Sit up, folks!
We have got not one, not two, but three English blokes
9.53am GMT
66th over: England 221-6 (Foakes 58, Curran 26) Curran brings up the fifty partnership in style, jumping down the track to lift Herath over wide mid-on for six. This kid!
9.51am GMT
65th over: England 212-6 (Foakes 58, Curran 17) A piece of filth from Perera is pulled firmly for four by Foakes. His patience and shot selection have been immaculate. Apart from the fact he’s right-handed, bats No7 and has a beard, it’s just like watching Alastair Cook.
9.47am GMT
64th over: England 208-6 (Foakes 54, Curran 17) Foakes, the monk at the orgy, works Herath for a single to move to 54 from 123 balls. Given the circumstances, both for him and the team, it’s been such an impressive innings.
“Kim Thonger is a conceptual, strategic, forward-planning genius,” says Matt Dony. “I can’t imagine a better approach. Certainly not a more entertaining one. Maybe a run at Brexit, next?”
9.44am GMT
63rd over: England 207-6 (Foakes 53, Curran 17)
9.40am GMT
62nd over: England 205-6 (Foakes 52, Curran 16) Nobody knows anything, not until both sides have batted on a pitch, but the recent history of Galle suggests England are in a pretty good position here. If they reach 300, they’ll be favourites. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal is back on the field; he pulled up with a groin problem in the afternoon session.
9.37am GMT
61st over: England 203-6 (Foakes 51, Curran 15) Dilruwan Perera replaces Lakmal and is worked for a single by Foakes, who reaches an accomplished, level-headed fifty on debut. Well played indeed. Later in the over Curran is beaten by a cracking slower off-break that spits past the edge.
“Half-centuries on debut are not conducive to staying in the side, then,” says Andrew Benton. “Whatever happened to Tim Ambrose.”
9.32am GMT
60th over: England 199-6 (Foakes 49, Curran 14) Rangana Herath returns to the attack after tea. Sri Lanka know that one wicket could bring four, so this is an important little period in the context of the game, the series and the future of the whole wide world. He bowls a maiden to Foakes, who thus stays one short of his fifty.
“Morning Rob,” says Kim Thonger. “I’ve had an epiphanic lie in. The Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) principle should apply to selection policy for Sri Lanka tours.
9.11am GMT
That was a much better session for England, who sexed down their approach from the morning and scored 86 runs for the loss of Jos Buttler, caught behind off Dilruwan Perera. Buttler, Curran and especially Ben Foakes played with an abundance of commonsense. See you soon for the evening session.
9.10am GMT
59th over: England 199-6 (Foakes 49, Curran 14) Foakes glides Lakmal wide of gully for four, another effective stroke in this admirably low-key innings. A couple of weeks ago he was a strong contender for the all-time England Uncapped XI; now he’s one away from a fifty on Test debut. And with that, it’s tea!
“Morning Rob,” says Ben Powell. “Great to have Test cricket back, if only briefly and before what looks like a long gap until the Ashes. I want to say Matt Prior for the last w/k to score 50+ on debut overseas, but feel that’s too obvious so am going to say Geraint Jones. Cue laughter track?”
9.04am GMT
58th over: England 192-6 (Foakes 44, Curran 12) Dan Woodward wins the great OBO pop quiz by pointing out that Tim Ambrose was the last England keeper to make a half-century on debut in an overseas Test. In fact only two have ever done it: Tim Ambrose in 2008 and Jar-Jar Binks in 1964.
Dhananjaya continues to Curran, who is defending with impressive certainty. It’s a maiden.
9.02am GMT
57th over: England 192-6 (Foakes 44, Curran 12) Foakes pulls Lakmal just short of midwicket and through for a couple. I think the ball stopped in the pitch, which caused that rare false stroke from Foakes. The equilibrium of his innings has been jolly impressive.
“I’m a little bit disconcerted,” says Richard O’Hagan. “For the first time in, well, as long as I can remember, I can’t think of anything to criticise in this England selection. I would’ve liked to see Denly get a chance, but I simply can’t think who he would’ve replaced. It’s a very strange feeling.”
8.56am GMT
56th over: England 190-6 (Foakes 42, Curran 12) After making six runs from his first 36 deliveries, Sam Curran doubles his score by swiping Dhananjaya sweetly over long off. This kid! That’s the first six of the match.
“How about a shout-out for Zimbabwe winning their first away Test since 2001 – when the world was very different,” says Andrew Gladwin. “A huge result in the current context of the travails of both Zimbabwe as a country and a cricket team. Bairstow back as opener? Would be more an option surely if he doesn’t need to keep.”
8.52am GMT
55th over: England 183-6 (Foakes 41, Curran 6) The underrated Suranga Lakmal, Sri Lanka’s token seamer, returns to the attack. He picked up Rory Burns and Moeen Ali this morning, two bonus wickets in many ways. Curran plays a wristy cut stroke but can’t beat the man at point, so it’s a maiden.
8.46am GMT
54th over: England 183-6 (Foakes 41, Curran 6) “Ah, England Test cricket, how I’ve missed you,” says Guy Hornsby. “Though nothing punches you in the metaphorical chops quite like the first morning on a turning pitch in Galle. I wonder how much Rory Burns is kicking himself, as he’d looked lively. I sense he may have something to say about getting 9 in the second innings, but by then getting to 30 will feel like a ton. A penny for YJB’s thoughts right now. He should give Glenn McGrath a call.”
Bairstow will be straight back in the side when he’s fit, though it might not be as keeper. Who’d be a selector? I would! It’s bloody great fun at times like these, especially from the armchair.
8.44am GMT
53rd over: England 180-6 (Foakes 40, Curran 4) Pop quiz, children: who was the last England wicketkeeper to make a half-century on debut in an overseas Test?
Meanwhile, Dhananjaya replaces the slightly subdued Herath - he’ll do his work in the second innings - and produces one big legspinner that Curran defends. These two are going well. Slowly, but well.
8.41am GMT
52nd over: England 178-6 (Foakes 38, Curran 4) This will probably be described as a lower-order revival, but the way we should view this England Test team has changed under Ed Smith. Effectively, they have eight batsmen and six bowlers, so runs from Curran at No8 are no more unusual than runs from Nos 1-3. If anything, they are less surprising.
8.37am GMT
51st over: England 177-6 (Foakes 37, Curran 4) Foakes has, paradoxically, caught the eye by being so unspectacular. He’s played an old-fashioned Test innings and looks the sort of even-tempered player England need. I know it’s early but he already looks a serious long-term option, especially as his keeping is world-class. Goodness knows what happens when Jonny Bairstow is fit. Maybe England should just do away with a top-order and play seven all-rounders, like Pep Guardiola does with midfielders.
8.33am GMT
50th over: England 176-6 (Foakes 36, Curran 4) There are already hints of the vicious pitch this should become, with the odd ball turning sharply. There’s another from Perera, which rips a long way past Curran’s attempted drive. If England get 250 they will be right in this game.
8.29am GMT
49th over: England 174-6 (Foakes 35, Curran 3) A quiet over from Herath is enlivened by a nice stat from Bumble on Sky, who points out that Curran wasn’t born when Herath made his first-class debut.
“Curious that the match is taking place on a pitch which is likely to deteriorate in 2-3 days,” says John Starbuck. “Anyone would think they couldn’t be bothered to play over five days. Is there no-one around in cricket with a good appreciation of the money aspect?”
8.27am GMT
48th over: England 173-6 (Foakes 35, Curran 2) The non-striker Curran survives a token run-out referral after scampering back for a second. The pitch is pretty good at the moment, so there’s no need for England to be as frantic as they were in the morning session. The longer they bat, the less time Sri Lanka will have before the pitch starts to turn square.
In other news, here’s Charlie Tinsley. “Should Foakes be releived of the gloves to allow him to bat further up the order?”
8.23am GMT
47th over: England 170-6 (Foakes 33, Curran 1) Herath continues to the impressive Ben Foakes, who has played with patience and commonsense. That game of football in Colombo a couple of weeks ago may prove to be a significant sliding door in English cricket history, like Michael Vaughan’s slipping in the nets at Lord’s in 2004. Foakes works the ball through midwicket, and the chasing Chandimal pulls up holding his groin. That’s a worry for Sri Lanka, and he leaves the field immediately.
8.19am GMT
46th over: England 166-6 (Foakes 30, Curran 0) All the pre-match talk was understandably about the retiring Rangana Herath, but of late the offspinner Dilruwan Perera has been equally if not more dangerous. He has a stunning record at Galle – a better average than Herath, a better strike-rate than Murali – and almost grabs his fourth wicket of the innings with a gorgeous delivery that rips past Curran’s outside edge and just misses the off stump. A maiden.
8.16am GMT
45th over: England 166-6 (Foakes 30, Curran 0) Thanks Tanya, morning everyone. Well this is fun! Cricket in Galle is rarely dull and today has been no exception. Although England haven’t batted particularly well, they aren’t too far away from a competitive score on a pitch that should deteriorate from day two or three.
8.15am GMT
44th over: England 164-6 (Foakes 28, Curran 0) Sri Lanka breakthrough just as England were starting to look comfortable. A third for Dilruwan Perera, and a smart catch by the keeper Dickwella to make up for his terrible review advice earlier in the day. Buttler had looked in super touch - undone by uncertainty at the last. Enter Sam Curran and I’ll hand over now to the master, Rob Smyth. Thank you for your emails!
8.11am GMT
On the the brink of drinks, Buttler edges and is caught close to the stumps by Dickwella.
8.08am GMT
43rd over: England 162-5 (Buttler 37, Foakes 27) The steady ship Herath does his job - three runs nurdled from the over as Buttler and Foakes’s partnership moves on to 59.
8.04am GMT
42nd over: England 159-5 (Buttler 35, Foakes 26) Dilruwan replaces Dananjaya and wheels in, a long cloth flowing from his back pocket. Foakes sweeps, sweetly, for four. It’s his third boundary of the innings and he’s not looking out of place. This has been a good first 50 minutes for England after lunch.
8.00am GMT
41st over: England 154-5 (Buttler 34, Foakes 22) Just one run comes from Herath’s over, who has England prodding and poking inelegantly. In the Sky box, Athers and Arnold have gone for identical dark blue shirts.
7.58am GMT
40th over: England 153-5 (Buttler 33, Foakes 22) A leg-glance for two then a pull for four as Buttler eases into third gear. Akila Dananjay opts to go around the wicket to Buttler, and he drives him for one. Akila Dananjay proving expensive 0-65 from 12.
7.52am GMT
39th over: England 144-5 (Buttler 25, Foakes 21) Herath comes back to stem the flow - and he does. Just one run comes from the over. A slower ball foxes Foakes but he survives.
7.50am GMT
38th over: England 143-5 (Buttler 24, Foakes 21) Ah, lovely from Foakes. An off-drive, smooth, controlled, sweeps over the grass for four. It follows a nicely timed push through cover . An expensive over from Dananjaya. Pressure easing a little on England now.
7.46am GMT
37th over: England 133-5 (Buttler 22, Foakes 13) Buttler hauls Lakmal past the bowler’s outstretched hand, over the bent-double umpires straight for four. Then another super shot, a cut for two.
Meanwhile, Ian Sheldrake writes from Perth: “You published an email from my colleague Tom Leeming during the lunch break, with whom I share the highs and lows of being two cricket loving Poms in our office in Perth, Australia.
7.40am GMT
36th over: England 127-5 (Buttler 15, Foakes 16) Sky showing a split screen of Akila Dananjay. I coudn’t pick him in a million years. A maiden.
A note from India. Hello Sathish!
7.37am GMT
35th over: England 126-5 (Buttler 15, Foakes 13) Aha, Lakmal reappears from the other end. And that’s a bootiful cover-drive from Foakes, head in just the right place. Only gets two for it, but that matters not a jot. What ho! With a high elbow he pulls Herath high for four and his first boundary in Test cricket.
7.32am GMT
34th over: England 120-5 (Buttler 15, Foakes 7) Lakmal comes off and is replaced by Akila Dananjaya . Foakes prods tentatively, Buttler nudges. And that’s another quiet over.
7.28am GMT
33rd over: England 118-5 (Buttler 14, Foakes 6) Herath again, and that’s another maiden. He’s testing England here, with his length and line - ten overs, 1-30. This may well turn into a game of patience. England haven’t shown a great deal so far this match.
7.26am GMT
32nd over: England 118-5 (Buttler 14, Foakes 6) A back-foot push from Buttler just beats the diving fielder at the cover-point boundary. Cracking shot that. Lakmal steady but these two seem happy to defend. Sense and sensibility.
7.21am GMT
31st over: England 114-5 (Buttler 10, Foakes 6) Herath resumes from the fort end, where I once bought some coconut milk back in 2001. Incidentally Herath does have a magnificent moustache. Foakes looking comfortable, but as I write that he nearly drags the ball onto his stumps. A maiden.
7.17am GMT
30th over: England 114-5 (Buttler 10, Foakes 6) Lakmal bowls the first over after lunch - not a wasted delivery amongst them. A nudge off the hips from Foakes gets him off the strike - and that’s the only run from the over.
7.09am GMT
My ten year old has just watched the morning’s highlights and said, with some disgust, “I thought this was supposed to be a Test match.” From the mouths of babes... anyway, England resume on 113-5. Two tall, slender right-handed batsmen walk to the crease.
7.05am GMT
A charming email from Christian Cummings, so charming that I’ll give him a plug:
“Dear Tanya,
6.50am GMT
“The hardest thing in the sub-continent is getting the tempo right.” says Mike Atherton in Galle. He suggests that England didn’t quite manage it. “A little too frenetic.”
And words of wisdom from Russel Arnold: “Trust your defence.” England need to sellotape that to the dressing-room door.
6.42am GMT
Well, that was... surprising!
England were certainly bold. Might we say reckless? Root and Stokes won’t want to watch their dismissals again in a hurry. Though Root played nicely, as did Jennings, whose sweep shot came in particularly handy
6.34am GMT
29th over: England 113-5 (Buttler 10, Foakes 5) Akila Dananjaya bowls the last over before lunch. Buttler forces him away for two and then a top-edged sweep for two more. Could have been four but the outfield is slow. He just has that air of calm about him - the perfect partner for Foakes on debut. And they head off for something delicious in the Galle pavilion - Sri Lanka dining more happily than England, I wager.
6.28am GMT
28th over: England 108-5 (Buttler 6, Foakes 4) Dilruwan is the quickest Sri Lankan to 100 wickets - quicker even than Murali. An lbw shout against Foakes but it is outside the line. The fielders move around and a leg slip comes in. Foakes dances a down the pitch and they get a single. We glance at the Galle clocks - one says five to 12, and one says five past. I know which one England would rather use.
6.24am GMT
27th over: England 106-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 3) A looser delivery from Herath hands Foakes a couple of runs on the leg-side and the pressure lifts a little. Herath slows it down evern more and Foakes prods elegantly. Six minutes till lunch.
6.22am GMT
26th over: England 104-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 1) The field is tight. Dilruwan tosses it up but Buttler doesn’t try anything flashy. And that’s another maiden - the second in a row. England now have two right-handers in which isn’t going to help.
6.19am GMT
25th over: England 104-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 1) Foakes standing tall to Herath, and plays out a maiden. It shouldn’t feel totally alien to Foakes. He once played a season of club cricket in Columbo and bought himself a rickshaw to drive around in.
6.16am GMT
24th over: England 104-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 1) Foakes bats away his first ball in Test cricket, and gets runs from his second with a push through midwicket.
The boundary boards are carrying an advertisment for Wellman Vitamins but England are looking rather sickly...that was a terrible shot from Stokes.
6.13am GMT
Stokes sweeping, bowled behind his legs. Middle stump gone. He got far too far across his stumps there.
6.11am GMT
23rd over: England 103-4 (Stokes 7, Buttler 5) Herath trundles in and releases his dangerous paper-weights. Ah that’s lovely, Buttler drives with style, to the boundary.
6.08am GMT
22nd over: England 99-4 (Stokes 7, Buttler 1) That’s why England have been so aggressive. you never know when a ball is coming with your name on it. A change of pace and of bowling and Jennings was bamboozled. A shame for him - he’d looked in lovely touch, a confident knock, and a good one. Buttler off the mark with a soft-hands late-cut.
6.04am GMT
Jennings steps way back to cut and is bowled. Instant bowling change magic.
6.02am GMT
21st over: England 98-3 (Jennings 46, Stokes 7) Just three singles off that over from Herath, balls on a good length.
6.00am GMT
20th over: England 95-3 (Jennings 44, Stokes 6 ) Jennings on top of his game here. Looking confident and controlled. The long limbs which can make him seem like an over-grown daddy-longlegs against pace, are his friends against spin. Levers that help him sweep and stretch.
5.57am GMT
19th over: England 86-3 (Jennings 35, Stokes 2 ) Herath, again. I’m with you Martin, there’s something very-appealing about his round-armed demeanour. But Stokes has no mercy. He’s down on one knee and bam! Sweep - the ball is at the boundary. England attacking every loose ball they can.
5.53am GMT
18th over: England 75-3 (Jennings 28, Stokes 2 ) A good over from Dananjaya, a probing maiden. Stokes’ long frame slightly awkwardly getting down to muffle the spin.
Martin Wright is already at his keyboard. “Morning Tanya,”
5.50am GMT
17th over: England 75-3 (Jennings 28, Stokes 2 ) Stokes off the mark with a single, using his feet dandily to his first ball from Herath. Oooh, that dismissal of Root’s doesn’t look any tidier on replay - waltzing out into the middle of the dance floor only to find someone has stolen his dance partner.
5.45am GMT
Root steps down the pitch looking to drive and is bowled! That’s Herath’s hundredth wicket at Galle.
5.44am GMT
16th over: England 72-2 (Jennings 35, Root 27 ) A drop! Angelo Matthews somehow puts down an easy top-edge from Keaton Jennings at first slip. It comes in at a good height and an easy pace. Jennings seems unruffled.
5.42am GMT
15th over: England 70-2 (Jennings 34, Root 26 ) Lovely TV pictures of everyone sitting up on the fort overlooking the ground as Herath rolls out another steady over.
5.40am GMT
14th over: England 65-2 (Jennings 24, Root 31) Some ripping turn from Dananjaya has Root prodding first ball. Then Root and Jennings sweep and nudge eight from the over. That’s their fifty partnership up in just 66 balls.
5.32am GMT
13th over: England 57-2 (Jennings 19, Root 28) And it’s the man of the moment, the man of the Test match - Rangana Herath. The grey-haired, smiling, cuddly bank manager is on the button straight away with England managing just a couple of quick singles.
And that’s drinks. Meanwhile, here’s a close-up picture of the pitch:
Briefly unveiled between showers, the Galle pitch looks a good’un. pic.twitter.com/pqKstsVDG0
5.28am GMT
12th over: England 55-2 (Jennings 18, Root 27) Sri Lanka having a shocker with their reviews. The wicketkeeper Dickwella insistent that a sweeping Jennings has got an edge - it goes to review where the cameras reveal what everyone else already knows - the ball got nowhere near the ball. And that’s both reviews gone in 11.1 overs. A tidy over from Dananjaya.
5.24am GMT
11th over: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 26) Lakmal: exacting, accurate, testing. Another maiden from him - a great spell this morning.
Adam Wilson is up and emailing. Thanks Adam! “Morning Tanya. Delighted to find Ben Foakes finally has been picked. He was an unused squad player for the last Ashes plus 12th man a few times over the past few years. Here’s hoping the early morning wobble does not descend into chaos by the time he gets to bat.”
5.19am GMT
10th over: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 26) Jennings survives a near-run out after dawdling at the non-striker’s end. Soft hands from Root and then a huge lbw appeal from Dananjaya. Umpire Erasmus is not interested but Sri Lanka review - the impact is outside, though it would have hit the stumps. Arghgh! An ugly back-foot edge by Jennings to the last ball of the over, almost in slow-motion, passes slip and keeper. England move past fifty.
5.12am GMT
9th over: England 45-2 (Jennings 12, Root 23) Lakmal’s skinny frame brings some calm to proceeding with a maiden. He bowls with his shirt buttons done up and his trousers tight. It’s still overcast in Galle, no sun, no shades, but no jumpers either.
5.09am GMT
8th over: England 45-2 (Jennings 12, Root 23) And we have a change of bowling as Akila Dananjaya comes into the attack. Root watches him warily for three balls then pounces. He sweeps, beautifully, for four and to the next ball dances light-footedly down the pitch for another boundary. England’s run-rate is 5.63.
5.05am GMT
7th over: England 36-2 (Jennings 11, Root 15) Root down on one knee to a wider ball from Lakmal and clop, the ball glides away for four. Just lovely. The next ball is straighter and Root shuffles more awkwardly. He’s not in, in yet, if you know what I mean. A thick outside edge for four finishes the over.
And an email, two emails! From John Starbuck (hello John!) and Sachin Paul,who is admiring Jennings’ early-morning footwork:
4.59am GMT
6th over: England 28-2 (Jennings 11, Root 7) Jennings! Two boundaries from the over: a flashing square drive for four following a reverse-sweep to the boundary a few balls earlier. He is making the most of his height and reach here.
4.56am GMT
5th over: England 20-2 (Jennings 3 Root 7) Root not utterly convincing here. Finishes the over with a drive for four, but squeezes in an awkward inside edge too. Lakmal bowling beautifully.
4.51am GMT
4th over: England 14/2 (Jennings 3 Root 1) After being a shell-shocked spectator for the first three overs Jennings gets going with an awkward prod and then a more confident sweep.
That was Moeen’s first golden duck in Test cricket.
4.48am GMT
3rd over: England 10-2 (Jennings 0, Root 0). Root survives the hat-trick ball but a double-wicket maiden for Lakmal, not quite the start England were hoping for.
4.46am GMT
Next ball! Lakmal goes round the wicket for Moeen’ first ball, Moeen plays down the wrong line and the off stump careers away.
4.43am GMT
Oh dear. Burns tickles one down the leg-side and walks off with a wry smile.
4.41am GMT
2nd over: England 10-0 (Burns 9, Jennings 0) We didn’t have to wait long for the first over of spin - Dilruwan Perera is thrown the ball. And Burns is looking very confident here, lovely footwork as he drives Perera past Herath for another four. I wonder if Alastair Cook has his radio on down at the farm?
4.37am GMT
1st over: England 5-0 (Burns 4, Jennings 0) And Burns gets off the mark with a four! A glide off his legs and a huge smile to match. Suranga Lakmal drifting a little bit over to Burns’ legs.
4.31am GMT
We bid farewell this match to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, the last man standing who played Test cricket in the 1990s and who emerged from the shadow of Murali to his own personal triumphs.
His stats are incredible - with an astonishing 430 Test wickets, he lies 10th on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers. Would you have put him that high?
4.15am GMT
Teams: England have handed caps to Rory Burns and Ben Foakes and dropped Stuart Broad. “It’s never easy” says Root, “I wouldn’t see it as being dropped but playing a balanced attack on this kind of surface.”
So they’re playing three spinners, a new opener, a new wicketkeeper, and an unproven No.3 (Moeen). “We feel in a really good place, it’s a great opportunity. Be bold,” says Root.
4.10am GMT
Good morning everyone! The overnight rain has passed and play is due to start on time. Joe Root has just won the toss and will bat first, “Obviously it is quite tacky, so it might be hard work for the first hour or so.”
It is a good toss for England to win - in the last eight games at Galle the side batting first has won. Ah but Sky have just flashed up some more stats - England’s win percentage away from home since 2013 is 12 per cent.
11.29pm GMT
And so here we are. Bonfire Night over and done with. Darkness falling at half past four. Christmas nuts in-store. And an England Test series about to begin.
To Galle then, at this ungodly hour, and the lovely ground overlooked by the ancient old fort, where Sri Lanka and England start the first of three Tests at 4.30am GMT.
Continue reading...Sri Lanka v England: first Test, day one – live!
9.11am GMT
That was a much better session for England, who sexed down their approach from the morning and scored 86 runs for the loss of Jos Buttler, caught behind off Dilruwan Perera. Buttler, Curran and especially Ben Foakes played with an abundance of commonsense. See you soon for the evening session.
9.10am GMT
59th over: England 199-6 (Foakes 49, Curran 14) Foakes glides Lakmal wide of gully for four, another effective stroke in this admirably low-key innings. A couple of weeks ago he was a strong contender for the all-time England Uncapped XI; now he’s one away from a fifty on Test debut. And with that, it’s tea!
“Morning Rob,” says Ben Powell. “Great to have Test cricket back, if only briefly and before what looks like a long gap until the Ashes. I want to say Matt Prior for the last w/k to score 50+ on debut overseas, but feel that’s too obvious so am going to say Geraint Jones. Cue laughter track?”
9.04am GMT
58th over: England 192-6 (Foakes 44, Curran 12) Dan Woodward wins the great OBO pop quiz by pointing out that Tim Ambrose was the last England keeper to make a half-century on debut in an overseas Test. In fact only two have ever done it: Tim Ambrose in 2008 and Jar-Jar Binks in 1964.
Dhananjaya continues to Curran, who is defending with impressive certainty. It’s a maiden.
9.02am GMT
57th over: England 192-6 (Foakes 44, Curran 12) Foakes pulls Lakmal just short of midwicket and through for a couple. I think the ball stopped in the pitch, which caused that rare false stroke from Foakes. The equilibrium of his innings has been jolly impressive.
“I’m a little bit disconcerted,” says Richard O’Hagan. “For the first time in, well, as long as I can remember, I can’t think of anything to criticise in this England selection. I would’ve liked to see Denly get a chance, but I simply can’t think who he would’ve replaced. It’s a very strange feeling.”
8.56am GMT
56th over: England 190-6 (Foakes 42, Curran 12) After making six runs from his first 36 deliveries, Sam Curran doubles his score by swiping Dhananjaya sweetly over long off. This kid! That’s the first six of the match.
“How about a shout-out for Zimbabwe winning their first away Test since 2001 – when the world was very different,” says Andrew Gladwin. “A huge result in the current context of the travails of both Zimbabwe as a country and a cricket team. Bairstow back as opener? Would be more an option surely if he doesn’t need to keep.”
8.52am GMT
55th over: England 183-6 (Foakes 41, Curran 6) The underrated Suranga Lakmal, Sri Lanka’s token seamer, returns to the attack. He picked up Rory Burns and Moeen Ali this morning, two bonus wickets in many ways. Curran plays a wristy cut stroke but can’t beat the man at point, so it’s a maiden.
8.46am GMT
54th over: England 183-6 (Foakes 41, Curran 6) “Ah, England Test cricket, how I’ve missed you,” says Guy Hornsby. “Though nothing punches you in the metaphorical chops quite like the first morning on a turning pitch in Galle. I wonder how much Rory Burns is kicking himself, as he’d looked lively. I sense he may have something to say about getting 9 in the second innings, but by then getting to 30 will feel like a ton. A penny for YJB’s thoughts right now. He should give Glenn McGrath a call.”
Bairstow will be straight back in the side when he’s fit, though it might not be as keeper. Who’d be a selector? I would! It’s bloody great fun at times like these, especially from the armchair.
8.44am GMT
53rd over: England 180-6 (Foakes 40, Curran 4) Pop quiz, children: who was the last England wicketkeeper to make a half-century on debut in an overseas Test?
Meanwhile, Dhananjaya replaces the slightly subdued Herath - he’ll do his work in the second innings - and produces one big legspinner that Curran defends. These two are going well. Slowly, but well.
8.41am GMT
52nd over: England 178-6 (Foakes 38, Curran 4) This will probably be described as a lower-order revival, but the way we should view this England Test team has changed under Ed Smith. Effectively, they have eight batsmen and six bowlers, so runs from Curran at No8 are no more unusual than runs from Nos 1-3. If anything, they are less surprising.
8.37am GMT
51st over: England 177-6 (Foakes 37, Curran 4) Foakes has, paradoxically, caught the eye by being so unspectacular. He’s played an old-fashioned Test innings and looks the sort of even-tempered player England need. I know it’s early but he already looks a serious long-term option, especially as his keeping is world-class. Goodness knows what happens when Jonny Bairstow is fit. Maybe England should just do away with a top-order and play seven all-rounders, like Pep Guardiola does with midfielders.
8.33am GMT
50th over: England 176-6 (Foakes 36, Curran 4) There are already hints of the vicious pitch this should become, with the odd ball turning sharply. There’s another from Perera, which rips a long way past Curran’s attempted drive. If England get 250 they will be right in this game.
8.29am GMT
49th over: England 174-6 (Foakes 35, Curran 3) A quiet over from Herath is enlivened by a nice stat from Bumble on Sky, who points out that Curran wasn’t born when Herath made his first-class debut.
“Curious that the match is taking place on a pitch which is likely to deteriorate in 2-3 days,” says John Starbuck. “Anyone would think they couldn’t be bothered to play over five days. Is there no-one around in cricket with a good appreciation of the money aspect?”
8.27am GMT
48th over: England 173-6 (Foakes 35, Curran 2) The non-striker Curran survives a token run-out referral after scampering back for a second. The pitch is pretty good at the moment, so there’s no need for England to be as frantic as they were in the morning session. The longer they bat, the less time Sri Lanka will have before the pitch starts to turn square.
In other news, here’s Charlie Tinsley. “Should Foakes be releived of the gloves to allow him to bat further up the order?”
8.23am GMT
47th over: England 170-6 (Foakes 33, Curran 1) Herath continues to the impressive Ben Foakes, who has played with patience and commonsense. That game of football in Colombo a couple of weeks ago may prove to be a significant sliding door in English cricket history, like Michael Vaughan’s slipping in the nets at Lord’s in 2004. Foakes works the ball through midwicket, and the chasing Chandimal pulls up holding his groin. That’s a worry for Sri Lanka, and he leaves the field immediately.
8.19am GMT
46th over: England 166-6 (Foakes 30, Curran 0) All the pre-match talk was understandably about the retiring Rangana Herath, but of late the offspinner Dilruwan Perera has been equally if not more dangerous. He has a stunning record at Galle – a better average than Herath, a better strike-rate than Murali – and almost grabs his fourth wicket of the innings with a gorgeous delivery that rips past Curran’s outside edge and just misses the off stump. A maiden.
8.16am GMT
45th over: England 166-6 (Foakes 30, Curran 0) Thanks Tanya, morning everyone. Well this is fun! Cricket in Galle is rarely dull and today has been no exception. Although England haven’t batted particularly well, they aren’t too far away from a competitive score on a pitch that should deteriorate from day two or three.
8.15am GMT
44th over: England 164-6 (Foakes 28, Curran 0) Sri Lanka breakthrough just as England were starting to look comfortable. A third for Dilruwan Perera, and a smart catch by the keeper Dickwella to make up for his terrible review advice earlier in the day. Buttler had looked in super touch - undone by uncertainty at the last. Enter Sam Curran and I’ll hand over now to the master, Rob Smyth. Thank you for your emails!
8.11am GMT
On the the brink of drinks, Buttler edges and is caught close to the stumps by Dickwella.
8.08am GMT
43rd over: England 162-5 (Buttler 37, Foakes 27) The steady ship Herath does his job - three runs nurdled from the over as Buttler and Foakes’s partnership moves on to 59.
8.04am GMT
42nd over: England 159-5 (Buttler 35, Foakes 26) Dilruwan replaces Dananjaya and wheels in, a long cloth flowing from his back pocket. Foakes sweeps, sweetly, for four. It’s his third boundary of the innings and he’s not looking out of place. This has been a good first 50 minutes for England after lunch.
8.00am GMT
41st over: England 154-5 (Buttler 34, Foakes 22) Just one run comes from Herath’s over, who has England prodding and poking inelegantly. In the Sky box, Athers and Arnold have gone for identical dark blue shirts.
7.58am GMT
40th over: England 153-5 (Buttler 33, Foakes 22) A leg-glance for two then a pull for four as Buttler eases into third gear. Akila Dananjay opts to go around the wicket to Buttler, and he drives him for one. Akila Dananjay proving expensive 0-65 from 12.
7.52am GMT
39th over: England 144-5 (Buttler 25, Foakes 21) Herath comes back to stem the flow - and he does. Just one run comes from the over. A slower ball foxes Foakes but he survives.
7.50am GMT
38th over: England 143-5 (Buttler 24, Foakes 21) Ah, lovely from Foakes. An off-drive, smooth, controlled, sweeps over the grass for four. It follows a nicely timed push through cover . An expensive over from Dananjaya. Pressure easing a little on England now.
7.46am GMT
37th over: England 133-5 (Buttler 22, Foakes 13) Buttler hauls Lakmal past the bowler’s outstretched hand, over the bent-double umpires straight for four. Then another super shot, a cut for two.
Meanwhile, Ian Sheldrake writes from Perth: “You published an email from my colleague Tom Leeming during the lunch break, with whom I share the highs and lows of being two cricket loving Poms in our office in Perth, Australia.
7.40am GMT
36th over: England 127-5 (Buttler 15, Foakes 16) Sky showing a split screen of Akila Dananjay. I coudn’t pick him in a million years. A maiden.
A note from India. Hello Sathish!
7.37am GMT
35th over: England 126-5 (Buttler 15, Foakes 13) Aha, Lakmal reappears from the other end. And that’s a bootiful cover-drive from Foakes, head in just the right place. Only gets two for it, but that matters not a jot. What ho! With a high elbow he pulls Herath high for four and his first boundary in Test cricket.
7.32am GMT
34th over: England 120-5 (Buttler 15, Foakes 7) Lakmal comes off and is replaced by Akila Dananjaya . Foakes prods tentatively, Buttler nudges. And that’s another quiet over.
7.28am GMT
33rd over: England 118-5 (Buttler 14, Foakes 6) Herath again, and that’s another maiden. He’s testing England here, with his length and line - ten overs, 1-30. This may well turn into a game of patience. England haven’t shown a great deal so far this match.
7.26am GMT
32nd over: England 118-5 (Buttler 14, Foakes 6) A back-foot push from Buttler just beats the diving fielder at the cover-point boundary. Cracking shot that. Lakmal steady but these two seem happy to defend. Sense and sensibility.
7.21am GMT
31st over: England 114-5 (Buttler 10, Foakes 6) Herath resumes from the fort end, where I once bought some coconut milk back in 2001. Incidentally Herath does have a magnificent moustache. Foakes looking comfortable, but as I write that he nearly drags the ball onto his stumps. A maiden.
7.17am GMT
30th over: England 114-5 (Buttler 10, Foakes 6) Lakmal bowls the first over after lunch - not a wasted delivery amongst them. A nudge off the hips from Foakes gets him off the strike - and that’s the only run from the over.
7.09am GMT
My ten year old has just watched the morning’s highlights and said, with some disgust, “I thought this was supposed to be a Test match.” From the mouths of babes... anyway, England resume on 113-5. Two tall, slender right-handed batsmen walk to the crease.
7.05am GMT
A charming email from Christian Cummings, so charming that I’ll give him a plug:
“Dear Tanya,
6.50am GMT
“The hardest thing in the sub-continent is getting the tempo right.” says Mike Atherton in Galle. He suggests that England didn’t quite manage it. “A little too frenetic.”
And words of wisdom from Russel Arnold: “Trust your defence.” England need to sellotape that to the dressing-room door.
6.42am GMT
Well, that was... surprising!
England were certainly bold. Might we say reckless? Root and Stokes won’t want to watch their dismissals again in a hurry. Though Root played nicely, as did Jennings, whose sweep shot came in particularly handy
6.34am GMT
29th over: England 113-5 (Buttler 10, Foakes 5) Akila Dananjaya bowls the last over before lunch. Buttler forces him away for two and then a top-edged sweep for two more. Could have been four but the outfield is slow. He just has that air of calm about him - the perfect partner for Foakes on debut. And they head off for something delicious in the Galle pavilion - Sri Lanka dining more happily than England, I wager.
6.28am GMT
28th over: England 108-5 (Buttler 6, Foakes 4) Dilruwan is the quickest Sri Lankan to 100 wickets - quicker even than Murali. An lbw shout against Foakes but it is outside the line. The fielders move around and a leg slip comes in. Foakes dances a down the pitch and they get a single. We glance at the Galle clocks - one says five to 12, and one says five past. I know which one England would rather use.
6.24am GMT
27th over: England 106-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 3) A looser delivery from Herath hands Foakes a couple of runs on the leg-side and the pressure lifts a little. Herath slows it down evern more and Foakes prods elegantly. Six minutes till lunch.
6.22am GMT
26th over: England 104-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 1) The field is tight. Dilruwan tosses it up but Buttler doesn’t try anything flashy. And that’s another maiden - the second in a row. England now have two right-handers in which isn’t going to help.
6.19am GMT
25th over: England 104-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 1) Foakes standing tall to Herath, and plays out a maiden. It shouldn’t feel totally alien to Foakes. He once played a season of club cricket in Columbo and bought himself a rickshaw to drive around in.
6.16am GMT
24th over: England 104-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 1) Foakes bats away his first ball in Test cricket, and gets runs from his second with a push through midwicket.
The boundary boards are carrying an advertisment for Wellman Vitamins but England are looking rather sickly...that was a terrible shot from Stokes.
6.13am GMT
Stokes sweeping, bowled behind his legs. Middle stump gone. He got far too far across his stumps there.
6.11am GMT
23rd over: England 103-4 (Stokes 7, Buttler 5) Herath trundles in and releases his dangerous paper-weights. Ah that’s lovely, Buttler drives with style, to the boundary.
6.08am GMT
22nd over: England 99-4 (Stokes 7, Buttler 1) That’s why England have been so aggressive. you never know when a ball is coming with your name on it. A change of pace and of bowling and Jennings was bamboozled. A shame for him - he’d looked in lovely touch, a confident knock, and a good one. Buttler off the mark with a soft-hands late-cut.
6.04am GMT
Jennings steps way back to cut and is bowled. Instant bowling change magic.
6.02am GMT
21st over: England 98-3 (Jennings 46, Stokes 7) Just three singles off that over from Herath, balls on a good length.
6.00am GMT
20th over: England 95-3 (Jennings 44, Stokes 6 ) Jennings on top of his game here. Looking confident and controlled. The long limbs which can make him seem like an over-grown daddy-longlegs against pace, are his friends against spin. Levers that help him sweep and stretch.
5.57am GMT
19th over: England 86-3 (Jennings 35, Stokes 2 ) Herath, again. I’m with you Martin, there’s something very-appealing about his round-armed demeanour. But Stokes has no mercy. He’s down on one knee and bam! Sweep - the ball is at the boundary. England attacking every loose ball they can.
5.53am GMT
18th over: England 75-3 (Jennings 28, Stokes 2 ) A good over from Dananjaya, a probing maiden. Stokes’ long frame slightly awkwardly getting down to muffle the spin.
Martin Wright is already at his keyboard. “Morning Tanya,”
5.50am GMT
17th over: England 75-3 (Jennings 28, Stokes 2 ) Stokes off the mark with a single, using his feet dandily to his first ball from Herath. Oooh, that dismissal of Root’s doesn’t look any tidier on replay - waltzing out into the middle of the dance floor only to find someone has stolen his dance partner.
5.45am GMT
Root steps down the pitch looking to drive and is bowled! That’s Herath’s hundredth wicket at Galle.
5.44am GMT
16th over: England 72-2 (Jennings 35, Root 27 ) A drop! Angelo Matthews somehow puts down an easy top-edge from Keaton Jennings at first slip. It comes in at a good height and an easy pace. Jennings seems unruffled.
5.42am GMT
15th over: England 70-2 (Jennings 34, Root 26 ) Lovely TV pictures of everyone sitting up on the fort overlooking the ground as Herath rolls out another steady over.
5.40am GMT
14th over: England 65-2 (Jennings 24, Root 31) Some ripping turn from Dananjaya has Root prodding first ball. Then Root and Jennings sweep and nudge eight from the over. That’s their fifty partnership up in just 66 balls.
5.32am GMT
13th over: England 57-2 (Jennings 19, Root 28) And it’s the man of the moment, the man of the Test match - Rangana Herath. The grey-haired, smiling, cuddly bank manager is on the button straight away with England managing just a couple of quick singles.
And that’s drinks. Meanwhile, here’s a close-up picture of the pitch:
Briefly unveiled between showers, the Galle pitch looks a good’un. pic.twitter.com/pqKstsVDG0
5.28am GMT
12th over: England 55-2 (Jennings 18, Root 27) Sri Lanka having a shocker with their reviews. The wicketkeeper Dickwella insistent that a sweeping Jennings has got an edge - it goes to review where the cameras reveal what everyone else already knows - the ball got nowhere near the ball. And that’s both reviews gone in 11.1 overs. A tidy over from Dananjaya.
5.24am GMT
11th over: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 26) Lakmal: exacting, accurate, testing. Another maiden from him - a great spell this morning.
Adam Wilson is up and emailing. Thanks Adam! “Morning Tanya. Delighted to find Ben Foakes finally has been picked. He was an unused squad player for the last Ashes plus 12th man a few times over the past few years. Here’s hoping the early morning wobble does not descend into chaos by the time he gets to bat.”
5.19am GMT
10th over: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 26) Jennings survives a near-run out after dawdling at the non-striker’s end. Soft hands from Root and then a huge lbw appeal from Dananjaya. Umpire Erasmus is not interested but Sri Lanka review - the impact is outside, though it would have hit the stumps. Arghgh! An ugly back-foot edge by Jennings to the last ball of the over, almost in slow-motion, passes slip and keeper. England move past fifty.
5.12am GMT
9th over: England 45-2 (Jennings 12, Root 23) Lakmal’s skinny frame brings some calm to proceeding with a maiden. He bowls with his shirt buttons done up and his trousers tight. It’s still overcast in Galle, no sun, no shades, but no jumpers either.
5.09am GMT
8th over: England 45-2 (Jennings 12, Root 23) And we have a change of bowling as Akila Dananjaya comes into the attack. Root watches him warily for three balls then pounces. He sweeps, beautifully, for four and to the next ball dances light-footedly down the pitch for another boundary. England’s run-rate is 5.63.
5.05am GMT
7th over: England 36-2 (Jennings 11, Root 15) Root down on one knee to a wider ball from Lakmal and clop, the ball glides away for four. Just lovely. The next ball is straighter and Root shuffles more awkwardly. He’s not in, in yet, if you know what I mean. A thick outside edge for four finishes the over.
And an email, two emails! From John Starbuck (hello John!) and Sachin Paul,who is admiring Jennings’ early-morning footwork:
4.59am GMT
6th over: England 28-2 (Jennings 11, Root 7) Jennings! Two boundaries from the over: a flashing square drive for four following a reverse-sweep to the boundary a few balls earlier. He is making the most of his height and reach here.
4.56am GMT
5th over: England 20-2 (Jennings 3 Root 7) Root not utterly convincing here. Finishes the over with a drive for four, but squeezes in an awkward inside edge too. Lakmal bowling beautifully.
4.51am GMT
4th over: England 14/2 (Jennings 3 Root 1) After being a shell-shocked spectator for the first three overs Jennings gets going with an awkward prod and then a more confident sweep.
That was Moeen’s first golden duck in Test cricket.
4.48am GMT
3rd over: England 10-2 (Jennings 0, Root 0). Root survives the hat-trick ball but a double-wicket maiden for Lakmal, not quite the start England were hoping for.
4.46am GMT
Next ball! Lakmal goes round the wicket for Moeen’ first ball, Moeen plays down the wrong line and the off stump careers away.
4.43am GMT
Oh dear. Burns tickles one down the leg-side and walks off with a wry smile.
4.41am GMT
2nd over: England 10-0 (Burns 9, Jennings 0) We didn’t have to wait long for the first over of spin - Dilruwan Perera is thrown the ball. And Burns is looking very confident here, lovely footwork as he drives Perera past Herath for another four. I wonder if Alastair Cook has his radio on down at the farm?
4.37am GMT
1st over: England 5-0 (Burns 4, Jennings 0) And Burns gets off the mark with a four! A glide off his legs and a huge smile to match. Suranga Lakmal drifting a little bit over to Burns’ legs.
4.31am GMT
We bid farewell this match to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, the last man standing who played Test cricket in the 1990s and who emerged from the shadow of Murali to his own personal triumphs.
His stats are incredible - with an astonishing 430 Test wickets, he lies 10th on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers. Would you have put him that high?
4.15am GMT
Teams: England have handed caps to Rory Burns and Ben Foakes and dropped Stuart Broad. “It’s never easy” says Root, “I wouldn’t see it as being dropped but playing a balanced attack on this kind of surface.”
So they’re playing three spinners, a new opener, a new wicketkeeper, and an unproven No.3 (Moeen). “We feel in a really good place, it’s a great opportunity. Be bold,” says Root.
4.10am GMT
Good morning everyone! The overnight rain has passed and play is due to start on time. Joe Root has just won the toss and will bat first, “Obviously it is quite tacky, so it might be hard work for the first hour or so.”
It is a good toss for England to win - in the last eight games at Galle the side batting first has won. Ah but Sky have just flashed up some more stats - England’s win percentage away from home since 2013 is 12 per cent.
11.29pm GMT
And so here we are. Bonfire Night over and done with. Darkness falling at half past four. Christmas nuts in-store. And an England Test series about to begin.
To Galle then, at this ungodly hour, and the lovely ground overlooked by the ancient old fort, where Sri Lanka and England start the first of three Tests at 4.30am GMT.
Continue reading...October 30, 2018
Jonny Bairstow is one bad series away from being under serious scrutiny | The Spin
In early 2018 England’s Test team had a million problems but Bairstow wasn’t one. Now, something doesn’t feel right
In May 2013, Matt Prior was named the England Men’s Cricketer of the Year. It was hard to think of a more impressive, reliable cricketer. Prior was selfless, resourceful, tough and brilliant. At 31, he was in his prime. Fourteen months later he played his last professional game. His achilles was a mess and his confidence was shot.
Prior’s dramatic decline was a reminder that almost nothing should be taken for granted in sport, and that outstanding careers can fall off a cliff without rhyme or reason.
Related: England’s trickiest Test dilemma: to stick or twist with Stuart Broad
Continue reading...October 27, 2018
England beat Sri Lanka by 30 runs in T20 international – as it happened
The legspinners Joe Denly and Adil Rashid shared seven cheap wickets as England returned to form with an impressive win in Colombo
7.42pm BST
Ali Martin’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company today. We’ll see you at 4am on 6 November for the first Test, right? Right?
Related: Joe Denly makes rampant return as England secure madcap win in Sri Lanka
7.01pm BST
Joe Denly finishes with figures of 4-0-19-4 on his second debut, and between them England’s legspinners* took 7-30 from their eight overs. Adil Rashid was masterful.
* England’s legspinners!
6.59pm BST
WICKET! Sri Lanka 157 all out (Malinga b Denly 5) Denly finishes the job by bowling Malinga, who tormented him earlier in the day. That’s a nice way to finish an excellent day for Denly and England.
6.57pm BST
Joe Denly, cleverly given the final over of the innings by Eoin Morgan, gets his third wicket when Perera clatters a full toss to cow corner. Perera played superbly, smashing six defiant sixes in the face of certain defeat.
6.53pm BST
19th over: Sri Lanka 149-8 (Perera 51, Malinga 5) Perera slams Curran for a couple of sixes to bring up a muscular fifty from 28 balls. Curran, who hasn’t had his best day, ends with figures of none for 40. Sri Lanka need 39 from the last over.
6.46pm BST
18th over: Sri Lanka 134-8 (Perera 37, Malinga 4) Jordan ends a classy spell with figures of 4-0-29-2. Sri Lanka need 54 from 12 balls.
6.41pm BST
17th over: Sri Lanka 125-8 (Perera 29, Malinga 2) Tom Curran replaces Liam Plunkett and gets away without conceding a boundary. England are heading for an impressive victory.
6.35pm BST
16th over: Sri Lanka 119-8 (Perera 26, Malinga 0) Sri Lanka need 69 from four overs. No.
6.34pm BST
Immaculate bowling from Jordan, who slips a yorker straight through the new batsman Aponso. That was far too good for a No9.
6.32pm BST
After Perera monsters Jordan over midwicket for his third six in four balls, Udana drives straight to Stokes at mid-off. Perera is running out of partners.
6.28pm BST
15th over: Sri Lanka 111-6 (Perera 19, Udana 0) Sri Lanka need 77 from 30 balls.
6.26pm BST
If anyone can score 15 an over it’s Thisara Perera. He smashes Plunkett for consecutive sixes, with a hook round the corner followed by a monstrous drive down the ground. Plunkett redeems the over with the wicket off Shanaka, who wafts all around a slower ball and is bowled.
6.20pm BST
14th over: Sri Lanka 96-5 (Perera 6, Shanaka 10) England are squeezing Sri Lanka out of the game. Jordan concedes only four from his second over, and two of those were leg-byes. Sri Lanka need an unlikely 92 from 36 balls.
“Afternoon Mr Smyth!” says Adam Hirst. “With our ambidextrous spinner out there, I thought I’d see if anybody knows any batsmen who have switched sides regularly to put the bowlers off their rhythm… It might help especially to combat spinners, going left-handed for the leggie for example. I’m thinking of trying this next weekend in the Brazilian National Championships (seriously!) if selected. It might give me a slight chance if I have to face the leggie again. I’ll try in the nets tomorrow, see how terrible it might be.”
6.15pm BST
13th over: Sri Lanka 92-5 (Perera 5, Shanaka 10) Rashid ends his spell with another superb over that costs just two. He finishes with career-best figures: 4-0-11-3. In the context of a high-scoring game, that is some performance.
6.14pm BST
12th over: Sri Lanka 90-5 (Perera 5, Shanaka 9) With two new batsmen at the crease, Moeen is able to slip through a thrifty ove- ah, maybe not, After five singles from the first five balls, Shanaka mauls the last ball over midwicket for six.
“Rob,” says John Starbuck. “It isn’t surprising that leg spinners are doing so well here, as they were identified as potential match-winners when T20 first got played. What is surprising is that it’s taken so long for England to find enough competent ones, which they do seem to have done now. Will they last the course next year?”
6.08pm BST
11th over: Sri Lanka 79-5 (Perera 1, Shanaka 1) Rashid’s figures are 3-0-10-3. His steady development under Morgan has been lovely to watch, and now he is among the best white-ball spinners in the world.
6.06pm BST
This is a masterful spell from Rashid, who has taken his second wicket in three balls and his third of the innings. Dhananjaya survived an LBW appeal after pushing around his front pad - but England reviewed and replays showed the ball pitched on leg stump and would have skidded on to hit leg. That was a very good review.
6.03pm BST
Rashid gets his second wicket when Kamindu Mendis sweeps a googly straight to Hales at deep square leg. That was a nice cameo, 24 from 14 balls, but his dismissal leaves Sri Lanka in trouble. All four wickets have fallen to England’s legspinners.
England’s legspinners!
6.01pm BST
10th over: Sri Lanka 77-3 (de Silva 17, Kamindu Mendis 24) Moeen Ali’s first ball is driven gloriously over long on for six by Mendis, who reverse sweeps over third man for four later in the over. He is playing beautifully on debut and has reaced to 24 from 13 balls. In between those strokes. Dhananjaya de Silva dragged the ball high towards deep midwicket, where Hales lost the ball in the floodlights. That probably would have been a comfortable catch.
5.58pm BST
9th over: Sri Lanka 64-3 (de Silva 16, Kamindu Mendis 12) A terrific over from Rashid - no boundaries, only five from it. He has become such an accomplished, confident white-ball bowler under Eoin Morgan.
5.54pm BST
8th over: Sri Lanka 59-3 (de Silva 13, Kamindu Mendis 10) Mendis lifts the new bowler Plunkett for a couple of boundaries over midwicket and extra cover. For all the understandable fuss over his bowling, his main strength is with the bat. Sri Lanka need 129 from 72 balls.
5.50pm BST
7th over: Sri Lanka 50-3 (de Silva 13, Kamindu Mendis 1) Kamindu Mendis, the ambidextrous bowler, is the new batsman. Left-handed, since you asked.
5.49pm BST
Adil Rashid, on for Joe Denly, strikes in his first over. Chandimal switch hits towards the point boundary, where the alert Hales moves smartly to take the catch. England - England - are beating Sri Lanka with legspin.
5.45pm BST
6th over: Sri Lanka 47-2 (Chandimal 25, de Silva 12) Chris Jordan replaces Tom Curran. Dhananjaya de Silva hits consecutive boundaries to fine leg, a hook followed by a flick round the corner off a slow full toss. Sri Lanka need 141 from the last 14 overs.
5.40pm BST
5th over: Sri Lanka 37-2 (Chandimal 24, de Silva 3) Chandimal clips a boundary through midwicket, the first off Denly’s bowling. That aside it’s another terrific over from Denly, who has figures of one for 12 from three overs. His second debut is going extremely well.
5.37pm BST
4th over: Sri Lanka 30-2 (Chandimal 19, de Silva 1) Chandimal gets Sri Lanka moving with three emphatic boundaries in Tom Curran’s second over.
5.33pm BST
3rd over: Sri Lanka 16-2 (Chandimal 7, de Silva 0) Denly has figures of 2-0-5-2, and a career IT20 bowling average of 4.66.
5.32pm BST
Another wicket for Joe Denly! Dickwella charges down the wicket, plays for non-existent spin and is bowled. The ball skidded on to hit off stump. “England have found their mystery spinner!” says Mahela Jayawardene. “He doesn’t spin it!”
5.28pm BST
2nd over: Sri Lanka 13-1 (Dickwella 3, Chandimal 5) Tom Curran almost strikes with his first delivery. Dickwella pulled him to square leg, where Hales swooped forward to take the catch at ground level. His muted celebration suggested he wasn’t certain it had carried cleanly, and so the umpires went upstairs. The soft signal was not out and, as ever in these cases, there wasn’t enough evidence for the third umpire to overturn the decision.
There’s another referral later in the over, this time for a run-out. The non-striker Dickwella was home and the ball deflected off the stumps to the boundary, so Chandimal gets four bonus runs.
5.22pm BST
1st over: Sri Lanka 7-1 (Dickwella 2, Chandimal 0)
5.22pm BST
Joe Denly strikes with the last ball of the first over! Kusal Mendis tried to slog sweep a flighted delivery that skidded on to hit the stumps. He missed a straight one, essentially, but who cares. That’s a lovely moment for Denly, who is playing his first international match since 2010.
5.07pm BST
20th over: England 187-8 (Plunkett 7, Jordan 2) England edged, scampered and thumped 10 runs from the last over. That’s a decent effort, especially after the damage done by Malinga in the previous over, and it means Sri Lanka need 188 to win.
5.06pm BST
Rashid drags the penultimate delivery of the innings back onto the stumps.
5.01pm BST
19th over: England 177-7 (Rashid 0, Plunkett 4) Plunkett digs out the hat-trick ball, an excellent yorker from Malinga, and blasts the next delivery down the ground for four. That was a brilliant over from Malinga - six runs, two wickets - and he ends with figures of two for 30.
4.59pm BST
Two in two balls for Malinga! Stokes is cleaned up by a low full toss and smacks his bat against his pad in frustration. He struggled to get going and made 26 from 27 balls. Malinga is on a hat-trick.
4.58pm BST
Malinga is too good for Denly, who holes out to long on to end a useful innings of 20 from 17 balls.
4.55pm BST
18th over: England 171-5 (Stokes 26, Denly 18) Udana replaces Malinga, whose last over is being saved. He also has an impressive collection of slower balls and restricts Stokes and Denly to six singles in the over. Superbly bowled.
4.51pm BST
17th over: England 165-5 (Stokes 23, Denly 15) After a slow start to his innings, Denly relieves some pressure by thumping Dhananjaya back over his head for four. That’s the first of three boundaries in four balls from Denly, an emphatic response to his trial by Malinga in the previous over.
4.47pm BST
16th over: England 152-5 (Stokes 22, Denly 3) Denly is hoodwinked by a magnificent slower full toss from Malinga that dips late and just misses the off stump. That’s the start of a brilliant over, full of the usual variations. He bowled four consecutive dot balls to Denly, who could barely lay bat on ball, before England scampered a single off each of the last two deliveries.
4.43pm BST
15th over: England 150-5 (Stokes 21, Denly 2) The new batsman Joe Denly gets off the mark with a single from his first ball. Amid the chaos and the rain, England are just about on course for 200.
4.40pm BST
Moeen’s breezy innings ends when he misses a mow across the line at Dhananjaya de Silva. It was a lovely little cameo of 27 from 11 balls.
4.38pm BST
14th over: England 141-4 (Stokes 18, Ali 23) The captain Thisara Perera comes into the attack. Stokes top-edges a pull shot that goes high in the air and lands just short of third man. Then Moeen, who looks in great touch, belts Perera for consecutive sixes. The first was a sweetly timed pick up over square leg, the second a lusty clout to cow corner. Moeen’s elegant savagery has brought 23 from nine balls.
4.35pm BST
13th over: England 126-4 (Stokes 17, Ali 9) Remember when batsmen used to play themselves in? Roy hit his second ball for six today and Moeen has done the same to his third, driving Sandakan lazily for six. Sandakan, the left-arm wrist spinner, ends with figures of one for 39 from his four overs.
4.30pm BST
12th over: England 116-4 (Stokes 15, Ali 1) The ambidextrous spinner Kamindu Mendis bowls the last four balls of the over he began before the rain delay. With two left-handers at the crease, he is bowling just right-arm offspin for the time being. England milk three singles from those four deliveries.
4.27pm BST
The players are back out on the field. We’re in serious danger of seeing some more cricket.
4.13pm BST
Play will resume at 4.30pm It’s stopped raining and the covers are coming off. We haven’t lost any overs either. Glory be!
4.10pm BST
All hail Virat “If I may be allowed to chip in on the matter of Virat Kohli, he was not someone liked by people around the world,” writes OB Jato. “He was talented, but he used too many expletives, was too impulsive, and a touch too aggressive. His wristwork was good, but his technical flaws were laid out in England. Now, his technique has changed, his attitude has changed, and the respect people have for him has increased beyond anyone’s, perhaps even his, imagination. Instead of being milestones, the hundreds he scores are just side-effects of the job at hand. He is the ultimate team player. His ODI average is above sixty, leaving most fans drooling and fellow players jealous, but they seem inevitable for a player like him at the same time. And every single cricket lover adores him for all that he has become.
“Just as I write this, he proves my point. After scoring his 38th century, he does not even bother taking off his helmet. He just raised his bat, punched his partner’s glove, and signalled the dressing room to sit down, which they duly did. For him, the situation is what he wants to excel in. We could all take a leaf out of his textbook, and learn to live life like he does - being calm, striving for success in the most unlikely of situations, and having the willpower to improve all the time.”
4.02pm BST
There’s no real change in the weather. It’s light rain, certainly by Sri Lankan standards, but the covers are still on and there are no plans for an inspection just yet.
3.54pm BST
“While play is stopped in Sri Lanka, maybe it will be rational to move over to nearby India (through the telly, of course) and see Kohli possibly score his 38th century, his third on the trot?” says Abhijato Sensarma. “What a player he is! The chase itself is in a tense stage too, with Dhoni gone and the last specialist batting pair no longer at the crease. Another thriller is on the cards for the fans.”
As I type, Kohli’s average in ODIs has just gone above 60. Sixty!
3.47pm BST
I take it all back. Apparently the rain is starting to ease off, so we might have some more play sooner rather than later. Nobody knows anything.
3.46pm BST
The rain is getting heavier, so I fear that might be it for the day. There’s still plenty of time left but that’s not much good if it pours down for the next couple of hours.
3.25pm BST
11.2 overs: England 113-4 (Stokes 13, Ali 0) Stokes pulls Mendis for six and then the umpires decide the rain is too heavy. It’s not apocalyptic, however, so there is still a chance of more play. Let’s hope so because it’s been a memorably manic start to the match.
3.24pm BST
11th over: England 107-4 (Stokes 7, Ali 0)
3.22pm BST
Roy’s spectacular innings continues with consecutive sixes off Sandaka, a slog sweep followed by a thump down the ground that just clears the rope, but his luck finally runs out when he is dismissed in strange circumstances.
Roy flashed at a wide googly from Sandaka which was taken by the keeper Dickwella. The umpire was unmoved until Dickwella jumped up and down in celebration, at which point he raised the finger to give Roy out. Roy, who seemed irritated by Dickwella’s role as wicketkeeper-batsman-umpire, reviewed the decision without success.
3.17pm BST
10th over: England 89-3 (Roy 56, Stokes 3) Replays show Stokes would have been given out had Sri Lanka reviewed that LBW appeal. It has started to rain, though it’s fairly light at the moment so play will continue. Roy blasts Kamindu Mendis through the off side for four, heaves a full toss for six to reach an eventful half-century from 30 balls and is then dropped for the fourth time! That was a much tougher chance for Kusal Mendis on the run, though he probably should have taken it.
3.14pm BST
9th over: England 74-3 (Roy 42, Stokes 2) Roy is dropped twice in Sandakan’s over, both absolute sitters. That’s extraordinary. The first was to the substitute Samarawickrama at midwicket, the second to Shanaka at long off. Roy heaved a six over midwicket in between the dropped catches, and then Stokes survived a very good LBW appeal after missing a sweep at a googly. I’m surprised Sri Lanka didn’t review that as it looked really close.
3.10pm BST
8th over: England 65-3 (Roy 34, Stokes 1) The ambidextrous spinner Kamindu Mendis is going to bowl for the first time. He starts with some left-arm spin to the right-handed Roy, who takes a single off the first ball, and then switches to offspin for the left-handed Stokes. What the bloody blazes!
It’s important for England to forget the novelty and the hoopla; play the ball not the ambidextrous bowler. But they can manage only three singles from a very impressive first over. Mendis looks equally capable as a left-arm spinner and an offspinner. Look, both hands!
3.07pm BST
7th over: England 62-3 (Roy 32, Stokes 0) Roy looks rattled, understandably enough, and needs to settle down quicksmart. England have lost three wickets for 21 in the last 23 balls.
3.04pm BST
With the Powerplay over, the left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan comes into the attack - and his second ball brings a wicket, albeit through a run out. Morgan mistimed a reverse sweep and was called through for a very dodgy single by Roy. He was miles short when Sandakan collected the throw from short third man, turned and threw down the stumps in one movement. Roy, though he has batted well, has played a big part in the dismissals of both Hales and Morgan.
3.01pm BST
6th over: England 59-2 (Roy 30, Morgan 11) Morgan drives Aponso over mid-off for a one-bounce four. When he’s in form, he is exhilarating to watch.
2.57pm BST
5th over: England 52-2 (Roy 27, Morgan 6) Malinga returns to the attack, and the in-form Morgan gets his first boundary with a beautiful piece of timing through extra cover.
“Hi Rob,” says John Starbuck. “Does Joe Denly’s presence in the side indicate a willingness of England’s part to turn back the clock?”
2.53pm BST
4th over: England 46-2 (Roy 27, Morgan 1)
2.51pm BST
Alex Hales has gone third ball. He missed a sweep at Aponso and was hit on the pad, prompting a huge appeal which was eventually given. I thought it might have been slipping past leg stump, and Hales was clearly angling for a review, but Jason Roy seemed to suggest he should suck it up. That was a mistake because replays showed it was missing leg stump by a long way. That’s a very poor decision.
2.49pm BST
Buttler chips Aponso low towards extra cover, where Chandimal swoops forward to take a good catch. Buttler had looked in good nick, with three boundaries in his seven-ball 13.
2.47pm BST
3rd over: England 37-0 (Roy 27, Buttler 9) Isuru Udana, the left-arm seamer, drops a difficult return chance off his first delivery. Roy, duped by a slower ball, muscled it whence it came; Udana stretched to his left in his follow-through but couldn’t hang on.
Roy has another scare later in the over when the umpires refer an appeal for obstructing the field to the third umpire. He was more than halfway down the track when Buttler sent him back, and as he attempted to make his ground he unwittingly blocked the throw from Shanaka. As he did not change direction in an attempt to block the throw, he is rightly given not out. He celebrates the reprieve by driving the next delivery sweetly over long on for six. He played that with a golf swing.
2.40pm BST
2nd over: England 29-0 (Roy 20, Buttler 8) The left-arm spinner Amila Aponso shares the new ball and improves on Malinga by only conceding 13. Roy clumps the first ball back over his head for four and switch hits the second just over point for another boundary. Jos Buttler joins in with a stunning drive between mid off and extra cover for four. That could barely have been placed or timed better.
2.36pm BST
1st over: England 16-0 (Roy 11, Buttler 4) A flying start from England, who take 16 from Lasith Malinga’s first over! Jason Roy swished the second ball over long off for a majestic six, and he and Jos Buttler added a boundary apiece later in the over.
2.28pm BST
“Afternoon, Rob,” says Ian Copestake. “Will you allow me to address the white elephant in the room? Does an ambi. bowler have to announce to the umpire that he is switching from right-arm over to left-arm whatever?”
Yes. You owe me five large for that information. The difference gets tacked onto the principal.
2.23pm BST
Some pre-match reading
Related: David Warner leaves field after cricket sledge in Sydney
Related: Ben Stokes says he found out who his friends are in England squad
2.05pm BST
Sri Lanka Dickwella (wk), Kusal Mendis, Chandimal, Dhananjaya da Silva, Shanaka, Perera (c), Udana, Kamindu Mendis, Malinga, Aponso, Sandakan.
England Roy, Buttler (wk), Hales, Morgan (c), Stokes, Denly, Ali, Rashid, Plunkett, T Curran, Jordan.
2.03pm BST
It’s dry at the moment in Colombo, though there are some nasty clouds overhead. Kamindu Mendis has been included in the Sri Lankan side, while Joe Denly is back in the England team for the first time since 2010.
8.46am BST
Hello. Let’s be honest, Twenty20 is so 2020. That’s the year in which the next World T20 takes place, and for now England’s white-ball focus is almost entirely on next year’s 50-over World Cup.
T20 internationals have been a bit of an afterthought since that unthinkable climax in Kolkata two years ago, when Carlos Brathwaite ransacked England’s hopes and dreams with four consecutive sixes in Ben Stokes’ final over. A one-off match against Sri Lanka won’t change that, but there is at least the chance to see a rare and special talent. Enough about Joe Denly’s recall to international cricket for the first time since 2010 (honk!) because the ambidextrous spinner Kamindu Mendis will make his international debut for Sri Lanka.
Continue reading...October 24, 2018
PSV Eindhoven 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur: Champions League – as it happened
Hugo Lloris was sent off as Spurs, who dominated throughout, again threw away a winning position in the Champions League
12.12am BST
Related: Spurs’ Champions League campaign is nearly over, says Mauricio Pochettino
Related: Jordi Alba seals Barcelona win over Internazionale despite no Lionel Messi
8.11pm BST
David Hytner’s match report has landed, which is my cue to do one. Thanks for your company, goodnight!
Related: Hugo Lloris sees red as PSV thwart Tottenham in Champions League draw
8.11pm BST
Mauricio Pochettino speaks “We deserved to win but that’s football. We had control and made a lot of opportunities. It’s easy to blame the referee but if we need to blame someone, it’s ourselves. We were much, much better than them but you must kill the game when you are in control. The Champions League is nearly over for us. It will be so difficult to qualify.”
7.59pm BST
Here’s Christian Eriksen’s reaction “It feels like a defeat. We should have finished the game off, but that’s Champions League football. We made a few mistakes and the ref didn’t want to give us our first goal. But we made it difficult for ourselves by not finishing the game off. We threw it away. It was a must-win game and we didn’t win it.”
7.54pm BST
“Sheesh,” says Matt Dony. “You can never, ever underestimate Spurs’ ability to Spurs it up.”
They’ve got the Costanza gene, haven’t they.
7.54pm BST
“You’re a bit anti-Spurs/Spurs are a joke I would say, Rob,” says Al Donegan. “Just enjoy the performance.”
I love this Spurs team, but I suppose I’d also love my dog even if he kept miturating upon my favourite rug. They just frustrate the heck out of me.
7.52pm BST
If you just need one more hit of football, Jacob Steinberg’s peepers are trained on Anfield.
Related: Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade: Champions League – live!
7.51pm BST
That will really sting. Spurs played excellently, had umpteen chances and a goal wrongly disallowed. They also defended like a circus troupe, which is why they failed to win the match and why, in all probability, the best they can now hope for is a place in the Europa League. Ach.
7.48pm BST
Peep peep! Spurs have absolutely battered PSV 2-2.
7.47pm BST
90+4 min Kane, found in the area by Davies, delays his shot too long and is dispossessed. This is pulsating stuff!
7.46pm BST
90+3 min At the other end, Angelino whistles a half-volley into orbit from 20 yards.
7.45pm BST
90+2 min Trippier’s long, driven pass is pulled down expertly by Kane, who is in the act of shooting when Schwaab stretches to touch the ball away. Brilliant defending!
7.44pm BST
90+2 min There’s another goal in this. Both teams are really going on for it.
7.43pm BST
90+1 min Dumfries is harshly penalised - and booked - for a fine tackle on the breaking Dier.
7.43pm BST
90 min Five minutes of added time.
7.42pm BST
89 min There are lies, damned lies and football scorelines. Spurs have been great, yet they’ll be punching walls all the way home.
7.41pm BST
A long free-kick was half cleared to Rosario on the edge of the box. He completely mishit his shot, but as the ball bounced up De Jong reacted smartly to flick it over Vorm from 10 yards. That’s a fine, instinctive finish.
7.39pm BST
Tottenham Hotspur is as Tottenham Hotspur does.
7.39pm BST
86 min It’s all very frantic, with PSV pushing desperately for an equaliser. Surely not even Spurs can fail to win after such a dominant performance.
7.35pm BST
83 min A PSV change: Cody Gakpo replaces Gaston Pereiro.
7.34pm BST
82 min Vorm makes a good save with his first touch. De Jong’s curling free-kick was heading for the bottom corner when Vorm plunged to his left to push it behind.
7.33pm BST
81 min The substitute goalkeeper Michel Vorm comes on for Son.
7.32pm BST
79 min That was crazy defending from Spurs. Eriksen lost the ball near the halfway line to Pereiro, who slid it forward to find Lozano in a scandalous amount of space between the two centre backs. Lloris charged out of his area and sent Lozano flying with a dangerous lunge, which was sufficient for the referee to send him off. I’m not sure why he came out of his area, as both defenders were closing in on Lozano. When the match eventually resumes, PSV will have a free-kick just outside the area.
7.31pm BST
Oh, Spurs (reprise).
7.30pm BST
78 min Kane’s free-kick has just appeared on air traffic control radar.
7.29pm BST
77 min The hapless Dumfries fouls Son 25 yards from goal, to the left of centre. It looks like Kane will take this one...
7.28pm BST
75 min After a poor spell of two or three minutes, Spurs are again in complete control. PSV have been outclassed.
7.26pm BST
74 min One way or another, Mousa Dembele was not going to finish this match. Rather than wait for him to be sent off, Mauricio Pochettino has replaced him with Harry Winks.
7.26pm BST
73 min: Lamela hits the bar! This is another lovely move from Spurs. Son sends Dumfries off towards the wrong fire before scooting down the left and finding Kane. He moves the ball across the field to Lamela, who moves the ball onto his right foot and whacks a shot off the top of the bar.
7.25pm BST
72 min For the first time in the match, Spurs have started to sit a little deep. Human nature when you’re 2-1 up, but still a dangerous tactic.
7.22pm BST
69 min Dembele, on a yellow card, commits his 48th foul of the evening. The referee has given him a last warning.
7.20pm BST
68 min Spurs should be at least two and maybe four goals ahead. They have been so impressive. The more they dominate, the likelier it becomes that PSV will score a late equaliser.
7.18pm BST
66 min Trippier’s inswinging free-kick from the left is headed firmly towards goal by Kane and kneed off the line by the keeper Zoet. That was an excellent reaction save.
7.16pm BST
64 min Lamela replaces Lucas Moura for Spurs.
7.15pm BST
63 min PSV have barely had a kick since half-time.
7.14pm BST
62 min Son’s long-range shot is well struck but too close to Zoet. Erik Lamela is going to come on in a minute.
7.12pm BST
61 min “Yeah, the offside call was a shocker,” says Matt Dony. “Maybe they need an extra official?”
Honk.
7.11pm BST
59 min Angelino is booked for pulling back Lucas Moura.
7.11pm BST
58 min Son sprays over from 20 yards. He probably should have given it to Kane, in space on the left of the box. Spurs have been totally dominant in this game.
7.09pm BST
56 min “‘A Spurs/Arsenal Europa League final would be fun,’” says Richard Arthur, quoting my earlier comment. “Indeed it would, but this year Spurs are not in the Europa League, unless you expect them to get demoted there. Why not a Champions League Final next year?”
Because. Just because. I mean that would be even more fun but it’s never going to happen. A Europa League final is conceivable, though. (And yes, I do expect Spurs to end up in that tournament.)
7.08pm BST
55 min That was such good play from Eriksen, who along with Trippier has been the best player on the pitch. If you don’t enjoy watching Eriksen play football, your soul needs urgent treatment.
7.07pm BST
Ah, this is a lovely goal. Eriksen combines neatly with Son on the left before curling a gorgeous cross with his left foot that leaves Kane with a simple close-range header at the far post.
7.06pm BST
53 min Zoet makes an important save from Eriksen. He was found by Trippier, who is having a superb game, and hit a rasping left-foot shot on the run that was beaten away by Zoot as he dived to his right. Eriksen will probably feel he could have hit that closer to the corner.
7.03pm BST
51 min Spurs have started the second half strongly, with a bit more speed in their passing. They really should win/be winning this match. But this being Spurs, anything is possible.
7.02pm BST
50 min “PSV may be in trouble as UEFA strictly prohibits the use of toebungs,” says Ian Copestake. “FIFA however ...”
7.01pm BST
49 min Trippier’s free-kick hits the wall.
7.01pm BST
48 min Kane is booted up in the air by Dumfries, 22 yards from goal. It’s to the left of centre, with Trippier and Eriksen over the ball...
6.57pm BST
46 min Peep peep! Spurs begin the second half.
6.56pm BST
Related: Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade: Champions League – live!
6.50pm BST
Offside department I’ve just realised that Kane was in an almost identical offside position for the Moura goal, though again he wasn’t active. Both goals should have counted.
6.47pm BST
Half-time chit chat
“I remember how excited I was about Van Bommel’s move to Barcelona, based purely on reputation in those dark pre-streaming days,” says Phil Podolsky. “Finally a proper midfield shield and all that. Except he wasn’t the much needed holding idfielder but a central one who was nowhere near creative or quick-thinking enough to deputise alongside Deco after Xavi’s season-ending injury. They ended up winning the Champions League that season but with Iniesta coming through the ranks everyone was relieved when he did one in the summer.”
6.43pm BST
Half-time reading
Related: Real Madrid's Marcelo: 'Lack of respect? I’m always here, showing my face, talking to you'
6.42pm BST
Peep peep! Spurs should be winning but are happy enough to be level having gone behind. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.
6.41pm BST
45 min: Pereiro hits the bar! This is turning into a cracking game. Lozano scurries infield from the right and finds Pereiro, who dances past Alderweireld and toebungs a left-footed shot that hits Sanchez and bounces off the top of the bar.
6.39pm BST
44 min Moura sprays a volley into orbit from a tight angle. The more you see that Sanchez goal, the more it looks a terrible decision to disallow it.
6.36pm BST
40 min Actually, I think that might have been an own goal from Pablo Rosario. I’m not sure Moura’s original shot was on target.
6.35pm BST
Now Spurs are drawing pretty! This is a good team goal. After a patient move, Eriksen plays a nice pass inside Malen to find Trippier, who gets his head up and cuts the ball back carefully to find Moura 12 yards from goal. He hits a first-time shot that deflects off Rosario and over Zoet.
6.34pm BST
39 min It’s a minor scandal that Spurs are behind in this game. As it stands, they are losing pretty again.
6.32pm BST
36 min Another chance for Spurs. Son beats Dumfries with ease on the left of the box and smacks a low shot that is blocked by the outrushing Zoet.
6.31pm BST
34 min: Sanchez has a goal disallowed. I’m not sure what’s happened here. Trippier’s outswinging corner was headed towards goal by Alderweireld and pushed away by Zoet. It came to Sanchez, who slipped it crisply into the net from 12 yards. It looked a good goal, and Sanchez had finished his celebration when he realised it had been disallowed. It turns out the linesman had given offside against Kane. He was in an offside position but made no attempt to play the ball and was behind the keeper so did not impede him. I think Spurs have been hard done by there.
6.26pm BST
This is a dreadful goal to concede. The last man Alderweireld dawdled in possession and was robbed by the tireless Lozano, who charged through on goal. Alderweireld did so well to chase back and make a brilliant sliding tackle as Lozano was about to shoot, only for the ball to ricochet off Lozano and loop slowly over Lloris.
6.24pm BST
Oh, Spurs.
6.22pm BST
27 min Son, helped by Dier’s off-the-ball run, comes infield from the left and hits a low 18-yard shot that is held by the falling Zoet.
6.21pm BST
25 min The resulting free-kick is swung deep by Lozano and headed over from six yards by de Jong. It looked a great chance, though I suspect he was unsighted because of Sanchez jumping in front of him.
6.19pm BST
24 min Dembele, who is looking for trouble, throws Dumfries to the floor and is penalised. He needs to be a bit careful.
6.19pm BST
22 min Spurs are such a neat, precise side in possession. The only criticism might be that sometimes they can be a bit slow and safe. But generally there is so much to admire about them. It’ll be a travesty if this group of players don’t win a trophy. A Spurs/Arsenal Europa League final would be fun.
6.17pm BST
21 min Pereiro curls the free-kick this far wide with his left foot. That was a beautiful effort, though I think the flying Lloris had it covered.
6.16pm BST
20 min Dembele is booked for a foul on the dangerous Lozano. That looks unfortunate - I’m pretty sure Lozano slipped on the wet turf.
6.14pm BST
18 min: Kane hits the bar! When the corner was eventually taken by Trippier, Kane eased his marker out of the way and steered a clever header across goal that hit the angle of post and bar!
6.13pm BST
17 min Trippier’s left-wing corner bounces off the hand of the unsighted Rosario and drops into a dangerous area. Kane gets their first and hits a good shot on the turn that takes a deflection and flies over the bar.
6.11pm BST
15 min A half chance for Kane. He was found on the edge of the box by Dembele and forced an awkward shot towards goal that was spilled by the diving Zoet. Thankfully for him the loose ball fell to Angelino rather than a Spurs forward.
6.10pm BST
14 min Spurs are having so much of the ball. I’m reluctant to say they’re controlling the game, because possession isn’t always worth a damn in modern football and they haven’t yet created anything. But they’ll be pleased with this start.
6.07pm BST
11 min PSV try a training ground free-kick, with precisely no success. Pereiro angles the ball back to Angelino, who screams it into orbit from 20 yards.
6.06pm BST
10 min Spurs are having lots of possession, as it their wont, and Lucas Moura has won another corner down the right. Trippier’s outswinger is headed away and PSV break through Lozano, who hares down the left. Dembele does well to hold him up at first but then gives away a daft free-kick.
6.02pm BST
7 min It’s been a fast, enterprising start from both sides. If there’s an early goal, this game will be a belter. You have my word.
6.01pm BST
6 min Lozano, PSV’s exhilarating Mexican winger, scoots past Davies and is dragged down. Pereiro’s free-kick is several shades of useless.
6.00pm BST
4 min Dembele strolls past two players near the halfway line and finds Eriksen, who flicks the ball neatly round the corner to Kane a split-second before he is clattered. Kane feeds it wide to Trippier, whose dangerous low cross towards Son is put behind at the near post. The corner comes to nothing but that was lovely play from Spurs.
5.58pm BST
3 min Lucas Moura has an early pop from distance. Goal kick to PSV.
5.55pm BST
1 min PSV, in red and white stripes, get the match under way. Spurs are in their turquoise change strip.
5.55pm BST
As always, there’s a storming atmosphere at the PSV Stadion. It’s like going back in time. With both teams realistically needing a win, this could be a cracker.
5.52pm BST
“Can you enlighten me on the reason for the early kick off?” says James Robinson. “Eindhoven isn’t Moscow, after all.”
Early kick-offs are one of Uefa’s new initiatives for the 201$-19 season. It’s all been done for the good of the game.
5.44pm BST
Something for the weekend
The critically acclaimed story of football’s greatest conman is on DVD/VOD now. Full disclosure: yep.
5.28pm BST
There’s one other 5.55pm kick off: Club Brugge against Thierry Henry’s Monaco. You can get check the latest score in Brugge by clicking here. Apparently it’s still 0-0 at the moment.
5.17pm BST
This is good
Related: Tottenham's academy is succeeding thanks to locally sourced players
5.08pm BST
Read the Fiver: our free, ostensibly funny daily email
Related: The Fiver | Uppity swines and the mega-rich
4.51pm BST
Pre-match reading
Related: Adversity prepares Eric Dier and Tottenham for Eindhoven test
4.51pm BST
The great Christian Eriksen starts for the first time in over a month, while Mousa Dembele and Son-Heung min also return to the Spurs side.
PSV Eindhoven (4-3-3) Zoet; Dumfries, Schwaab, Viergever, Angelino; Rosario, Pereiro, Hendrix; Lozano, L de Jong, Malen.
Substitutes: Room, Isimat-Mirin, Behich, Gakpo, Sainsbury, Ramselaar, Gutierrez.
10.59am BST
Hello. Never trust a mathematician. That lot will tell you Spurs can afford to lose in Eindhoven tonight and still qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds. They’ll use things like “permutations” and “precedents” to poison your mind. Don’t listen to them. Listen to Football Man, who will use all his common sense to persuade you that Spurs need to win tonight - and in their next two group matches as well.
If Spurs beat PSV twice and win at home to Inter, a scenario which doesn’t stretch credulity, they will go into their last group game at the Nou Camp with a good hance of reaching the last 16, especially if Barcelona have already qualified and decide to play a weakened team.
Continue reading...October 17, 2018
Golden Goal: John Barnes for Liverpool v QPR (1987)
Barnes epitomised the tag of ‘flying winger’ in the late-80s and never more so than with the nimble footwork that rounded off a 4-0 win to replace QPR at the top of the table
The spreadsheet is the new diary. Modern life is defined as much by numbers as feelings. Likes, retweets, calories, steps, pints. Yet there is no metric for euphoria, at least not yet, and so the richest human experiences are largely data-proof. Love, the arts, the humble orgasm – or its football equivalent. Few things in life compare to the moment when you – or more likely your team – score a goal of such brilliance or importance that you instantly know its memory will last forever.
Related: On Second Thoughts … John Barnes | Gregg Bakowski
Continue reading...Rob Smyth's Blog
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