Rob Smyth's Blog, page 174
June 15, 2016
Russia 1-2 Slovakia: Euro 2016 – as it happened
Marek Hamsik scored a spectacular goal and inspired Slovakia’s first win at a European Championship despite a traumatic last 10 minutes
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Owen Gibson assesses the mood in the stands:
Related: Euro 2016: all quiet inside stadium as Russian fans greet defeat with a shrug | Owen Gibson
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And here’s Jamie Jackson’s match report of Slovakia’s win:
Related: Marek Hamsik’s sumptuous strike gives Slovakia the edge over Russia
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Related: Romania v Switzerland: Euro 2016 – live!
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So, Slovakia move to three points with Wales, and Russia now need to beat Wales if they are to reach the last 16. What started as a potential stinker turned into a highly entertaining match. And apart from one flare, there has been no suggestion of any problems in the stadium. Thanks for your company; bye!
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Slovakia win a European Championship match for the first time! They deserved it despite a staggering collapse in the last 10 minutes, and Marek Hamsik’s goal is currently going viral.
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90+3 min Skrtel is as Skrtel does, needlessly bundling Dzyuba over 30 yards from goal. Free-kick to Russia. It’s laid off to Ignashevich, whose shot is deflected for a corner. This is the last, last, last, last chance ... and it flashes across the face of goal a split-second before the final whistle is blown!
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91 min Kozacik comes a long way to superbly claim a Russian free-kick, and a growling Skrtel almost punches him with joy in celebration.
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90 min There will be three minutes of added time.
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89 min Dzyuba goes on another fine slow-motion run, past three defenders just inside the box, until his shot is blocked desperately by Hubocan, who looked like he was auditioning for Platoon as he threw himself in the way.
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A precious bit of respite for Slovakia, who earn a throw-in in the Russian half.
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86 min Another Russia corner. Kozacik comes for it like a wino chasing a balloon, gets nowhere near and is saved by a towering header from Durica. Without that Russia might well have scored. Moments later, Glushakov whistles a half-volley wide from the edge of the box. That was a chance. Slovakia have completely lost it.
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86 min “Are there any possible scenarios whereby England and Russia will have to play off to decide who qualifies in third place?” says Simon McMahon. “UEFA will be desperate for that to happen, what with the extra revenue it will bring in.”
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85 min Shatov is carrying on, and seems to be okay. Slovakia are camped in their own third.
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84 min Russia have a problem: Shatov is holding his groin, and they’ve used all three substitutes.
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83 min The corner is punched away nervously by Kozacik. Goals may be overrated but they don’t half change games.
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82 min Slovakia are suddenly all over the place, and now Russia have a corner.
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81 min A flare has gone off in the Russian end apparently.
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Out of nothing, Russia score a wonderful goal. That was like watching the old USSR team. A slick one-two on the edge of the box, and then a lofted cutback from Shatov for the late-arriving Glushakov to plant an accomplished header into the far corner.
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80 min Slovakia’s final substitution: Robert Mak, who will keep Danny Rose busy next week, is replaced by Michal Duris.
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80 min Mamaev shots from 20 yards, and slices it laughably wide.
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79 min “Cheers, Mark Francombe,” says Matt Dony. “Come on, Russia! We can do this! Make Putin proud! (Football does strange things to a man...).”
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78 min Russia’s good spell lasted about four minutes, and now Slovakia looked comfortable once again.
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77 min “The worst World Cup football match was the 2007 Cricket World Cup final,” says Erik Petersen. “While you might dismiss it on the technicality of ‘not being a football match,’ I would note that it the attritional end of a bloated tournament played in white-elephant stadia, and that it was marred by bafflingly bad work by the officials. Sounds like terrible football to me.”
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75 min Russia make their final substitution, with Roman Shirokov replacing Kokorin.
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72 min Slovakia takes some heat out of the game with a long spell of passing. Then they make another substitution, with Dusan Svento replacing the goalscorer Vladimir Weiss.
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70 min This isn’t the end for Russia. Under Uefa’s new every-loser-wins system, they should still qualify if they win their last game against Wales. I would not, however, wager my last Rolo on them doing so.
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69 min “I’m afraid I must confess to rather enjoying the 2010 final,” says Tom Hopkins. “Particularly due to the pantomime villain genius of Marc von Bommel (a role that Pepe is now ably filling).”
Pepe is the Mikey Palmice of football, isn’t he?
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68 min Hamsik has a couple of shots blocked on the edge of the area. A goal is coming at one end or another as this game is now as open as the Guardian’s journalism.
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67 min A Slovakia change: Duda off, Adam Nemec on.
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66 min This is Russia’s best spell of the match. A cross breaks to Smolov, whose ten-yard volley is blocked superbly by the stretching Durica, although the keeper probably had it covered.
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65 min “South Korea 0 - 0 Bolivia, USA 94, Group C,” says Tom Janes. “Within about three minutes the world was pleading for the game to end. Scottish ref Les Mottram, in an air of (possible) Presbyterian rectitude, added about 10 minutes of injury time to heighten our suffering and make us really, really earn our places in heaven.”
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64 min A couple of corners for Russia, who seem to have suddenly realised they are in danger of throwing themselves out of the competition. Nothing happens but there is more urgency.
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61 min Thanks to Mark Francombe for leafing through the rule book re: head-to-heads and goal difference.
If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the final tournament group matches, the following criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings:
a. higher number of points obtained in the matches played among the teams in question;
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60 min If Slovakia really concentrate on the counter-attack, there are more goals to be had. They didn’t then, with Duda running offside from Hamsik’s through ball, which was misplaced anyway.
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59 min “Re: third placed qualifiers, what would be the implications for this group if Russia were disqualified and their results expunged as UEFA have said (rather than all awarded as wins for the opposition)?” says David Wall. “Perhaps they haven’t properly thought that through.”
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58 min “The worst game of all time was the 1990 World Cup Final,” says Harvey Auzorst. “That’s that. Can’t be disputed.”
At least Argentina brought a bit of roguish charm and comedy to it, though, which couldn’t be said about the profoundly depressing 2010 final.
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57 min Shatov leads a four-on-four break, runs to the edge of the D - and then splashes a hopeless shot high and wide.
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55 min Wales’ result looked good on Saturday; it looks even better now because Slovakia look a capable side. If England don’t win tomorrow, it’ll be squeaky-bum time before the final game.
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54 min Slovakia are playing with scoreline confidence, moving the ball around with a bit of a swagger. Mak tries to run straight through the brick wall and almost succeeds. Moments later, after a great run from Kucka, he hits a fierce rising shot that is palmed over by Akinfeev.
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53 min “As a man who knows infinitely more than me about football, are teams separated by goal difference or head-to-head?” says Matt Dony. “If it’s the latter, then a Russian win would guarantee Wales third place, and a 2/3 chance of going through. It’s probably goal difference, though...”
I think it’s head-to-head first, then Expected Goals.
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51 min “That Leeds v Blackburn game, wasn’t that the season when Leeds scored just 28 goals or something ludicrously low?” says Mike Cormack. “Their fans probably thought things couldn’t get much worse.”
Yep, 28 in 38. But if you think that’s bad, look at Como’s results at home in 1984-85. If I had a time machine the first thing I’d do is get me that season ticket.
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49 min “On the subject of poor games,” says Rich Malcolm, “sadly I wasn’t there but hats off to Doncaster for this highlights video from a 0-0 with Fleetwood.”
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48 min A long spell of passing from Slovakia before Mak goes on a fine curving run that yields a corner. It’s headed over by Duda ahead of the near post. It needed Ron Atkinson’s little eyebrows.
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47 min “Most boring game,” says Matt Robbins. “Ipswich v Grimsby in 1990-something . The highlight: Ian Marshall came off the bench and the bloke behind sparked up something grown-up and told the crowd (about 15 of us) it’ll start raining goals. It didn’t.”
I bet it did for him. He was hearing Mozart and seeing the net bulge when something like this happened.
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46 min Durica is booked within 20 seconds of the restart for a scissor tackle on Dzyuba.
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46 min Slovakia begin the second half. Russia have made a substitution, with Denis Glushakov and Pavel Mamaev replacing Neustadter and Golovin in midfield.
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There’s a clear winner in our half-arsed poll for the worst game ever
Niall Carey “Without doubt it was Ukraine vs Switzerland in the otherwise excellent World Cup in Germany ’06. Switzerland failed to score, or even really trouble the Ukraine keeper, despite the game going to penalties.”
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Half-time reading
Get in the mood for tomorrow’s match by remembering the time Wales walloped England 4-1
Related: Wales take heart from Wrexham ‘80 in confusing rivalry with England
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So, about that England performance.
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What a goal. A left-wing corner was played short to him, just inside the box. He moved past the covering defender - who again went to the wrong fire - and then, from a very tight angle, smashed a glorious curling shot that pinged in off the far post. That was a bit like Maniche in the Euro 2004 semi-final, though he was closer and the angle was tighter. It was, nonetheless, a belter, and celebrated in a majestically arrogant, Zlatanic manner.
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Marek Hamsik has made it two with a storming goal!
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42 min Hamsik runs at the defence and moves past both centre-backs as if they were traffic cones but then wallops a shot well wide from 20 yards. He has been brilliant.
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41 min Here’s Steve, detailing a grudge of heroic pettiness. “No contest. Switzerland v Ukraine World Cup 2006. Both teams playing for penalties from the kick off. They should’ve been thrown out of the competition for not trying. None of those involved are likely to be around now but every time I see either of these teams play I want them to get hammered.”
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40 min Dzyuba, who has caused Slovakia plenty of problems, is shoved over on the left wing. Shatov will take the free-kick... and it’s rubbish, headed away by the first man behind the wall.
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38 min “Arsenal 0 v 0 Middlesbrough in 1979,” says David Reuben. “A game so bad that the MOTD highlights started with the second half.” And that was when highlights were usually 25-30 minutes per game, right?
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37 min Shatov falls over, the referee tells him to get up. Pierluigi Collina is an early contender for man of the tournament.
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34 min “And if we’re going theme tunes… nothing more exotic-sounding than the 1978 World Cup theme,” says Adam Hirst. “These days sounds more Spanish than Argentinian mind, more flamengo than tango. It even made Top of the Pops, so surely wins everything.”
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This is a wonderful goal! Hamsik, in the centre circle, played a fantastic 45-yard pass down the inside-left channel to Weiss, who was in far too much space. He sped into the box, came back inside on his right foot and curled it decisively into the far corner. The defending wasn’t great - Smolnikov and Berezutski went to put out the wrong fire when he came back inside - but it was a beautiful pass and an emphatic finish.
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31 min Russia have been the better side since I said Slovakia were the better side. The game is a bit more open now, and if these two teams aren’t careful one of them might score a goal.
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30 min “I think Ukraine vs Switzerland in 2006 was by far the worst game I’ve ever seen,” says Benedek Szabo. “I even managed to fall asleep during the penalties.”
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29 min “Hi Rob,” says Dave Ablett. “Does everyone agree that ITV’s effort is much better than BBC’s for Euro 2016? And that the title sequence poster of Iniesta supping vino in Bordeaux, is actually Ant McPartlin?”
How many bloody times: it’s Dec.
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28 min The closest effort so far. Dzyuba rumbles forward again and plays a nice pass to Smolov, who advances to within 20 yards and drags a low shot this far wide of the post. Actually I think it clipped the post.
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26 min “Winning group matches is overrated,” writes
Roy Hodgson
Adam Hirst. “Even in the good old days of two teams qualifying from the group, it could still be done without a win. Italy even went on to win the pot in 82 after drawing all their group matches and only scoring two goals. So there is hope for England yet then. Sorry to jinx it but a 0-0 would suit both England and Wales fine here, wun’t it.”
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23 min A half-chance for Russia. Smolnikov’s chipped cross is looped gently towards goal by the head of the backpedalling Dzuyba, eight yards from goal, but the ball travels so slowly that Kozacik has time to run across his line and pat it down.
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23 min “The BBC 1986 tune indeed takes some beating,” says David Crowther. “However I feel it would be remiss of you not to mention ITV’s gentler, more melodic number from the same tournament.”
Indeed, though I suspect most people think of that as the Saint and Greavsie theme, even though it was used for the World Cup first.
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21 min Dzyuba goes on another weirdly hypnotic 2mph solo run before being felled by Durica, prompting appeals for a penalty. It was a clean tackle, at the expense of a corner.
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20 min Apropos the first 20 minutes, what’s the worst game you’ve ever seen? This would be in any Joy of Six on the subject.
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17 min As well as England played on Saturday, and they were good, there was always the nagging sense that Russia might actually be crap. The first 17 minutes have done nothing to compromise that perception.
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15 min A corner to Slovakia, who are starting to control the game. Nothing comes from it, mind.
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13 min A free-kick to Slovakia, 30 yards from goal. It’s touched off to Durica, who screws a dismal effort well wide.
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11 min “I feel like I need to stick up for the ITV theme to Italia ’90,” writes
Elton Welsby
Ed Evans. “Much forgotten, underrated, and actually better. Much like the fact that the Pet Shop Boys’ amazing cover of “Always On My Mind” pipped “Fairytale Of New York” to Xmas no. 1.”
Ach! I was nodding my noggin in happy agreement until you suggested it was better than Nessun Dorma.
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9 min Slovakia’s first attempt, with Hamsik belting a bouncing ball just over the bar from the left side of the box. That was a good effort.
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8 min A lumbering zig-zag from Dzyuba is thwarted by a desperate tackle by Skrtel, just inside the area, and a follow-up shot from someone or other hits a defender and spins out for a throw-in.
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7 min A precis of the excitement so far:
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6 min Not a great start to the game in terms of quality or intensity. Whatever happened to the fast start?
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4 min Mak is fouled down the right wing, and will take the free-kick for Slovakia. It’s swerved in and nutted behind by Kokorin. Nothing comes of the corner.
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3 min Smolnikov falls awkwardly after a challenge, and is holding his left hand a little limply. He looks ready to come back on now though.
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1 min Peep peep! Russia, in red, kick off from right to left. Slovakia are in white, and here’s our video guide to Lille.
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Prediction: Russia 1-2 Slovakia
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First email of the day “I was in Marseille on Saturday (sector V, about 400 metres above pitch level) and we spent most of the day happily mingling with Russian fans and the very relaxed gendarmerie,” says Mark Francombe, who didn’t get the memo. “The events in the stadium were awful but the impression given is that Marseille was some sort of war zone at the weekend and that was not my experience at all.”
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Roof is shut in Lille to prevent Elite Ultras abseiling in from zeppelins
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The BBC theme music is pretty good, though when it comes to European Championships it’s not in the same league as Mexico 86, never mind Italia 90.
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Pre-match reading
The usual effortless brilliance from Britain’s best football writer (full disclosure: we are friends and lovers)
Related: Cristiano Ronaldo is the person with a small mentality, not the Iceland players | Paul Doyle
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Roof closed inside the Stade Pierre Mauroy. Feels a bit odd. Fans mingling happily outside. pic.twitter.com/gAo3FAr9Uo
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If you’re into Power Rangers, our latest list reckons this match is 19th v 22nd. Hard to argue with that, but there’s a comments section just in case.
Related: Euro 2016 power rankings: Italy and France lead the way as Belgium slump
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The latest from Lille
No news = good news.
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Russia (4-2-3-1) Akinfeev; Smolnikov, V Berezutski, Ignashevich, Schennikov; Golovin, Neustadter; Kolkorin, Shatov, Smolov; Dzyuba.
Slovakia (4-3-3) Kozaczik; Pekarik, Skrtel, Durica, Hubocan; Kucka, Pecovsky, Hamsik; Mak, Duda, Weiss.
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There was a brief security scare around half an hour ago, with parts of the stadium closed amid reports of a suspect package. All seems okay now though, certainly from my vantage point: in north London, looking at Twitter.
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Russia vs Slovakia doesn’t feel that significant right now, for a variety of reasons beyond the purview of a humble preamble, but this match may ultimately determine whether these sides go through to the last 16, and whether Wales and England do the same.
As we know, Russia picked up a point despite losing 14-0 to England on Saturday, while Slovakia picked up no points despite playing fairly well against Wales. The new system of four third-placed qualifiers means it’s possible to get through without winning a game, so nobody is supping in the last-chance saloon just yet. But, as anybody who has followed football’s data revolution will tell you, studies show that three points are preferable to one point or none.
Continue reading...Who is the lowest-placed footballer to play at a major tournament? | The Knowledge
Plus: unpunished players after long advantages, big goals scored against opponents the player later managed and the most trouble at a European Championship. Mail your questions toknowledge@theguardian.com or tweet @TheKnowledge_GU
“Studiously completing my Euro 2016 sticker album, I noticed that Fleetwood defender Conor McLaughlin is in the Northern Ireland squad,” notices Daniel Jones. “Fleetwood finished near the bottom of the third tier. Has any player appearing at a major tournament ever placed lower with his club team?”
Could it be Richmond Forson? When he appeared at the 2006 World Cup for Togo, he had just helped his team win promotion from the sixth tier in France. Forson was in fact a decent player, once courted by Arsenal, who saw his career derailed by a serious car accident. Looking to get back on track, he ended up at Poiré sur Vie. This team from the west of France were crowned champions of the Ligue Atlantique in 2005-06, a full 260 places behind Ligue 1 champions Lyon. For the record, Forson impressed at the World Cup with three solid group stage games and carved out another few years in the lower professional tiers of France, before sliding back into oblivion.
Related: Euro 2012 special, part one: club and country success without a league title
Related: The Knowledge | Euro 2012 special, part two: when did Holland last play without a 'van'?
June 13, 2016
Spain 1-0 Czech Republic: Euro 2016 – as it happened
An Andres Iniesta masterclass helped Spain to a 1-0 victory, with Gerard Pique heading the winner in the 87th minute
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Related: Spain’s Gerard Piqué leaves it late to break Czech Republic resistance
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A typical Spain victory: loads of possession, only one goal. The match would have been forgettable but for a performance from Andres Iniesta that was, in terms of technique, as close to perfection as you will ever see. He really was that good. Thanks for your company; bye!
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90+2 min The Czechs almost equalise in added time! A cross from the left came back to Darida, who flicked it up 12 yards out and smashed a volley towards goal. It was too close to De Gea, who punched it away dramatically.
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90 min There will be three added minutes.
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89 min Rosicky off, Pavelka on for the Czechs. They have worked so hard, especially the defensive players, but it would have been a scandal if Iniesta hadn’t won this game.
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Spain lead at the last. This preposterous little genius Iniesta, lurking on the left of the box after a half-cleared corner, coaxes a wonderful dipping cross in between defenders and the goalkeeper, and Pique cushions a well-placed header into the corner from a few yards.
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87 min Sural replaces Gebre Selassie for the Czechia Republic.
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86 min “Is the emerging theme of the first weekend one of a strange lack of ruthlessness up front?” says David Hopkins. “Several teams have had the dominance to win comfortably, but almost/actually missed out through failing to turn it into goals - Switzerland, England, Croatia and now possibly Spain.”
Like Arsene Wenger said, all the best strikers are South American.
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84 min Iniesta isn’t running the show; he is the show. He’s seen Kroos’s performance last night and raised it. Another delicious through pass finds Pedro on the left of the box, and Kaderabek does very well to concede a corner.
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82 min Spain’s last substitution: Pedro on, Nolito off.
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81 min “Have no geopolitically correct Guardinistas taken issue with your use of the hopelessly outdated moniker ‘Czech Republic’?!” says Peter Oh. It’s ‘Czechia’ now.”
I just follow they Guardian Style Guide.
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80 min Krejci makes a glorious challenge to deny Thiago! He was played through by Nolito and was lining up a shot from eight yards when Krejci appeared on his blindside and snaked a leg round to poke the ball away.
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79 min A chance for Aduriz, who rises superbly above Sivok to meet Ramos’s cross but then heads it wide.
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77 min Aduriz’s spectacular scissor-kick, from Juanfran’s cross, goes a few yards wide. It wasn’t much of a chance.
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76 min The first Czech substitution: Necid off, Lafata on.
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75 min An exquisite turn from Iniesta, who then plays it to Nolito in the D. He miscontrols it. Iniesta has played almost as well as is humanly possible in this game.
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73 min Lovely play from Spain. Nolito’s cross, Aduriz’s cushioned volley, Iniesta’s invitational pass back to Silva, who shimmies on the edge of the box but then splashes a shot well wide.
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70 min Alba miscontrols Silva’s through pass around Cech, but Hubnik gets round to save a goal and concede a corner. This has been an entertaining 0-0, which can’t always be said of Spain games.
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68 min Spain have picked up where they left off before that little scare. Alba’s deep cross skims off the head of Aduriz, who couldn’t leap high enough, and now Thiago is coming on for the goal-saver Fabregas.
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65 min Set pieces are the Czechs’ best chance, and they have a corner on the right. It’s played short to Krejci, whose deep cross is headed back across the face by Gebre Selassie - where the stretching Fabregas denies Kaderabek a goal with an exceptional clearance under his own bar. He’s done something in the game now! The ball eventually came back to Krejci, who put in another great cross with the outside of his left foot that skimmed a Spanish head and flew across the face of the goal. Without that touch I think a Czech player would have had a simple header.
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62 min A Spain substitution, with the 35-year-old Aditz Aduriz replacing Morata to huge cheers. He’s going to be this tournament’s Schillaci, isn’t he?
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61 min The first yellow card of the match, to Limbersky for a foul on Silva.
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60 min I’d get Thiago on for Fabregas, who has done the square root of bugger all.
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58 min The Czechs almost take the lead! They had a free-kick on the right wing that was curled in by Krejci. It went over the head of the defenders and found the stretching Hubnik, whose shot would have dribbled in at the near post but for De Gea’s diving save. It was a comfortable stop in the end because Hubnik couldn’t get any pace on the ball.
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56 min Yet another chance for Spain when Kaderabek misheads the ball straight to Morata on the six-yard line. He tries to turn but is crowded out.
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53 min Another corner to Spain, their 982nd of the match. Silva hits it out for a throw-in.
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52 min Actually, Cech didn’t have that Hubnik effort covered at the start of the half, but it mattered not as it hit the outside of the post.
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51 min Nolito’s backheel frees Alba, whose brilliant low cross goes all the way along the six-yard line. Morata was nowhere to be seen.
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50 min “This reminds one of the first half of England v Russia,” says Sam Evans. “One clearly superior team completely dominating possession & chances created, without scoring. Can totally see this ending up a draw, despite the run of play.” And Iniesta’s playing almost as well as Rooney on Saturday.
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48 min “Spain had to include Xabi Alonso in line up and you can hardly leave out Busi or Xavi and as Iniesta was the most flexible, he was shunted out wider, though coming inside and being just behind Villa or Torres also let him be creative behind strikers,” says Alec Booch. True but they didn’t have to play Alonso; they could have played the Barcelona 4-1-2-3. With that midfield, it wouldn’t matter if the front three was Smyth, Murray and Doyle.
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47 min From the corner, Hubnik makes two vital blocks to deny first Nolito and then Ramos.
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46 min Hubnik hits his own post inside 40 seconds of the resumption. Yet another great pass from Iniesta put Morata clear on the right of the box, and his cross was unwittingly stabbed towards his own goal by Hubnik. I suspect Cech had it covered but it hit the outside of the post.
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46 min The Czechs begin the second half. The 2006 World Cup was an odd one for the Czechs as well,” says Rory McGee. “They thrashed the USA in their opener and then had a series of misfortunes/their own fault in injuuries to Koller (I think Baros was already recovering from an injury?) and two red cards. Always enjoyed Rosicky’s performance against the USA though, shame his club career never hit the heights it may have without injuries.”
That was another horrible group. They were absolutely battered by Ghana from memory.
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In case you missed it, Jaap Stam is the new Reading manager. One of the greatest characters ever to play football, here he is taking on the entire Arsenal and Manchester United teams at Highbury.
2.55pm BST
Something to talk about
If Spain had played Iniesta in central midfield all the time, with Xavi and Busquets, would they have been more exciting in 2010 and 2012? I suspect they would.
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And here’s some half-time viewing, our guide to the ground.
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Some half-time reading
Related: Belgium are No1 in Europe but will they freeze once the going gets tough? | Paul Doyle
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Half-time chit-chat “Focus obviously on Spain after their disastrous World Cup two years ago,” says Dileep Premachandran. “But how about the Czechs and how far they’ve fallen? I can’t be the only one who remembers 2004, when they were the best team by a country mile. Such a thrilling attacking force. And look at them now.”
Weren’t they just. What a front six! That game against the Netherlands is the best international match of the last 30 years. They were really good in 2000 too, just very unlucky in a ridiculous group. It’s weird that they didn’t qualify for the 2002 World Cup with that team.
2.46pm BST
Expected Goals: Spain 7-0 Czech Republic.
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45 min The Czechs have their first short on goal, Necid shooting straight at De Gea from 20 yards.
2.41pm BST
40 min Yet another forensic through pass from Iniesta finds Alba, whose fierce rising shot from a tight angle is beaten away dramatically by Cech. The rebound almost came for Fabregas and Morata, but the Czechs scrambled it clear. Iniesta is putting on a masterclass in possession with progression.
2.39pm BST
39 min Iniesta, 45 yards out, sees Cech off his line and goes for goal. For once his technique is poor and it drifts wide.
2.37pm BST
38 min “You haven’t named the referee yet!” says JR. “It is Szymon Marciniak. And now the jackass announcer we have here in the U.S. just said the referee is like Ed Hochuli, who apparently is a referee in the NFL. Seriously? Gee, thanks for that.”
2.36pm BST
36 min Spain have played more than three times as many passes as the Czechs.
2.35pm BST
35 min Nolito is more involved now. He runs at Kaderabek and then floats an inviting pass back to Busquets, who wallops a volley into orbit from 20 yards.
2.34pm BST
33 min A lovely little pass from Nolito finds Fabregas on the left side of the box, and his low cross deflects behind for a corner. The Czechs clear, for a couple of seconds, and then it comes back again. A goal isn’t just in the post; it’s been sent by special delivery.
2.32pm BST
32 min The Czech Republic seem to have given up on the idea of “attacking”. They can’t get out of their third, never mind their half. Iniesta - sort of the original Wayne Rooney in that position - is running the game.
2.30pm BST
30 min Nolito has been very quiet, which is a shame as he is the one who offers something a bit different.
2.29pm BST
29 min After another through pass from Iniesta, Morata drills a low left-footed shot across goal that is touched round nicely by Cech. I’m not sure whether it was going in but he still did very well to get down to it.
2.28pm BST
27 min The Czechs win a free-kick on the left wing. Two seconds later Spain have a throw-in. They played it short and made a total Horlicks of it.
2.27pm BST
25 min Iniesta’s fierce angled through pass finds Juanfran in the box, but he can’t quite control it or play it to Morata. Iniesta had to hit it with pace to get it through the eye of the needle, and that pace led to the miscontrol.
2.24pm BST
24 min Busquets thwarts a Czech break with a Makelelian, Machiavellian foul, which he made look clumsy enough to get away without being booked.
2.22pm BST
21 min Iniesta, who is particularly good to watch when he plays that left-central midfield role, wins another corner. Again nothing happens, though Sergio Ramos is down after running into Limbersky. He’s fine.
2.18pm BST
18 min Spain are just starting to hypnotise the Czechs with their passing. A gorgeous pass from Iniesta releases Jordi Alba, who wins a corner. Nothing comes of it.
2.16pm BST
16 min Morata misses a great chance! It was a fine move from Spain, starting with a crossfield pass to Juanfran, who played in Silva on the underlap. His low first-time cross found Morata six yards out, and he hit it straight at Cech.
2.15pm BST
14 min “I have to say Spain has the best kit at the Euros,” says Peter Ferry. “Their home equipación has a classic look about it. Glad to see them back to blue shorts and black socks. Woof!”
Yeah it’s lovely, apart from the orange laces.
2.14pm BST
13 min Nolito and Morata have been quiet so far. Busquets has probably seen most of the ball, but everything has been in front of the Czech Republic defence.
2.12pm BST
11 min Rosicky is shoved over by Fabregas, 20 yards from goal, but the referee gives nothing. The Czechs have had a few promising attacks, even if Spain are inevitably dominating possession.
2.10pm BST
10 min Morata slips and unwittingly ploughs through the linesman in the comedy style. “That’s what you get for wearing orange laces,” says Lee Dixon on ITV.
2.08pm BST
8 min Cech makes a stunning reaction save from Morata, though he had been rightly flagged offside.
2.07pm BST
8 min Juanfran’s dangerous low cross from the right is brilliantly defended by the stretching Hubnik.
2.06pm BST
6 min It’s clear from the first few minutes that, as good as Spain still are, their aura was buried in Brazil. The Czechs look far more confident than they would have been in this fixture four years ago.
2.05pm BST
5 min Pique fouls Necid by the left corner of the box, a bit of a Sunday-league tackle for a player usually so elegant. Darida tries to surprise De Gea by whipping the free-kick in at the near post, but whaps it straight into the wall.
2.04pm BST
4 min A couple of corners for the Czechs, who are not short of units. Both are poor, however, and Spain get their ball back.
2.02pm BST
3 min A confident start from Spain, with lots of short passes until Iniesta’s clip finds Nolito in an offside position.
2.01pm BST
2 min “Admittedly, it’s largely down to McManaman’s Madrid adventure, but I’ve followed Spain since before the tiki-taka explosion made everyone love them,” says Matt Dony. “I don’t want to sound like a hipster, but I liked them before they were cool, then the bandwagon jumpers made it a crowded place to be. I was kind of relieved after their ridiculous display in Brazil, because that trimmed off a lot of the glory boys (see also ‘David Moyes’.) Frustrated that their playing an early game, though. My boss is sitting behind me, so I’m furtively following on my phone under the guise of ‘checking emails’...”
I bet you had a hamster called Salinas, didn’t you?
2.00pm BST
1 min Peep peep! Spain, in red, kick off from left to right on a wet afternoon in Toulouse. The Czech Republic are in white.
1.56pm BST
Strangely, given all they have achieved, it’s eight years since Spain won their first game at a major tournament. Mind you, it’s 12 since they lost a European Championship game: June 2004, the time of nu-mullets and Nuno Gomes.
1.48pm BST
“Considering myself a bit of a numbers purist (yes that’s a thing), I’m not too impressed with what’s on display here,” says Chris Parker. “Number 7s upfront for both teams, No 8 at left-back and No13 going to an outfielder for Czechs, No 3 at CB for Spain. Madness.”
1.39pm BST
Urgent pre-match business
1. Vote Bexleyheath CC and we’ll be friends forever.
1.36pm BST
An email!
“If the Euros were a 24-team season-long league and not a tournament, hence eliminating home advantage and making team depth far more important, would you consider Spain heavy favorites to top the table?” asks Ben Janeson. “It seems that no other team (even Germany) really has more than 16 or 17 world-class players.”
1.30pm BST
Related: France ‘84, Holland ’88, Spain ’08: who are the best ever Euros team?
1.27pm BST
Now, we know all about the two legendary Czechoslovakian and Czech Republic goals at the European Championship, the gentle touches of Antonin Panenka and Karel Poborsky. But sometimes it pays to give it some humpty. Just look at this.
1.07pm BST
Bottle of water taken off me on way into ground today. Security? Nah. Business. It's the wrong water. ;-)
1.05pm BST
David de Gea starts. So does Nolito, who will provide “rock and roll amid the violinists”. I really like the look of that Spain team with the addition of Morata and Nolito.
Spain (4-1-2-3) De Gea; Juanfran, Pique, Ramos, Jordi Alba; Busquets; Fabregas, Iniesta; Silva, Morata, Nolito.
11.19am BST
The holders normally get plenty of attention, but, with the exception of the allegations against David de Gea, Spain have gone under the radar. Even though they won the last two European Championships, they don’t really feel like champions because of what happened in Brazil two years ago.
“We go again” has become part of the football lexicon in the last couple of years. But the more you experience, the harder that becomes. When you’ve won two European Championship and a World Cup, and flopped astonishingly in another World Cup, it’s not easy to know where you go, never mind how you summon the energy to get there. There is also a sense that Spain got so deep in character for their Euro 2012 Art Project that they haven’t quite been able to get out. To put it in their own language, they lost much of their joie de vivre.
Related: Euro 2016: Spain desperate to draw line under Brazil nightmare
Related: Czech Republic Euro 2016 team guide: tactics, key players and expert predictions
Continue reading...An unwise game of Call My Bluff
Today: Bother at the Euros, bother for Brazil and age bothers John Arne Riise
A promising England performance against Russia on Saturday suggested that dreams of reaching the last four might not be unrealistic. Sixteen hours later, Uefa threatened to remove them from the competition if their fans cause any more trouble in France. The 1-1 draw in Marseille was overshadowed by violence at the end, when Russian supporters charged into the England section. There was also trouble by the old port before the game, with England fans clashing with police for the third consecutive day. Russian nutters, English morons, Marseille ultras and Uefa’s scheduling team: as the Fiver knows all too well from that ill-fated stag weekend in Skegness, four wrongs rarely make a right.
Continue reading...June 12, 2016
England v Sri Lanka: third Test, day four – live!
Alex Hales fell six short of a maiden Test century on a rain-affected day at Lord’s
7.16pm BST
12th over: Sri Lanka 32-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 19, Silva 12) Silva edges Woakes on the bounce to slip, again softening his hands at the last minute. And that’s the end of a long and frustrating day. Sri Lanka will resume tomorrow on 32/0, needing 330 for their first Test win at Lord’s. Thanks for your company, night!
7.12pm BST
11th over: Sri Lanka 32-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 19, Silva 12) With the left-handed Karunaratne on strike, Moeen Ali comes on to bowl the penultimate over. Not much happens, save a back-foot drive for four. One over to go.
7.08pm BST
10th over: Sri Lanka 28-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 15, Silva 12) Chris Woakes replaces Anderson, who bowled a masterful spell of 4-1-5-0, and his first ball is belted for four by Karunaratne! That was a cracking pull stroke. Two overs until the close.
7.02pm BST
9th over: Sri Lanka 21-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 8, Silva 12) Silva reaches to drive a half-volley from Broad for four, and does it again two balls later! That was even better, a gorgeous push-drive. “Look at the balance and the poise,” says Nasser on Sky. “Perfection.”
England appeal for a catch down the leg side next ball. Rod Tucker says not out and, though Bairstow is interested, Broad and Cook aren’t. It hit something, but Snicko suggests it was the jumper.
6.59pm BST
8th over: Sri Lanka 11-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 8, Silva 2) Silva is beaten by consecutive outswingers from Anderson. He isn’t doing much wrong; it’s just wonderful bowling.
“The first over not being bowled by Anderson is probably of no significance,” says John Starbuck. “Isn’t it more likely to be down to which end is selected (by the umpires)?” Well yes, and no: Broad and Anderson have switched from their usual Lord’s ends, but it’s nothing to do with a pecking order.
6.55pm BST
7th over: Sri Lanka 10-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 8, Silva 1) A maiden from Broad.
6.50pm BST
6th over: Sri Lanka 10-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 8, Silva 1) Karunaratne has been the more comfortable of the two openers in this innings, although the moment he type that he is almost bowled by a fine delivery from Anderson that zips between bat and pad. This is a serious interrogation.
6.46pm BST
5th over: Sri Lanka 7-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 5, Silva 1) Silva is beaten by a beautiful delivery from Broad that bursts from a fullish length. After a dodgy first over from Broad, England have bowled superbly.
Think this is first time Anderson hasn't bowled first over of the inns (when in the side) since 2009 https://t.co/8xqrKSgeQ1 #ENGvSL
6.42pm BST
4th over: Sri Lanka 6-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 4, Silva 1) Silva softens his hands sufficiently to edge Anderson short of Vince in the slips. The next delivery is a gorgeous outswinger that beats him all ends up. He’s still there, just about.
6.38pm BST
3rd over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 4, Silva 1) Silva is beaten twice good deliveries from Broad, the second of which came back sharply. A maiden.
6.34pm BST
2nd over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (need 362 to win; Karunaratne 4, Silva 1) It’s a lovely, sunny evening now. Anderson gets a little bit of outswing to Silva, who defends comfortably. Silva, as you probably know if you’re into the whole Statsguru thing, has been caught behind in all nine of his Test innings against England.
6.29pm BST
1st over: Sri Lanka 4-0 (target: 362; Karunaratne 4, Silva 0) Stuart Broad bowls the first over from the Pavilion End, and is cut crisply for four by Karunaratne. An unusually inaccurate first over fae Broad.
6.25pm BST
So, England need 10 wickets to complete their first whitewash since 2011, and only their fourth since 1978. There are around 12 overs remaining tonight.
6.16pm BST
71 overs: England 233-7 declared (Cook 49, Woakes 0) Alastair Cook has just smoked Eranga over cow corner for six! That was an outrageous shot, an Eoin Morgan-style pick up from a full-length delivery. He tries to ramp the next ball, Buttler-style, makes a total mess of it and it almost caught behind. This is great fun – and now it’s over, because Alastair Cook has declared, and Sri Lanka need 362 to win.
6.12pm BST
Moeen sacrifices himself in the pursuit of a declaration, driving Eranga straight to long off.
6.09pm BST
70th over: England 223-6 (Cook 40, Ali 9) Cook is taking the rare opportunity to play a one-day innings, and scoops Mathews over the slips for a couple. England’s lead is past 350.
6.07pm BST
69th over: England 217-6 (Cook 36, Ali 7) It’s Shaminda Eranga from the Post-Prandial End. England have come out with a far more aggressive approach. Moeen gets a leading edge over Eranga’s head for a couple, with four from the over in all.
6.00pm BST
Over the line!
This is good, from Mike Selvey earlier in the year, on the need for a change in the no-ball law.
Related: Adam Voges decision highlights clear need for a change to no-ball law | Mike Selvey
5.56pm BST
68th over: England 213-6 (Cook 35, Ali 4) The sun’s out, and we’re in serious danger of getting some play. Angelo Mathews bowls the last four balls of his eighth over, one of which is clunked back over his head for two by Moeen Ali.
5.52pm BST
The covers are coming off! For the time being!
Not so easy to spot a no-ball correctly by the way, as these pics show: https://t.co/CLPlt3bkzF
5.47pm BST
“They will be putting those covers back on shortly I reckon,” says Liz Rippin. “Skies darkening rapidly at top end of Gray’s Inn Road. I’d like to thank the weather for its support today.”
I’d like to thank the weather for oogatz. This has been the longest Sunday ever.
5.43pm BST
The rain is pretty heavy at the moment. In other news...
A reminder of curious story from Lord's, where Sri Lanka have been asked by MCC to remove their flag from balcony https://t.co/BIVI0jSI3v
5.40pm BST
Ticket information for tomorrow @HomeOfCricket. £20 adults £5 Over 65s. Under 16s Free. #ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/Lm8LN9WHoL
5.31pm BST
67.2 overs: England 210-6 (Cook 35, Ali 1) Mathews beats Moeen Ali with a surprise lifter – and that’s the last ball of this mini-session, because it’s raining again.
5.30pm BST
67th over: England 209-6 (Cook 34, Ali 1) It’s Herath from the other end, with the sun tentatively making an appearance. Cook misses a vigorous sweep in an over that yields three singles.
5.27pm BST
66th over: England 206-6 (Cook 32, Ali 0) The players are out again. These are thrilling times to be alive. Mathews bowls the last three balls of his over to Moeen Ali, and it’s a maiden. England lead by 334.
5.21pm BST
66th over: England 206-6 (Cook 32, Ali 0) The players are out, and Angelo Mathews is going to partake in a form of sporting exercise known as bowling. He manages three deliveries, and then it starts to rain again.
Well this is fun.
5.08pm BST
Play will restart at 5.20pm.
5.04pm BST
“I’ll have a bat”
5.02pm BST
The rain is getting heavier, and the big covers are going on. Don’t blame it on the OBO weatherman. If you want something to do, there’s some live sport here.
Related: Poland v Northern Ireland: Euro 2016 – live!
5.00pm BST
Hello, Rob here. There’s some drizzle at Lord’s, so the resumption will be delayed. Shouldn’t be long though.
“How high do you think Cook can go on the list of all-time Test runscorers?” asks Michael Meagher. “12,000 to nip ahead of Brian Lara into sixth place? 13,000 to get into 5th? All the way?”
4.48pm BST
That’s all from me. I’ll be handing back to Rob Smyth who will take you through to close. Email him here.
Hales finishes the series with 292 runs at an average of 58.4. Have we at last found Cook's opening partner? pic.twitter.com/K5r4WPc72G
4.44pm BST
65th over: 206-6 (Cook 32, Ali 0): Strong sweep from Cook gets four from the first ball and he uses that strike to cool off for the rest of the over, with five dots before the break. Dan Lucas is “pretty certain Hales is the first player to get out in the 90s in all three formats before making his maiden hundred”. He’s probably right.
More annoyed he's just missed a golden opportunity to complete the hat trick of 99s tbh.
4.40pm BST
64th over: England 202-6 (Cook 28, Ali 0): Right now, Alex Hales hates cricket.
4.37pm BST
Oh no! Hales tries to tickle a straight delivery around the corner and is struck in front. Rod Tucker gives him out, naturally he reviews, but the ball is just clipping leg stump. Finally, an umpire’s call in Sri Lanka’s favour...
4.33pm BST
63rd over: England 202-5 (Hales 94, Cook 28)
Hales moves into the nineties, sweeping a full toss through square leg for four. He finishes the over on 94*. Fancy doing it with a six, Alex? Come on...
4.29pm BST
62nd over: England 195-5 (Hales 87, Cook 28)
Angelo Mathews comes in for a trundle. And it really is a trundle. Hales uses the “pace” on the ball to tuck around the corner for a single to take him to his highest Test score of 87.
4.24pm BST
61st over: England 193-5 (Hales 86, Cook 27): Herath, fresh from his jog, continues from the Nursery End and forces a skewed drive from Cook that just falls short of bat pad. “Aiyooooo,” (translation: “Oh god/dear!”) sighs Mathews at slip.
4.23pm BST
60th over: England 192-5 (Hales 86, Cook 26): Herath is given a long run to midwicket as Cook guides a ball to the longest part of the ground for three.
Hales now has most runs by an England opener whose name isn't A Cook in a series since Root in 2013 Ashes https://t.co/v0mC2ozwUs #ENGvSL
4.18pm BST
59th over: England 187-5 (Hales 85, Cook 22): Herath’s now moved to around the wicket, opening up midwicket for a swipe across the line. Hales isn’t going to misbehave though.
4.16pm BST
58th over: England 185-5 (Hales 84, Cook 21): Cook still chugging along, Hales trying to get out of the eighties for the first time in his Test career. Six from the over.
4.09pm BST
57th over: England 179-5 (Hales 83, Cook 18): Fine over from Herat, who is setting up camp in that rough. The last ball, drifting away from Cook, turns sharply through the gate but just over the stumps.
4.08pm BST
56th over: England 173-5 (Hales 82, Cook 16): Just a leg bye from the over, as Jonny Bairstow gets to work on a crossword.
4.03pm BST
55th over: England 172-5 (Hales 82, Cook 16): A sweep for four, as Hales plays Herath well from out of the rough. The over ends with Alastair Cook playing a reverse sweep. Remember what we were saying about that midlife crisis? Meanwhile, Surrey’s Rory Burns is giving Kumar Sangakkara a cultural lesson...
@WillGrigg Good luck today... Got the lads @surreycricket on board eh @roryburns17 ? #Gawa pic.twitter.com/RH3elDZDsR
3.59pm BST
54th over: England 167-5 (Hales 77, Cook 16): More muted at Cook’s end, as Lakmal tucks him up for room before Cook is able to smear a short ball straight into the shins of Kusal Mendis. Ouchie.
3.56pm BST
53rd over: England 165-5 (Hales 77, Cook 17): Here we go... Hales skips to the pitch of the ball and smashes Herath down the ground for six. Sensing a flatter, shorter ball coming up next, Hales premeditates a sweep and pulls it off for four. The Botwell has joined us: “Interesting to note that Cook’s series strike rate is 49.29 and Hales’ is 44.92. Wonder if having two openers going at less than 3 an over puts pressure on the middle order to attack, hence all the 50 for 3 like scores? Hales has still done great though.” It’s an interesting point. I still think that middle order would still play with as much intent even if the openers were more expansive. You know, “positive brand of cricket” and all that jazz.
3.52pm BST
52nd over: England 155-5 (Hales 67, Cook 14): Two singles from the over, as Cook struggles to get Lakmal away.
3.49pm BST
51st over: England 153-5 (Hales 66, Cook 13): Drinks and then five from that Herath over. We’ve got another 30 minutes (ish) to play in this session. Time to tee off?
3.42pm BST
50th over: England 148-5 (Hales 63, Cook 11): Hales wears a rising delivery on his unprotected right arm and bends over, grimacing. Batting fourth on this track... yeah good luck with that.
3.38pm BST
49th over: England 148-5 (Hales 63, Cook 11): Cook has got away with one there – he moves across his stumps to work into the leg side, but the ball turns past the bat and into his pad, in front of off stump. Mathews decides not to review, perhaps because he’s lost 13 of the 14 reviews he’s called for this series.
3.34pm BST
48th over: England 143-5 (Hales 59, Cook 11): A no ball – an actual one – is flayed through backward point by a relieved Cook. Naturally, the conversation across the various broadcasts is focussing on that front line. I quite like this suggestion hidden in amongst the apoplexy in this tweet from Aussie scribe Adam “Collo” Collins:
Ridiculous. Automate front foot decisions already. Bloody hell. Long jump. Triple jump. Man on the moon. Hawkeye. We can do this. #ENGvSL
3.27pm BST
47th over: England 138-5 (Hales 59, Cook 7): Encouragement for England – grubbers and sharp turn on offer from this Lord’s pitch. Cook’s LBW (overturned) spun sharply, as Herath pitched into the rough outside the left-handers off stump.
That is sooooo bizarre! Why is the umpire calling that a no ball? How lucky is that for Hales ! Best cash in now #ENGvSL
3.25pm BST
After taking an age to determine whether there was an inside edge, ball-tracking shows that the impact was outside the line of off stump.
3.22pm BST
Alastair Cook is given out, LBW to Herath, but is encouraged to review by Alex Hales. It looks like the impact with the back pad might have been outside the line...
3.20pm BST
46th over: England 135-5 (Hales 58, Cook 5): Nuwan Pradeep bowls Alex Hales with a shooter. But it’s a no ball and they run two byes. However, upon close inspection, a smidge of Pradeep’s heel was behind the line. Certainly enough to say that Tucker called that one wrong. Could Sri Lanka have reviewed that?
3.15pm BST
45th over: England 132-5 Hales 58, Cook 0): Alex Hales makes all the right shapes to drive through cover for four.
3.10pm BST
44th over: England 125-5 (Hales 51, Cook 5): Cook, leather jacket dusted off and donned, joint behind his ear, pops a flourid punch through point for four. “That’s absolutely salmon trout...”
WICKET: Nightwatchman Finn out LBW to Eranga. Fit-again Cook in at seven. ENG 121-5: https://t.co/XbFzNuRrnw https://t.co/aAX7G1SR2L
3.07pm BST
43rd over: England 121-5 (Hales 51, Cook 1): Alastair Cook walking out at number seven makes me feel odd. There’s something very midlife crisis about it.
Hales is the first England opener other than Cook to have four scores of fifty or more since Strauss retired. #EngvSL
3.03pm BST
Gone that time. A walk on the off side and Finn is pinned in front of middle. A slight delay as they check the front foot but it’s fine. Just.
3.00pm BST
42nd over: England 119-4 (Hales 50, Finn 7): A strange moment as Nuwan Pradeep hits the pad of Steven Finn, who had stepped well across his stumps. There’s an appeal, but considering you could see leg stump, it wasn’t particularly convincing. You’d expect more wailing and waving for a moment like that.
2.55pm BST
41st over: England 119-4 (Hales 50, Finn 7): Alex Hales has his third fifty of the series (fourth overall), from 116 balls. There hasn’t been much rotation of the strike and just six fours. But he’s looked very solid. Even in that over, edging inside of gully. “Go on Mr Finn, get rid of the block,” implores Shane Warne, who believes England should have a good go – perhaps even a session’s worth – at Sri Lanka’s batsmen today. The lead is 247.
Sun's out, plums out. #ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/iQXG3NPQSK
2.51pm BST
40th over: England 113-4 (Hales 45, Finn 6): Nightwatchman Steven Finn is watchful in defence, beaten once on his inside edge and once on the outside. “Here’s a little something to encourage the readers,” says John Starbuck.
2.45pm BST
39th over: England 113-4 (Hales 45, Finn 6): Right, here we go. An entire session lost (30 overs) and play can continue till 7pm tonight. Hales edges through gully for four AND a review LBW shows the ball umpire’s calling middle and leg – not out being the original decision. Testing first over from Shaminda Eranga.
LATE GATE: We're unable to offer a Late Gate until 25 overs have been bowled today. Updates if/when that happens. #LoveLords
2.39pm BST
Cricket! They’re actually going to play cricket!
2.34pm BST
“I’ve had to switch TMS off and put the football on – I need actual play to get me through this dismal afternoon of extra work,” says Liz Rippin. “I’ve got the OBO open though, will you post something eye-catching when something finally happens?”
I won’t, but Vish will: he’s taken over till tea. See you for the 47-hour evening session.
2.15pm BST
Play will start at 2.40pm, if it doesn’t rain again.
2.00pm BST
An email!
“Thrilled to see Rangana Herath, my college mate from Maliyadeva College Kurunegala, doing so well,” says Fritz Kodagoda. “When we cricket lovers in Sri Lanka did our bit to make it possible for boys from the remote areas to play cricket we did not dream that one such would sparkle like Wordsworth’s obscure violet . Remember the lines:
1.55pm BST
The covers are coming off, and it looks a bit brighter. No start time yet though.
1.39pm BST
PODCAST: @joshwiddicombe takes a very enjoyable "View from the boundary" https://t.co/gcbhyn8JN2 pic.twitter.com/L80R2bTS6o
1.24pm BST
It’s only spitting at Lord’s – it certainly isn’t John Cusack weather – so hopefully we’ll have some play soon.
1.19pm BST
Shameless plugging of your own work department
Related: Wales take heart from Wrexham ‘80 in confusing rivalry with England
On the day Wayne Rooney gets another new position, a piece on how his career fizzled out: https://t.co/Cna4PRRPbs
1.17pm BST
I recommend the Goosnargh duck, blood orange, spiced carrot, Monster Munch
Rain at Lord’s Cricket? We’re only 10 minutes away.Fancy lunch? 02075868569 @Brynwchef #foodie #Sunday #PrimroseHill pic.twitter.com/fPjpkkYZmN
1.15pm BST
“He ain’t scored a run! Alright he got 60 in the last innings...”
After the fun and games in Marseille last night, here’s a reminder that England cricket fans are a little more sophisticated. Oh.
1.14pm BST
@legallylondon: @Vitu_E During the rain delay we have been buying jumpers and accosting MCC members @allymaughan pic.twitter.com/XhuQqJSWUY
1.13pm BST
Some news Jimmy Anderson has been reprimanded for disrespecting
the Bing
umpire S Ravi.
Related: England’s Jimmy Anderson given reprimand for disrespecting umpire
1.13pm BST
This, from yesterday, is great, or your money back
A lesson in how to take a #selfie from @benstokes38 https://t.co/Ht831Cu9rA
1.13pm BST
Hello, Rob here. It’s been a great weekend of English sport. The rugby union team won in Australia. The footballers won Euro 2016 after beating Russia by 12 Expected Goals to Nil. But something slightly more English than success – rain – has compromised the cricket team’s chances of completing a rare whitewash. Play was scheduled to resume at 1.30pm, but the covers are back on. Ach, blast and darn.
1.07pm BST
Right, I’ll now be handing over to Rob Smyth, who should be bringing you some cricket in the next half-an-hour. Play nice and see you lot in an hour.
PS: You can get in contact with him at rob.smyth@theguardian.com
12.56pm BST
More good news from Lord’s, courtesy of Ally Maughan. There’s set to be an inspection at 1:10pm for a 1:30pm start.
@Vitu_E Things looking up @HomeOfCricket, watching men doing housework with a glass of fizz #ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/QtPpWbYq5O
12.47pm BST
HUZZAH!
.@LucyWeather has the latest forecast... #LoveLords pic.twitter.com/yCXVSYRINN
12.20pm BST
Bit shameless, this, but myself and fellow OBO-er Will Macpherson have a podcast which the folk here have decided to host on their Sports Network. If you’re at a loose end on this rainy Sunday, why not give it a listen...
Related: Introducing the Freelance Cricket Club: a new podcast by writers with spare time
11.52am BST
Right, so Mahela Jayawardene jumped into that segment and spoke about how to bat against spin. I thought about tweeting that, too, but I really couldn’t do the man justice. I’ll share a link on here when Sky put the video up. Back to the lack of cricket, lunch has been brought forward to 12:30pm.
Genuinely grinning like an idiot watching Warne and Jayawardene talking about how they'd counter each other. Incredible insights.
11.41am BST
“Watching Hugh Jackman bat always makes me think of the halo effect.” Peter Salmon’s back. “This is where we believe that someone who has one type of expertise must be an expert on other things – the basis of all celebrity endorsements. I think in Jackman’s case it might be right.”
11.22am BST
That time Wolverine smashed Warne for 20 off an over...
11.15am BST
“Listening to Shane Warne talk about spin always makes me think of the halo effect,” says Peter Salmon on email. “This is where we believe that someone who has one type of expertise must be an expert on other things – the basis of all celebrity endorsements. Has there ever been an individual where the wisdom he displays talking about his craft is so distant from the nonsense he talks about every other topic?” I don’t know – what about that rant he had a couple of years ago about “dirty rotten pizzas”?
11.14am BST
More from Warne: “Everyone has a natural speed at which they should bowl. If you can spin or swing the all, you can take wickets, regardless of how quick you’re bowling. Some days, on some surfaces, you’ll have to work it out for yourselves: you might have to bowl quicker to get that turn.”
“Some people think that if you bowl quicker you won’t get hit. That’s absolute... [Ward: “Rubbish?”]... yeah, rubbish! Because if you bowl quicker, it’s actually easier for batsmen because they want pace on the ball. If you bowl slower, they have to wait and really focus on timing the ball and that’s how you get them to make a mistake.”
11.10am BST
Mark Hooper emails in on KP’s tattoo: “Do you think we should tell him he’s got the world back to front?”
10.59am BST
“A lot of experts say drift is dependent on the wind. The only way you can really get drift is the amount of spin you get on the ball. It also depends on where your arm is: too high, and you can’t get your wrist over. Too low, and it’s too round-arm and the batsman can pick it easily or you’ll bowl too short.” Warne then references this delivery, to Ian Bell: “I tried to spin this delivery as much as I could. Let’s call it a bit of natural variation...”
10.55am BST
“The main question I get asked is ‘how do you spin the ball further?’ The key is a nice relaxed grip. Some coaches will tell you to grip the ball as hard as you can to really rip the ball. I’m sorry to those coaches, but that’s just wrong.”
10.49am BST
“I’m very pleased for Sri Lanka,” writes Rob Wilson. “But I admit that I like a bit of rain at Lords. Means you can look at all the nice architecture without being distracted by any of that horrid cricket.” In lieu of the horrid cricket, Sky are about to embark on a young spinners tutorial with Shane Warne. It’ll no doubt be available on their site soon enough, but I’ll bring you the highlights on here...
10.34am BST
“For Hales to be a Test success,” starts Ian Copestake, “he needs to cover the tattoos on his other arm. Tattoos are for the short form of the game not long minutes spent telling yourself not to hit the ball for six. KP was an anomaly who proves the rule.” Ian, you’ve just reminded me of this. Yes, that’s a tattoo Pietersen had done in which the red dots indicate where he has scored Test centuries.
10.24am BST
It’s currently raining at HQ and there may be a delayed start. Having checked the radar, it looks like we’ll be done with it by around 11am.
Damp and grey at @HomeOfCricket so will be starting @bbctms from the shelter of the comm box 10.30am pic.twitter.com/S2WUqwsqkT
10.11am BST
Morning everyone. I know, I know. They could have stopped the cross. Or nabbed a second with one of the other chances they created. But let’s leave that all in yesterday. I dealt with the cutting disappointment of England’s Euro 2016 opener by traipsing to north London to a Euro 96 themed night that also proved a cutting disappointment. And it was while surrounded by others trying to get away from Raheem Sterling’s error strewn performance, as the advertised “90s Brit-pop” playlist somehow found space for The Strokes, that I thought: “Hold on… we’ve got a 237 run lead, with an opportunity to make hay through to lunch. A lead of 250, a declaration and then, hey, run through them and be done by 5pm. Runs for Moeen, some much-needed wickets for Finn. 12-0, to the In-ger-lund.” Alas, it didn’t feel appropriate to share my epiphany.
Ugly scenes not confined to France. Just seen MCC member at war with self-service till at Tesco. Claret everywhere. Kept coming back though
9.54am BST
Vish will be here shortly. In the meantime, Paul Farbrace has praised England’s batsmen, reports Ali Martin.
England remain in position to claim a 3-0 series win against Sri Lanka even if a stuttering performance with the bat and the loss of their captain, Alastair Cook, with a knee injury meant the third day at Lord’s did not go entirely to plan.
Bowling out the tourists for 288 to claim a first-innings lead of 128, the home side stumbled to 109 for four by the close but sit 237 runs ahead, having at one stage lost three wickets for five runs in the space of 10 deliveries.
Related: Paul Farbrace reserves praise for England bowlers as batsmen stutter
Continue reading...Wales take heart from Wrexham ‘80 in confusing rivalry with England
“Look what these bastards have done to Wales. They’ve taken our coal, our water, our steel. They buy our homes and live in them for a fortnight every year. What have they given us? Absolutely nothing. We’ve been exploited, raped, controlled and punished by the English – and that’s who you are playing this afternoon. The English.”
The Observer can exclusively reveal that these words will not come out of the Wales captain Ashley Williams’ mouth in Lens on Thursday, and not only because he was born in Wolverhampton. Phil Bennett’s legendary speech, delivered before Wales’s Five Nations victory over England in 1977, belonged to rugby union, where the rivalry between England and Wales is significantly more intense.
Related: Gareth Bale insists Wales will not be a one-man team at Euro 2016
Continue reading...June 11, 2016
England v Sri Lanka: third Test, day three – as it happened
7.08pm BST
On a sultry Saturday the Test match accelerated into life against most expectations. For two days the batsmen had generally held sway, but now the bowlers took over, which always adds spice to the contest.
Thirteen wickets fell in the day. Sri Lanka lost nine for 126 as the England pacemen found a consistent line as well as a flicker of movement. Thus England gained a first innings lead of 128, which would be extended to 237 by the close with six wickets remaining.
Read Vic Mark’s full match report here.
6.57pm BST
If you’re keen for some cricket tomorrow, there are tickets still available for day four, which you can purchase here.
TICKETS: If you want to be here tomorrow, we have tickets on sale online until 11:59pm, starting at £50 for adults and £10 Under 16s #ENGvSL
6.31pm BST
38th over: England 109-4 (Hales 41, Finn 6)
Pradeep on the money second ball, as he gets one to move into Finn, from wide on the crease. He appeals for LBW but an inside edge gives Rod Tucker an easy decision to make. The Watford Wall sees out the day. “What is the point of putting Finn in as nightwatchman, rather than Jimmy?” asks Graham Samuel-Gibbon, with the final thoughts of the day. “Finn cannot protect his wicket and won’t be able to play shots or offer anything other than his wicket in the morning, assuming he lasts that long.”
6.28pm BST
Both teams at fault for this...
Spectators will be short-changed of five overs today. ICC say they're trying to deal with over-rates, but the evidence is patchy.
6.27pm BST
37th over: England 109-4 (Hales 41, Finn 6): Two slips and a short leg for Finn, as Hales gives the nightwatchman the strike with a single down the ground. A single off the penultimate ball – skewed past bat-pad – gives Finn the last over of the day.
6.24pm BST
36th over: England 107-4 (Hales 40, Finn 5): Bairstow goes and Steven Finn comes in as nightwatchman. Two claims for a tickle down the legside, both not out – both times Mathews decides against a review. However, the final delivery is flicked off the bat down the leg side – Alex Hales is the batsman. Chandimal gets there but can’t pouch one-handed. And now a regulation edge goes begging – Finn nicks to Chandimal’s right, but the keeper is already moving to his left. Big moments, those.
Pretty knackered shot from Jonny B. He's been on the field for a long time in this Test.
6.18pm BST
Where did that come from? Bairstow tries to play a decent length ball into the leg side. It’s too straight and, as a result, he plays onto his stumps. England lead by 229...
6.17pm BST
35th over: England 101-3 (Hales 39, Bairstow 32): Herath to Hales for the entire over. Hales hasn’t been able to move the ball around the field like Bairstow has, but the 100 comes up with a bye, which also brings up the fifty partnership from 126 balls. Hales has only managed three singles off Herath, from 23 deliveries.
6.13pm BST
34th over: England 99-3 (Hales 39, Bairstow 32): Nuwan Pradeep to bowl from the Pavilion End as Mathews takes himself out of the attack. Yikes, that’s close: another near grubber threatens to fell a second Yorkshireman.
6.09pm BST
33rd over: England 99-3 (Hales 39, Bairstow 32): Bairstow does well again to punch out of the rough, with the spin, for three. With Hales back on, Herath moves around the wicket and immediately finds the edge of Hales. Big turn there, but just short of first slip. “Nice, nice, nice,” says Shane. The last turns past the outside edge. Bowling, Rangana.
6.07pm BST
32nd over: England 96-3 (Hales 39, Bairstow 29): Mathews getting some good bounce from the track with a ball that still has a nice sheen on it. Just two from the over. 11 overs left in the day...
6.01pm BST
31st over: England 94-3 (Hales 38, Bairstow 28): Hales sweeps out of the rough for a single, before Bairstow clears his front leg and drives inside-out through extra cover for two.
5.59pm BST
30th over: England 91-3 (Hales 37, Bairstow 26): No width or great pace to work with Mathews is sticking with the straight channels and waiting for Bairstow to make a mistake. And there it almost is: he gets the last ball to go back up the hill and pass perilously close to Bairstow’s outside edge.
5.54pm BST
29th over: England 91-3 (Hales 37, Bairstow 26): Bairstow joining Hales in using his pad to Herath. There are a few cheeky “oooos” and “aaaahs” from behind the wicket to try and put some indecision in the heads of the batsmen.
5.51pm BST
28th over: England 90-3 (Hales 37, Bairstow 25): Ian Bell-esque from Bairstow, who cuts late and through gully, very deliberately, for four. Mathews lands a counter, with a ball that just leaves Bairstow and skews, just short, to second slip.
5.48pm BST
27th over: England 85-3 (Hales 37, Bairstow 20): Herath is coming over the wicket to Hales, which is giving him a different angle to think about. He pads away a couple but, as Herath slows the pace, decides his bat should do the brunt of the work until he’s got his bearings. Maiden.
5.45pm BST
26th over: England 85-3 (Hales 37, Bairstow 20): Angelo Mathews is bringing himself on to replace Herath, but possibly get the spinner on at the other end and give Lakmal a break. Three from the over, as Bairstow takes guard halfway up the pitch.
5.41pm BST
25th over: England (Hales 36, Bairstow20): Lakmal to continue after drinks. Jonny Bairstow used the break to get a drink and inspect his kit, which must be very worn. Sri Lankan royalty at Lord’s earlier today...
Heavy weights @HomeOfCricket @sanath07 @KumarSanga2 @ArjunaRanatunga #ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/rqbYw5el0t
5.34pm BST
24th over: England 81-3 (Hales 34, Bairstow 19): Two from the over. Herath’s trying to coax some big shots with a bit of flight but, last ball, loses his nerve and fires one in that Bairstow blocks solidly.
5.31pm BST
23rd over: England 79-3 (Hales 33, Bairstow 18) Bairstow starting to turn things with his running, here. Mathews can’t quite decide what to do with his field.
5.26pm BST
22nd over: England 75-3 (Hales 32, Bairstow 15): Well played by Bairstow: he drops his wrists for two into the leg side, before he burgles another two through point with some exceptional running that puts pressure on the fielder, who fumbles.
5.23pm BST
21st over: England 71-3 (Hales 32, Bairstow 11): Looks like these two will just try and see things out till stumps rather than look to push on too much. Hales has packed away the square shots and even his straight drive, which he crunches straight to mid off, is played with the sole intention of keeping the ball away from the stumps.
5.18pm BST
20th over: England 69-3 (Hales 31, Bairstow 10): Untidy keeping allows a bye but it brings Hales on strike, who has been getting himself out to left arm spin this series. The over passes without alarm.
5.15pm BST
19th over: England 67-3 (Hales 30, Bairstow 10): Suranga Lakmal replaces Shaminda Eranga. A couple threaten to sneak under Bairstow’s bat, but the Yorkshireman gets low to defend back down the ground. Change at the other end, too - it’s time for Herath...
5.11pm BST
18th over: England 65-3 (Hales 29, Bairstow 9): Good eyes, good hands, better feet from Bairstow: he spots a wide delivery, hands back and ready to cut late. The ball doesn’t get to the boundary, but Bairstow manages to run four anyway. Quality.
5.06pm BST
17th over: England 59-3: Smart from Sri Lanka’s seamers. They’re almost exclusively bowling cross seam deliveries to exploit the dead spots in the pitch. Occasionally, the seam is used for an extra bit of bounce. Watchful from Hales and JB.
With that dismissal, this will be the first Test series Root has averaged under 45 since the 2013-14 Ashes #EngvSL
5.02pm BST
16th over: England 57-3 (Hales 27, Bairstow 3): Pradeep still getting a bit of low bounce, which Hales and Bairstow counter by camping on the front foot. A push through extra cover gives Bairstow two.
4.58pm BST
15th over: England 55-3 (Hales 27, Bairstow 1): Sri Lanka sense they are onto something. Hales thinks he’s got four through midwicket, but a brilliant dive from Herath not only saves the boundary but stops Hales in his tracks. No run. Unlike England’s top order, Zaltzmann’s on fire...
England's numbers 3&4 (Compton/Root; Root/Vince) have scored 8 for 4 in this match. Eng's worst ever Test by nos 3&4 https://t.co/oyTQe7rdtd
4.53pm BST
14th over: England 50-3 (Hales 24, Bairstow 0): Brilliant from Pradeep. Even the hat trick ball, so often an anticlimax, is spot on. Jonny Bairstow, who was netting at lunch, defends into his foot to see out the over. England were 45 for none...
WICKET: Root bowled by an unplayable Pradeep delivery that kept low. ENG 50-2: https://t.co/XbFzNuRrnw #ENGvSL https://t.co/XhJOBZfbfE
4.49pm BST
God awful leave from James Vince, especially having seen the ball misbehave to get rid of Joe Root. Pradeep hits off stump flush and is now on a hat trick...
4.47pm BST
Wowser – a real grubber does for Root, whose weight is back for a good length ball. The ball just gets above ankle height and knocks off stump.
4.45pm BST
Alastair Cook latest: X-rays show no break, just bruising to left knee/leg. Unlikely to bat tonight, assessed in the morning
4.43pm BST
13th over: England 49-1 (Hales 23, Root 4): The news is that Alastair Cook has bruising on the knee. He should be fine, but he won’t be batting tonight. As a result, Joe Root comes out at number three – something Trevor Bayliss and many others believe should be the norm. Gets off the mark with an inside edge that nearly takes out off stump...
Harrogate Spring Hydration Break at the fall of that wicket. Could be something stronger for poor Compo.
4.38pm BST
Despite looking good, Compton pushes at a delivery from Eranga and, no for the first time this series, nicks behind. The ovation is generous and ignored by Compton, who makes the slow walk off which, according to reports, will be his last...
4.35pm BST
12th over: England 45-0 (Compton 19, Hales 23): Really good running from these two, now. Calls loud, running on cue.
Selfie fail... @benstokes38 to the rescue https://t.co/Phtzrk62KB
4.30pm BST
11th over: England 42-0 (Compton 17, Hales 22): Everything about Compton seems crisper now. The feet are decisive and, when the ball is short, his hands are quick to pull Eranga through square leg for four. Mathews takes a fielder out of the ring and gets him to marshal that fence for the time being. This is exactly what Compton hasn’t been able to do until now: give Mathews and the touring attack something to think about. Now offered an acre into the leg side, he obliges for one.
TICKETS: If you want to be here tomorrow, we have tickets on sale online until 11:59pm, starting at £50 for adults and £5 Under 16s. #ENGvSL
4.25pm BST
10th over: England 35-0 (Compton 12, Hales 21): Nice punch off the back foot brings Compton a boundary. Even up the hill, it races away from the two chasing fielders, who started out at point and cover.
Hales/Compton is the first right-handed opening pair England have had since Key & Vaughan opened v India, at Leeds, in August 2002.
4.22pm BST
9th over: England 31-0 (Compton 8, Hales 21): Compton flays through backward point with all the freedom of a man who knows this might be it. There’s an element of “live each day like it’s your last” in the stroke: he rocks back, throws caution to the wind and swings his hands through the ball. It’s not quite controlled, but there’s enough purpose in the shot to command respect. He gets one for it.
Shot of the day from @alexhales1 as Lakmal is driven straight for four. Beauty that. ENG 28-0 #ENGvSL
https://t.co/SELFD1ru2p
4.16pm BST
8th over: England 28-0 (Compton 7, Hales 20): Hales is put down at second slip off Nuwan Pradeep, who has replaced Eranga. First (Kaushal Silva) and second (Dimuth Karunaratne) have a sizeable gap between them and Karunaratne moved late, diving to his left. Really should have been taken. Hales survives and moves to 20 with a one-handed tuck to square leg.
4.12pm BST
7th over: England 25-0 (Compton 6, Hales 19): After 16 dot balls, Hales plays straight drive that just evades Lakmal’s boot and the nonstriker’s stumps to go for four. Finishes the over with another boundary, too: this one picked up strongly from middle and leg and beyond midwicket. The lead is now 153.
4.08pm BST
6th over: England 17-0 (Compton 6, Hales 11): Eranga, too, has found his best set. At times, it looks like he has rushed Compton with his quicker deliveries coming around off stump.
4.04pm BST
5th over: England 17-0 (Compton 6, Hales 11): A maiden for Lakmal, as he tightens his line and targets the stumps to keep Hales honest. Floodlights in full effect, now.
4.00pm BST
4th over: England 17-0 (Hales 11, Compton 6): Oh my, what an end that would have been. Alex Hales beats the first off side fielder with a drive and thinks, for a moment, that he has beaten the second (Herath). Both batsmen end up mid-pitch by the time Herath collects the ball and gets back to his feet to throw to the keeper’s end. Luckily for Compton, the throw asked too much of Chandimal.
3.58pm BST
Tymal Mills, the fastest bowler on the county circuit, is being considered for his first international call-up as England weigh up their options for the upcoming limited-overs series with Sri Lanka.
The 23-year-old left-armer retired from first-class cricket last year due to a congenital back condition, but has shone in Twenty20 for Sussex this season, bowling well in excess of 90mph – see the yorker that cleaned up Somerset’s Chris Gayle at the start of the month – and picking up six wickets, including three for 15 against Kent on Friday.
Ali Martin has the full story.
3.56pm BST
3rd over: England 14-0 (Compton 6, Hales 8): Warne, as he did with the ball in his hand, has noticed a peculiar tick in Compton’s set-up. His front foot, which is usually so certain, is moving two or three times from delivery to shot execution. There’s no way Lakmal’s going to exploit it with some wide dross and Compton, sure-footed this time, cracks four through cover with a bit of a flourish.
Oval 2006. Strauss & Trescothick v Pakistan. The last time England's opening pair in a home Test did not contain Alastair Cook.
3.51pm BST
2nd over: England 10-0 (Compton 2, Hales 8): Compton chases a wide loosener from Eranga, which is taken by Chandimal in front of second slip. Nothing wrong with the shot, to be fair. England don’t need to be hanging around. Meanwhile, here’s a nice video on Alex Hales...
Good first over for @AlexHales1 - we caught up with him before the Test match to discuss his Lord's journey:https://t.co/65NmWUeP8B
3.47pm BST
1st over: England 9-0 (Compton 1, Hales 8): Suranga Lakmal opens the bowling and there is a bit of away movement for the gangly seamer. Nick Compton clamps down into the leg side and a single is snatched as the ball barely gets off the cut strip. He looks relieved. Hales, on the other hand, looks at ease, tucking one off his pads for four and then punching through cover point off the back foot, like a chiselled red ball specialist with more than 10,000 first class runs to his name.
3.43pm BST
Vish here for the evening session. It’s a bumper one, too, with 42 overs still to be bowled! It starts with some delicious narrative: Alastair Cook, back from his X-ray, will not be opening the innings. Nick Compton, under immense amounts of pressure to save his Test career with this knock alone, will not only move up the order but will also take the first ball...
3.25pm BST
That completes an extremely good day’s work from the England seamers, with nine wickets falling for 126 on a flat pitch. England lead by 128, and will bat again after tea, which has been brought forward because of the close of innings. Vish will be with you after tea. Bye!
3.23pm BST
Woakes replaces Broad – and gets a first-ball wicket for the second time today! It was a routine edge and a nice low catch from Vince at third slip.
3.21pm BST
95th over: Sri Lanka 288-9 (Eranga 1, Pradeep 0) Jimmy Anderson’s series figures are 20 for 200. “With Cook having an X-ray,” begins Mark Hooper, “this is setting up beautifully for Compton to have a Twenty20 style blast isn’t it?” If he gets a 53-ball hundred, there’s no way they can drop him.
3.18pm BST
This is a lovely low catch from Root at second slip. The batsman stayed around, so they checked with the third umpire, but it was a clean catch. It was a routine edge from Lakmal, pushing outside off stump at a length delivery, and Root plunged to his right to take it beautifully.
3.15pm BST
94th over: Sri Lanka 288-8 (Eranga 1, Lakmal 0) Eranga, driving extravagantly, edges Broad a fraction short of Anderson, diving forward at first slip. The forecast isn’t great for tomorrow, so it’s hard to know how much time England will bat in the second innings. They will certainly want to be bowling again by tomorrow night.
3.11pm BST
93rd over: Sri Lanka 288-8 (Eranga 1, Lakmal 0)
3.08pm BST
The dropped chance doesn’t matter, because Perera has gone. He charged Anderson and launched into a massive yahoo that did not achieved the desired result: the ball took the bottom edge on its way through to Bairstow, who is closing in on the record for dismissals in a three-match series.
3.05pm BST
92.2 overs: Sri Lanka 288-7 (Perera 42, Eranga 1) Perera is dropped by Root! It was a very difficult, leaping chance at second slip when Perera gloved a nasty delivery from Anderson. Root got fingertips to it, but he’d have needed a telescopic arm to take the catch. Perera is now receiving treatment to his hand.
3.02pm BST
92nd over: Sri Lanka 287-7 (Perera 42, Eranga 0) Perera clunks Broad over extra cover for two and then wallops a superb pull behind square for four. There was a man out but he could not get round to stop the boundary.
2.57pm BST
91st over: Sri Lanka 281-7 (Perera 36, Eranga 0) Perera punches a full ball from Anderson through backward square for a brilliant and very Jayasuriyish boundary. An affronted Anderson rams a short ball past his chest and another into his thigh via the inside-edge; and then Eranga gropes unsuccessfully at an outswinger.
2.52pm BST
90th over: Sri Lanka 276-7 (Perera 32, Eranga 0) Eranga, the new batsman, does have a first-class hundred, though he doesn’t look especially competent as he gropes at fresh air second ball. A wicket maiden from Broad.
2.48pm BST
Stuart Broad, the scourge of left-handers in the past 10 months, dismisses another one from around the wicket. The ball cramped Herath for room, and he dragged an attempted cut back onto the stumps.
2.46pm BST
89th over: Sri Lanka 276-6 (Perera 32, Herath 31) Hello again. This partnership is starting to irritate England, who probably expected to clean up with the second new ball. Anderson’s first ball hits Perera and goes away for four leg-byes; that’s all in an over comprised mainly of outswingers from over the wicket.
2.42pm BST
88th over: Sri Lanka 272-6
The partnership moves to 63 with a four that evades the dive of Alex Hales at, hmmmm, first gully? The crowd are keen, but there was little to no chance that Hales was clutching that. Four byes added with a ball down the leg side that swings away Bairstow as it passes the stumps.
Herath’s two boundaries in that over mean he has scored more than twice as many Test runs than Virat Kohli in England. #ENGvSL
2.37pm BST
87th over: Sri Lanka 246-6 (Perera 32, Herath 27)
The people want Herath v Anderson, but the punchy leftie spends the entire over at the other end, as Perera defends in the V to bore the slips.
2.32pm BST
86th over: Sri Lanka 264-6 (Perera 32, Herath 27)
Herath fires through cover like Lord Gower, before he works Broad from outside off stump to midwicket with the panache of Brian Charles. Joe Root now has two grumpy legends to appease.
2.27pm BST
85th over: Sri Lanka 256-6 (Perera 32, Herath 19)
No footwork, but a whole lot of fight from Herath, who plays an extravagant late cut for four, before dabbing a single through midwicket and having a word or two with Anderson.
Incidentally Kusal Perera is the first Sri Lankan number 7 in this series not to get a first innings duck. #ENGvSL
2.22pm BST
84th over: Sri Lanka 251-6 (Perera 32, Herath 14)
Front foot out of the way and a sycthe down the ground gives Perera four more. Broad looks unimpressed with this Sanath Jayasuriya tribute act in front of him.
The floodlights are on and there's rain nearby. Fingers crossed ☁️ #LoveLords pic.twitter.com/K1fnr4AcFp
2.18pm BST
83rd over: Sri Lanka 245-6 (Perera 26, Herath 14)
Looks like Jimmy could go bang-bang-bang, here. Not only is there movement through the air, but the hardness of the new rock/pill/seed means that a few rear up. One pings Herath on his bottom hand, breaking through the protection to draw blood, too. A quick seeing to from the physio and, predictably, almost swings him off his feet next ball. He gets four, though: an edge taking the ball well over the slips. The change-up, a booming inswinger, is sliding down. Doing too much, as was Herath, who hopped and dropped his hands as the ball clattered into his front pad.
Cook gone for precautionary X-ray on his knee #engvsa
2.12pm BST
82nd over: Sri Lanka 241-6 (Perera 26, Herath 10)
Just as night follows day, Broad follows Jimmy from the other end. He’s content to stay over the wicket to the left handers and get the ball moving away from them, particularly Kusal Perera, who basically eats his dinner off his pads. But just as Broad thinks he might have drawn him into a false shot outside off stump, Perera’s hands undercut the ball to send it down the ground for four, over Herath’s head.
2.07pm BST
81st over: Sri Lanka 236-6 (Perera 22, Herath 9)
Anderson is taking the new ball from the Pavilion End. After a couple of a wayward deliveries, he finds his length and some extra lift with the new ball. Satisfied with his rhythm, he moves to over the wicket for Perera and immediately gets a snifter to leave him late.
2.03pm BST
80th over: Sri Lanka 233-6 (Perera 22, Herath 7)
Herath and Perera sweep easily, so Ali brings his length back a touch, which in turn brings a review. And now, the new ball is taken straightaway.
2.01pm BST
Definitely pad first – good spot Moeen and Root – but the impact outside off stump (umpire’s call) means it stays with the standing umpire’s decision.
2.00pm BST
Moeen Ali, around the wicket to Perera, believes the ball has been pushed back down the wicket after it hit the pad. Given the reviews are replenished next over, it’s a straightforward one to send upstairs
1.58pm BST
79th over: Sri Lanka 230-6 (Perera 20, Herath 6)
Steven Finn and Rangana Herath are embarking on the sort of tête-à-tête Test cricket thrives on. A few short balls, the follow-up full one which Herath swipes at in vain. Then words and a few grimaces exchanged. Lovely stuff.
1.53pm BST
78th over: Sri Lanka 229-6 (Perera 20, Herath 5)
There’s a bit of rain in the air: a few umbrellas go up as the light starts to dim in north-west London. Rather than stay put and cross his fingers till he can return to shelter, Perera decides he’s going to play his shots. A failed attempt to skip down the ground is followed by an under-edged sweep that nutmegs Bairstow and goes for two.
1.50pm BST
77th over: Sri Lanka 226-6 (Perera 18, Herath 4)
Of the things you’d like after a nice lunch – a mint, espresso, a snooze – a gentle full toss is right up there. Steven Finn, over the wicket, gives Perera one which he duly takes for four down the ground.
1.46pm BST
76th over: Sri Lanka 220-6 (Perera 13, Mendis 3)
Joe Root leading England in the field after Alastair Cook took a blow to the knee while fielding at short cover. His first order of business is to start the session off with Moeen Ali, who gets some good bite past the left-hander’s outside edge.
1.41pm BST
Hello everyone – Vish here taking over from Rob, which feels a bit odd: like Springsteen opening up for Olly Murs. Or Murs opening up for Springsteen, if you’re of a different generation/musical palate. Notice how I said “different” rather than “wrong”.
Quite the collapse from Sri Lanka’s top order this morning: five wickets gone for just 56 runs. I had Kaushal Silva nailed on for a hundred. I even thought Mathews might have a dip for the honours board. Alas, it wasn’t to be. The players are making their way back to the middle...
1.03pm BST
74th over: Sri Lanka 218-6 (Perera 12, Herath 2) Perera, a pocket rocket of a batsman, clatters a short ball from Finn through the covers for four, and then – three balls before lunch – mangles another boundary straight back over the bowler’s head. Two runs off the last ball ensure Sri Lanka will not follow on. A nice way to end a highly entertaining session. Vithushan Ehantharajah will be with you after lunch; bye!
“I really hope Perera does well here,” says Romeo. “He was very poorly treated by the ICC and the Qatar lab who did the analysis, and he hasn’t complained, just been very dignified.”
12.57pm BST
74th over: Sri Lanka 208-6 (Perera 2, Herath 2) Hello, I’m back, and I’ve missed a wicket – Thirimanne, caught at slip by Root off Finn. What a morning for England, who have taken five for 46. Shane Warne called it before play. It’s almost as if he has one of the great cricket brains of all time.
“You’re not going to let a potential tragedy get in the way of years of OBO tradition, are you, Smyth?” says Mac Millings. “Pick it up, man. It’s called A Mobile Phone & A Shop Window.”
12.45pm BST
71st over: Sri Lanka 202-5 (Thirimanne 15, Perera 0) The dashing Kusal Perera, back after his suspension for failing a drug test was overturned, comes in at No7. And the fire alarm has just gone off, so I have to leave the building. Bye!
“Your mention of the forthcoming Finn-less Pakistan series reminds me that I will be attending the Edgbaston match,” says Ian Copestake. “The last time I was at a Test I ‘worked’ as a steward at Headingley and froze when a fellow dole claimant refused Brian Close entry to the members’ stand until he had displayed his ID.”
12.42pm BST
There’s England’s bonus wicket! Chandimal plays around his front pad at a very full delivery from Finn that hits him in front of middle. It looked plumbish, though Chandimal decided to review. Not that it matters, he’s out! It was umpire’s call, hitting plenty of leg stump, and Chandimal – who looked very comfortable until then – has gone.
12.40pm BST
70th over: Sri Lanka 202-4 (Thirimanne 15, Chandimal 19) Moeen replaces Anderson, who will be needed for the new ball, and is glided classily for four by Thirimanne. That’s probably the best shot of the morning. Any wickets in the last 25 minutes before lunch would be a bonus for England, who have already had an excellent session: Sri Lanka are 40 for three from 21 overs.
12.35pm BST
69th over: Sri Lanka 196-4 (Thirimanne 11, Chandimal 19) A good nipbacker from Finn prompts a big LBW shout against Chandimal. It looked too high and was rightly given not out by Sundaram Ravi.
“Morning Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “How about a shout out for Scotland? We’re feeling a bit left out up here. We may not be involved in the football, rugby or cricket, but there’s stock car racing at Cowdenbeath this weekend, and dog agility trials in Forfar. So it’s not all bad.” Sick Boy’s forgotten the cairds though.
12.32pm BST
68th over: Sri Lanka 194-4 (Thirimanne 11, Chandimal 17) Anderson doesn’t look happy, and keeps playing around with the footholds. The new ball will be due in 12 overs’ time. If England can get one more wicket before then they will fancy their chances of knifing through the lower order.
Dinesh Chandimal has 2,000 Test runs, and is the fourth quickest Sri Lankan to reach that milestone. pic.twitter.com/ihXbja3BKN
12.28pm BST
67th over: Sri Lanka 193-4 (Thirimanne 11, Chandimal 16) Finn tempts Thirimanne with a wide half-volley; Thirimanne drills it for four. Risk y reward.
12.24pm BST
66th over: Sri Lanka 189-4 (Thirimanne 7, Chandimal 16) Chandimal, fiddling outside off stump, edges Anderson just past the diving Root in the slips and away for four. It was a really difficult chance, low to his right, and he could only get a fingertip on the ball.
12.21pm BST
Couscous latest
@robkey612 @DGoughie @BumbleCricket pic.twitter.com/LrSwFL9bLg
12.19pm BST
65th over: Sri Lanka 185-4 (Thirimanne 7, Chandimal 12) Finn replaces Woakes, and is now bowling for his place in the Pakistan series. How did it come to this, just a few months after he bowled magnificently in South Africa? Maybe it’ll always be this way with Finn. A quiet first over, just two from it.
Meanwhile, here’s Ian Copestake. “Did Bunny Thirimanne star in Logjammin?” Don’t be fatuous, Ian.
12.14pm BST
64th over: Sri Lanka 183-4 (Thirimanne 7, Chandimal 11) Anderson to Thirimanne, whose head-to-head average is inching up towards 5. Though not in that over, which is a maiden. He needs three runs off Anderson to reach the magic milestone.
“My loyalties are all over the shop today,” says Matt Dony. “Gutted at the loss to the All Blacks, hoping the Wallabies smack England all over the pitch. But later on, after Wales have ground out a 1-0 victory over Slovakia (Allen, 65), I hope England beat Russia. As far as the cricket goes, though, one hundred percent behind England (of the England and Wales Cricket Board). Those two wickets make a big difference. What the hell, Cymru am byth!”
12.10pm BST
63rd over: Sri Lanka 183-4 (Thirimanne 7, Chandimal 11) Woakes’ spell continues into a seventh over, which will surely be the last unless he takes a wicket. He doesn’t. Chandimal – who offended a few people on this ground in 2011 – looks really solid, Thirimanne less so.
“Dear, dear Bobbie,” says Mac Millings. “A terrific start to a day that was already ranking among the best evs, once I learned that I share height and birthday with my latest heart-rate accelerator and Le Tissier surrogate, Dimitri Payet. That’s all. Just typing Dimi’s name makes me happy.” And like him, you cry at work, right?
12.04pm BST
62nd over: Sri Lanka 182-4 (Thirimanne 6, Chandimal 11) Jimmy Anderson – world No1, first change – replaces Stuart Broad. He is bowling to his bunny Thirimanne, who averages 4 (FOUR) against him in Tests. He gets a single, and then Chandimal tucks one fine for four. That’s drinks. It’s been a brilliant hour for England, who have taken three for 20 in 13 overs.
“England seem to be winning everything right now,” says Ian Copestake. “Does this mean that the Rooney fella is also going to bring a non-teargas-induced moisture to the eyes of England fans this evening?” Only those with a sense of humour.
11.58am BST
61st over: Sri Lanka 177-4 (Thirimanne 5, Chandimal 7) Woakes continues into a sixth over, so Anderson must wait. Things have quietened down a little after that brilliant start from England, although Sri Lanka’s main ambition remains survival. A maiden from Woakes to Chandimal.
“Hi Rob,” says Patrick Duce. “I’m sat in the Mount Stand enjoying this morning’s session. When I say enjoying, I mean I’m watching a streamed feed of the England Vs Australia rugby game on a friends smart phone, whilst simultaneously listening to a TMS digital radio feed that’s one ball behind. Apparently there’s some football on later too. I’ve managed to miss all three wickets this morning through multitasking multimedia distraction. Do you hate me, or is this just the future of watching “live” sport?”
11.55am BST
60th over: Sri Lanka 177-4 (Thirimanne 5, Chandimal 7) One from Broad’s over. I have to be honest, I was daydreaming about this and that. But you didn’t miss anything of note.
11.51am BST
59th over: Sri Lanka 175-4 (Thirimanne 4, Chandimal 6) “Morning Rob, and what a morning it is so far,” says Guy Hornsby. “A sea change in the bowling, with Woakes to the fore, a man I’ve oft chided for not being up to the Test mark. But this is wonderful, and – like Stokes, Root and Bairstow before him – there’s something life-affirming about a player finally starting to click in the long form, like waking up to surprisingly discover you’ve still got all your possessions after a spicy Friday night session (me, in Leeds last night).”
11.45am BST
58th over: Sri Lanka 173-4 (Thirimanne 4, Chandimal 4) Thirimanne bat-pads Broad through the vacant short-leg area, and then saves himself with a late inside-edge onto the pad. The intensity, purpose and intelligence of England’s bowling this morning has been outstanding. Sri Lanka are 11 for three from nine overs.
“Hi Rob,” says Pete Salmon. “Remiss surely to mention Bix Beiderbacke on OBO without listening to The Age of Revolution by The Duckworth Lewis Method, which samples Beiderbecke’s hit Rhythm King throughout...”
11.41am BST
57th over: Sri Lanka 173-4 (Thirimanne 4, Chandimal 4) Chandimal almost goes first ball, inside-edging a fuller delivery from Woakes just wide of leg stump for four. Woakes has taken two for eight this morning, and all those runs came off the edge.
Excellent 'picks' from selectors ...Bairstow n Woakes ...there were some on here .....................the get em in , get em out brigade....
11.36am BST
Chris Woakes: an apology. This is another terrific piece of bowling to get rid of Angelo Mathews. It kicked from a length to hit high on the bat, and Root held a comfortable catch at second slip.
11.34am BST
56th over: Sri Lanka 169-3 (Thirimanne 4, Mathews 3) Broad is bowling around the wicket to Thirimanne, with a snifter of inswing. There was a terrific piece of analysis from Sky/CricViz yesterday about how he has improved against left-handers by going around the wicket. Thirimanne plays out a maiden, though not entirely comfortably.
“Having tried to follow the basketball earlier in word form, I was left floundering by the jargon and so gave up,” says Ian Copestake. “I then imagined the Yank version of me reading the following, and it made me feel smug again: ‘England have a funky field, with three men in a staggered cordon, very close to the bat, and a kind of silly cover. A maiden.’”
11.29am BST
55th over: Sri Lanka 169-3 (Thirimanne 4, Mathews 3) Another challenging maiden from Woakes. Sri Lanka have solidified their batting, with Kusal Perera at No7, but England will still feel they can chip away throughout the day, especially with the new ball due just after lunch.
11.24am BST
54th over: Sri Lanka 169-3 (Thirimanne 4, Mathews 3) My colleague Dan Lucas points out that Silva has been caught behind in all nine of his Test innings against England. That’s a bona fide statgasm. Nine times.
11.20am BST
Another one gone! This is brilliant stuff from England. Silva has been caught behind for the fifth innings in a row Broad’s line and length were excellent, just close enough to the stumps to make Silva think he needed to play. He pushed tentatively outside off stump - the corridor of certain death for him - and thin-edged through to Bairstow.
11.17am BST
53rd over: Sri Lanka 166-2 (Silva 79, Thirimanne 4) Thirimanne, driving expansively, edges Woakes along the ground for four; those are the first runs of the day. There’s some terrific commentary from Nasser and Shane Warne at the moment, talking about the balance between attack and defence at different points in the day. As good as Sky’s football coverage has become, their cricket is still the benchmark. It’s exceptional.
11.13am BST
52nd over: Sri Lanka 162-2 (Silva 79, Thirimanne 0) This has been an excellent start from England, really purposeful, and Silva is beaten by a legcutter from Broad. At the moment England are making them work for every dot ball, never mind every run. There haven’t been any runs, in fact.
11.09am BST
51st over: Sri Lanka 162-2 (Silva 79, Thirimanne 0) Lahiru Thirimanne has come in at No4, as he did in the second innings at Durham. That’s interesting, as is the decision to start with Woakes rather than Anderson. Chris Woakes might shut a lot of people up in the next few years.
“With Stuart Broad becoming a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, does that give him the right to graze his sheep on the outfield?” asks Gary Naylor. “And, with Alastair Cook becoming a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, can he demand that one of the Lankans pick up his dry cleaning later?”
11.05am BST
Chris Woakes should have had a wicket with his first ball yesterday – but today he has got one. He’s trapped Mendis in front with a superb delivery: full and nipping back to hit the pads as Mendis whipped across the line. That was plumb. Terrific bowling from Woakes.
11.02am BST
50th over: Sri Lanka 162-1 (Silva 79, Mendis 25) Stuart Broad hops on the spot, preparing to bowl the first ball of the day. Shane Warne reckons it feels like a good bowling day, and that it might swing. There’s no sign of that in the first over, with Broad attacking a fifth-stump line to Silva, who squirts a drive that is well fielded by Hales at backward point. England have a funky field, with three men in a staggered cordon, very close to the bat, and a kind of silly cover. A maiden.
“Morning Rob,” says Kieron Shaw. “If memory serves, Trevor Chaplin in The Beiderbecke Affair was apt to say of Bix Beiderbecke that ‘his cornet playing sounded like bullets shot from a Bell’. Poor Nick Compton must feel something similar about Ian Ronald’s knocks of 73 and 60 this week for Warwickshire. Boom! (Or possibly clang!)”
10.54am BST
Pre-play viewing
England’s last win over Sri Lanka at Lord’s was in 1991, when Aravinda de Silva played the most charming Friday-evening cameo.
10.18am BST
“Morning Rob,” says Chris Drew. “It’s Saturday morning, so like Trevor Chaplin in ‘The Beiderbecke Affair’, I’m listening to jazz (some cool Bix) eating my morning croissant and looking forward to everyone waxing lyrical about this new belle-époque in English cricket. Oh, and there’s some rugby at Eden Park!”
9.20am BST
Five days is a long time, and not only if you spend them at the feet of The Man being horsewhipped for the minimum wage. Five days is enough time to watch the entire series of the Sopranos and develop a rewarding obsession with Richie Aprile; it’s enough time to listen to around a quarter of The Fall’s output (or, better still, to listen to this masterpiece on loop); and it’s certainly enough time to take 20 wickets and win a Test match.
There is a widespread perception that, after Sri Lanka’s excellent batting performance yesterday, this match is going to be a bore draw. That might be the case, but there are enough precedents – not least the Lord’s Test a year ago – to remind us of the danger of such assumptions. Never assume; if you do, somebody will banterously tell you why you should never assume, and you’ll want to punch them.
2.15am BST
Rob will be here shortly. While you wait, have a read of Vic Marks’s blog on the polarising fortunes of Jonny Bairstow.
Related: England’s Jonny Bairstow excels with the bat but not with the gloves
Continue reading...June 5, 2016
Muhammad Ali: all of his 61 fights as a professional
In the Rome Olympics light-heavyweight division, before turning professional, Clay beat the Pole to win gold for the USA.
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Continue reading...Sweden 3-0 Wales: pre-Euro 2016 international friendly – as it happened
A regal performance from Zlatan Ibrahimovic inspired Sweden to a leisurely 3-0 win over Wales, who did at least play better when Gareth Bale came on
4.51pm BST
Peep peep! Not a great day for Wales, though they were a lot better after the introduction of Gareth Bale. And this won’t matter a jot if they beat Slovakia next week. Sweden looked good, especially Zlatan and Forsberg, and at 6/1 look a decent outside bet to win their group. Thanks for your company, bye!
4.48pm BST
After Bale’s free-kick, Sweden lump the ball down the other end of the pitch. Guidetti heads it over Ashley Williams 20 yards out and then smashes the ball through Ward and into the net.
4.47pm BST
87 min I have no idea what happened with the free-kick as our feed cut out, but I know that Bale didn’t score. Oh, also...
4.47pm BST
86 min This is Wales’ best spell of the match, a reflection of the presence of Bale, the absence of Ibrahimovic, and the scoreline in the match. Ramsey is fouled 30 yards from goal, in Grid A of the BaleZone™.
4.45pm BST
85 min Bale scoots down the right, where Durmaz knocks him flying over the touchline. It looked worse than it was, though it still wasn’t a great tackle. From the resulting free-kick, Church flicks a bouncing ball over the bar from six yards. It was a difficult chance.
4.44pm BST
84 min If I could be any footballer in the world, I wouldn’t say Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta. I’d go Seb Larsson.
4.42pm BST
80 min A lovely run from Huws, who uses sleight of hip to skip around a defender in the box before cutting it back to Bale, 10 yards out. The sliding Augustinsson makes a great interception. Moments later, Ramsey’s long inswinging free-kick from the left would have sneaked in at the far post but for Olsen’s diving save.
4.40pm BST
79 min A corner to Wales, their first of the game. It’s headed behind by Granqvist for another corner, which I think is only their second of the game. It comes to nothing.
4.37pm BST
76 min Bale’s wobbling, bouncing cross from the right wing almost sneaks in at the far post. Moments later, Marcus Berg is replaced by Big John Guidetti.
4.34pm BST
73 min While the keeper Olsen is treated after an accidental clash with Bale, Wales make two more substitutions: Simon Church and Emyr Huws (who isn’t in the squad for the Euros) for Sam Vokes and Jonny Williams.
4.33pm BST
72 min Wales have looked better since Bale came on. This is the real quiz. They haven’t created anything, but there’s a greater purpose and a smaller gap between Vokes and everyone else.
4.31pm BST
70 min Vokes clips a centre-to-left pass to Bale, whose volley from the corner of the box deflects across the area to safety.
4.28pm BST
67 min With Zlatan off the field, all eyes are on Gareth Bale. Literally. I don’t think he’s touched the ball yet.
4.25pm BST
64 min Williams is okay, though it probably makes sense to take him off as a precaution. In the meantime, Bale replaces Andy King to a hearty ovation. James Collins also comes on for James Chester, and David Vaughan is replaced by David Edwards.
4.23pm BST
62 min This is a bit worrying for Wales. After heading a free-kick over the bar, Ashley Williams falls awkwardly and does something to his knee. While he’s being treated Gareth Bale gets ready to come on.
4.22pm BST
60 min An optimistic curler from King goes well wide of the far post. Time for three Swedish substitutions, with Zlatan and Forsberg going off. Both were excellent, Zlatan in particular. Lewicki also goes off, with Ekdal, Kujovic and Durmaz coming on.
4.19pm BST
The corner leads to a goal. The ball was cleared off the line twice by Taylor before coming back to Lustig, who drove it into the net from six yards.
4.19pm BST
57 min Forsberg looks a good player, with lovely awareness. He scoots down the left and cuts it back to Ibrahimovic, whose left-footed shot from the edge of the box deflects wide for a corner. From which...
4.16pm BST
55 min That could have been 2-0. Forsberg’s close-range shot was smothered after another neat move, but he was sufficiently aware to look up and play a diagonal ball across the box to Lustig, whose goalbound shot was headed clear by Davies.
4.14pm BST
52 min Here’s Duncan Mutula: “Any news on Vardy?” Last I heard, his wife was getting viciously abused on Twitter for a potential move that isn’t her doing and might not even happen.
4.13pm BST
51 min There’s far too big a gap between the midfield and Vokes. I suppose there’s no point rushing to judgement about Wales without Gareth Bale, because so much revolves around him. They need a bit more from Aaron Ramsey, mind.
4.12pm BST
France 84, Holland 88, Spain 08: which is the best ever Euros team? | By Rob Smyth https://t.co/k97OkMbM4v pic.twitter.com/9TaCCPJ36H
4.10pm BST
49 min Berg’s lob is cleared off the line by Chester. That was an excellent clearance, as he was sliding towards his own goal, close to the post, and could easily have done a Phil Babb. I have no idea what happened before that because the cameraman was still showing a replay from an earlier passage of play.
4.06pm BST
46 min Wales begin the second half, having not managed a shot at goal in the first half.
4.05pm BST
Two goalkeeping changes: Olsen for Isaksson, Liverpool’s Danny Ward for Hennessey. And Ludwig Augustinsson replaces Martin Olsson.
4.00pm BST
Related: Hal Robson-Kanu: from being released by Arsenal to playing at Euro 2016
Related: Wales Euro 2016 team guide: tactics, key players and expert predictions
3.48pm BST
Typical friendly fare. The half was most notable for a few demonstrations of Ibrahimovic’s genius. See you in 10 minutes for more of the same, and a bit of Gareth Bale!
3.47pm BST
44 min If Zlatan was born in England, he’d probably have been dismissed as a luxury player and stuck on the bench for most of his career.
3.46pm BST
42 min Another nutmeg from Zlatan, this time on David Vaughan. I wonder if he’s ever done all 11 in one game.
3.44pm BST
Good goal, this. Ibrahimovic slipped Williams with a nice touch on the halfway line and ran to the left edge of the box. Then he came back infield, waited for support and eased it back to Forsberg 25 yards out. He took a touch and drove a precise low shot into the bottom corner.
3.42pm BST
39 min Look, I love you and I want you to stay but I want what’s best for you and you’re better off with this guy.
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3.38pm BST
35 min Another fine ball from Ibrahimovic finds Berg, whose low cross hits the arm of the crouching Chester. It goes behind for a corner, and that’s all Sweden get despite their appeal for a penalty.
3.37pm BST
34 min Big Sam Vokes, to give him his full name, whistles a half-volley over the bar from the edge of the box. He was offside anyway. He has been a bit isolated today, and the daft wee bugger will be even more isolated if he keeps running offside.
3.35pm BST
31 min Olsson hits a cross straight into the coupon of Jonny Williams, knocking him off his feet. He’s still down, lying on his front. It was quite a smack, but after around a minute of treatment he seems fine.
3.33pm BST
30 min This, as the commentator on Premier Sports has just said, is “a typical friendly match”.
3.31pm BST
29 min #Zlatan curls a tame free-kick into the wall.
3.31pm BST
28 min Ibrahimovic breaks into a walk and finds Forsberg, who is hacked from behind by Vaughan, a thoroughly inept piece of defending. It’s a free-kick to Sweden, 20 yards out, just left of centre. Who might take it?
3.29pm BST
25 min Re: Ramsey’s peroxide hair. A few players did something similar in the summer of 1995, including Robbie Fowler. Am I imagining it, or did Steve Stone bleach the little bit of hair he had left at the sides?
3.26pm BST
23 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “58 years though. If Scotland have to wait that long it’ll be 2056 before we qualify again. I’ll be 84. And England will have endured 90 years of hurt.”
And Wayne Rooney will still be getting a game in midfield.
3.24pm BST
21 min Ibrahimovic slams a first-time curler not far wide from 20 yards.
3.23pm BST
19 min Jonny Williams, who has been bright and breezy in possession, is fouled 35 yards from goal. Wales elect to take it short rather than kick for goal.
3.20pm BST
17 min Taylor’s fierce shot from the edge of the box is blocked by a charging defender. Wales are coming into the game a bit more.
3.16pm BST
13 min A couple of corners from Sweden, who are thus far in control of what is a pretty relaxed game. There has only been one vaguely wince-inducing foul, from Aaron Ramsey. When the second corner is swung back in, Forsberg’s dangerous header across the six-yard line is booted clear by Ashley Williams. He is a brilliant defender; I’m surprised – all doo respect – that a big club didn’t take him a couple of years ago.
3.12pm BST
10 min Taylor has started brightly for Wales, particularly going forward.
3.12pm BST
8 min “Rob, apparently this game is The Big Z’s final game on Swedish soil, when it comes to the national team in Stockholm,” writes Ma. L.
He is so regal that he should have a farewell presentation before and after every game he plays. Also, The Big Z would be a great name for a Shane Black film.
3.09pm BST
6 min Wales could be three down already. After an excellent one-touch move from Sweden, Ashley Williams slides to make a great block from Berg’s goalbound shot.
3.07pm BST
5 min A half-chance for Lustig, who heads a right-wing corner wide. It’s all Sweden so far.
3.05pm BST
1 min Sweden almost score after 23 seconds. A lordly drag-over and nutmegged through ball from Zlatan puts Olsson clear on the left of the box. His cross is blocked – with a consequent appeal for handball – and he blooters the rebound into orbit from a tight angle. That was glorious from #Zlatan, with Gunter the nutmeg victim.
3.03pm BST
1 min Sweden, in yellow, kick off from left to right. They are in yellow; Wales are in red.
3.02pm BST
Zlatan is swanning round, waving and shaking hands like he’s on a promotional tour rather than preparing for a football match. Which he is, I suppose. What a wonderfully absurd character.
3.00pm BST
There are loads of Wales fans at the ground, and a few of them look sober. It’s a really good atmosphere actually, with the mood of a farewell party. This is the good bit: everyone is optimistic, everyone BELIEVES, nobody has become a national scapegoat.
2.44pm BST
Here’s a piece discussing which is the greatest European Championship side of all time (clue: it’s West Germany 1972).
Related: France 84, Holland 88, Spain 08: which is the best ever Euros team?
Related: Sol Campbell: 'Arsenal and Arsène will know when it’s time to move on'
2.42pm BST
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“That Bale goal was a peach, fair play,” says Phil Wainwright. “Similar to the one on the opposite side versus Barça in the CDR final in 2014. Incredibly inept attempt to take him out, as well, by that clown of a defender on halfway.”
2.13pm BST
Sweden (4-4-2) Isaksson; Lustig, Johansson, Granqvist, Olsson; Larsson, Kallstrom, Lewicki, Forsberg; Berg, Ibrahimovic.
Wales (3-5-1-1) Hennessey, Chester, A Williams, Davies; Gunter, Vaughan, King, Ramsey, Taylor; J Williams; Vokes.
10.41am BST
The moment has almost arrived. After an endless wait, during which we all wondered whether it would ever happen, Wales are finally going to share a football field with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Then next week, as a nice little bonus, Wales will play in a major tournament for the first time in 58 years.
Continue reading...France ‘84, Holland ’88, Spain ’08: who are the best ever Euros team?
What do you get if you cross Total Football with tiki-taka? Ramba Zamba fussball, the name given to the colourful, vibrant style of West Germany in the early 1970s. The positions in their 1-3-3-3 formation were little more than a basis for negotiation. No one demonstrated the fluidity of the team better than Franz Beckenbauer, who was sort of the original John Stones. He had moved back from midfield to create the position of attacking sweeper and was so cool he played international football with a resting heart rate.
Related: Euro 2016 interactive wallchart: groups, fixtures, venues and more
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