Key occasions
WICKET! Nissanka c Woakes b Hull 64 (Sri Lanka 91-4)
What a catch! Hull has a primary Take a look at wicket – it’s the hazard man Nissanka who smashed him by means of the covers earlier within the over, however this time Woakes is prowling in that area to take an excellent diving snaffle low and to his proper. A beautiful second for {the teenager} made doable by the veteran of this England assault. They’re up and about.
fifteenth over: Sri Lanka 86-3 (Nissanka 60, Chandimal 0). Line and size from Stone to Chandimal, knocking them each on the pinnacle. Simply because it was at Lord’s in second dig final Saturday, the Notts fast has picked up a wicket in his first over. Nice stuff.
Adam Collins
Thanks, Rob. A pleasant lengthy shift on this prolonged second day from the grasp of the OBO style. I be part of you from the perfect press field seat within the recreation: Vauxhall Finish, outdoors, behind the bowler. It allowed me to take these photographs of Large Josh Hull (measurement 15 ft, don’t you understand) with the “UK’s Largest” promoting, with out realising it till after hitting put up. Anyway, three wickets in 75 minutes after lunch set the hosts as much as run by means of Sri Lanka by means of the second half of the day. Write to me all through, or you’ll be able to tweet.
Drinks
Proper, that’s all from me . Thanks as at all times on your firm and emails; Adam Collins is your man for the remainder of the day.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 86-3 (Mathews c Pope b Stone 3)
Olly Stone comes on for Chris Woakes, who bowled an unusually scruffy spell of 7-0-41-1. He has already taken a wicket within the subject so his morale must be excessive.
It’ll be even increased now. Mathews lunges at a fullish supply, ft not in sync with the remainder of his physique, and Pope takes a pointy catch within the gully. That’s wonderful from Stone, who’s having a really completely happy return to Take a look at cricket. In spite of everything he’s been by means of, it’s fairly heartwarming stuff.
14th over: Sri Lanka 83-2 (Nissanka 57, Mathews 3) A poor ball from Hull, quick and vast, is slapped by means of level for 4 by Nissanka. He’s performed some terrific photographs, however they’ve additionally been pretty low-risk which tells you that England have been unusually unfastened.
Hull continues to bowl some harmful inswingers; it’s straightforward to see why England are so enthusiastic about him.
“Wished to mirror a bit on the unhappy information that Mark Wooden is out of the winter tour,” says James Butler. “I’m most likely swimming in opposition to the tide a bit however I felt that each one the concentrate on his (wonderful) velocity earlier this summer season was all a bit, for need of a greater phrase, ‘macho’. Right here’s a man who’s 34 with an extended record of accidents and everyone seems to be egging him on to bowl as quick as humanly doable. What’s extra that tactic, though magnificent theatre, ‘solely’ yielded 9 wickets.
“Was that actually the correct strategy from England? I suppose it’s exhausting to inform somebody to dial the tempo down – particularly when it’s their essential asset – however simply marvel if there was another plan which may have saved him on the sphere…”
I do know what you imply however I’d be loath in charge England, aside from perhaps one Take a look at (I overlook which one) when he bowled too many overs on probably the second day. I additionally assume his wickets tally is irrelevant as a result of he deserved to take twice as many. In the end, Wooden is pathologically incapable of bowling inside himself, and his extraordinary tempo is what elevates him from fairly good to nearly nice. I believe we have now to just accept the accidents, particularly now that he’s in his mid-thirties, and revel in each final spell wee from a uniquely uplifting cricketer.
thirteenth over: Sri Lanka 77-2 (Nissanka 52, Mathews 2) This appears to be like a wonderfully good pitch. Nearly all the motion has been right down to the overhead situations, so if the solar comes out Sri Lanka actually must be trying to take a first-innings lead.
twelfth over: Sri Lanka 76-2 (Nissanka 52, Mathews 1) Josh Hull’s first over in Take a look at cricket could be very promising, with some seductive inswing to the right-handers. Nissanka thumps one barely errant supply by means of mid-off for 4 to achieve a really assured 40-ball fifty, then inside-edges one other inducker for a single. A superb begin from Hull, whose tempo was round 85mph.
“I believe my ire is that the sunshine studying is plainly misjudged,” says Gary Naylor. “It was protected to play final night and it was protected to play on at present. I’m no professional on threat evaluation, however I’m undecided the umpires are both, or they might publish their standards and their readings. The disgrace is that the marginal threat is so tiny and but the authorities are completely happy to stay to a conference about taking a studying as soon as and sticking to it – in September. So marginal, that two minutes later it was protected once more.
“I do take your level, after all and I do know you’ll be getting pelters for it to which I don’t want to add, however I’ve seen a lot cricket performed in worse gentle – each ball of Botham’s 118 at Outdated Trafford in 1981 for instance.”
Do you assume the loss of life of Philip Hughes, although it had nothing to do with dangerous gentle, has made umpires and cricket boards extra cautious? If that’s the case I can perceive that. I’m additionally loath to criticise a course of that I don’t know something about. Clearly there are occasions when folks do take the pith. I keep in mind as soon as, doing the OBO again within the early 2000s, when the one TV sports activities channel we had mysteriously switched to the 4.20 at Kempton. The second the race was completed, again got here the cricket. It was pretty clear that somebody in Constructing Providers had a monkey every means on Dragonfly. However I knew sufficient in regards to the course of, nearly, to attract that conclusion. The bad-light rules might be flawed, however I don’t see how any of us are able to say with certainty.
eleventh over: Sri Lanka 70-1 (Nissanka 47, Mathews 0) Woakes has uncommon figures, definitely for him: 6-0-40-1.
Now then: Josh Hull is approaching.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 70-2 (Kusal c Brook b Woakes 14)
Nissanka waves a Woakes outswinger by means of the covers for 3, with Stone doing exceptionally nicely to avoid wasting the boundary, after which Mendis chips some leg-stump nonsense over midwicket for 4.
Woakes has the face on, a lot in order that he barely celebrates when Kusal Mendis edges to Brook at second slip. It was an excellent supply: tight line, simply again of a size, so Kusal needed to play. England wanted that wicket.
tenth over: Sri Lanka 61-1 (Nissanka 42, Kusal 10) Nissanka stands tall to punch Atkinson sq. on the off aspect for 4. That’s an especially good stroke.
Atkinson replies with a cracking yorker that’s dug out by Nissanka. Atkinson appeals, pondering it might need hit the toe first, however Ollie Pope – acutely aware of his poor DRS file – isn’t fascinated with a overview. Nothing on the replay suggests it hit the boot, by means of we haven’t seen ExtremelyEdge.
Mendis uppercuts for 4 extra to push the run fee above six an over. England are having a little bit of an end-of-term stinker at present.
“England…” says Neil Jones. “The Aggressive Dad of the world recreation.”
Aren’t they the other? They’re often hopeless at whitewashing weaker opponents.
ninth over: Sri Lanka 52-1 (Nissanka 37, Kusal 6) Kusal Mendis rolls the wrists to clip Woakes fantastically for 4. He’s a harmful participant, significantly in lower-scoring video games as a result of he scores shortly and is aware of the way to go large: six of his 9 Take a look at a whole lot are 140 or extra.
Woakes replies with a nice supply that bounces and seams to beat the sting. That’s a jaffa.
“Persons are paying £100+ a seat for this,” says Gary Naylor. “ECB must be ashamed.”
No, Gary. Disgrace is an emotion that you simply should really feel whenever you’re me. However severely, whereas it was a little bit of a farce, absolutely it stemmed from the peerlessly cheap precept of getting a lightweight studying that’s protected. Had been we at all times this illiberal or has the web turned us all into Donald Trump?
eighth over: Sri Lanka 48-1 (Nissanka 37, Kusal 2) Nissanka might have been at fault for the run out however he’s batting beautifully. A flick for 4 off Atkinson and a single take him to 37 from simply 29 balls.
“I’ve to say that among the criticisms smack of the identical malaise that plagues England soccer supporters – they’re not there and by no means can be ok to be there,” writes David Hilmy. “You don’t know what gamers have been directed to do, you don’t know what their mindset is, you don’t perceive the joys or the nerves or the strain of getting the privilege of enjoying worldwide Take a look at cricket, you don’t know the on-field situations on the actual time a ball is bowled, you simply don’t.
Why not have a swing, why not attempt one thing completely different? The gamers have earned the correct to try this, to be the athletes they’re warts and all. If errors or poor selections or the occasional rush of blood have been excluded, we wouldn’t name cricket a sport – identical for soccer, rugby, or quidditch…ffs!”
That’s a really persuasive concept. I’ve at all times focussed on the entitlement and lack of empathy (and I embrace myself in that, as a result of I’ve written and spoken some terrible nonsense over time) moderately than ignorance of the particular course of.
seventh over: Sri Lanka 40-1 (Nissanka 30, Kusal 1) Breaking information: Chris Woakes gained’t be going to Pakistan as a spin possibility. A few filthy deliveries are pulled for a single after which a boundary. That is amusing but additionally mildly farcical. Absolutely, within the circumstances, England must be allowed to make use of a spinner for the final 4 balls of the over as they might if Woakes went off injured?
And now the sunshine has improved marginally, so Gus Atkinson can bowl. All very bizarre.
The umpires have determined the sunshine isn’t ok for the seamers to bowl. Bother is, Chris Woakes has delivered two balls of his fourth over. So now he’s going to bowl offspin! “His nickname’s The Wizard as a result of he’s sensible at the whole lot,” says Mike Atherton. “Now we’ll see how good his offspin is.”
Think about if takes a wicket.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 34-1 (Karunaratne run out 9)
A shambles. Nissanka drops Woakes on the off aspect and calls Karunaratne by means of for the dodgiest of singles. Olly Stone picks up on the run and hits the stumps with Karunaratne nicely quick.
sixth over: Sri Lanka 34-0 (Nissanka 25, Karunaratne 9) Karunaratne tries to drive Atkinson and is overwhelmed, then clips confidently by means of midwicket for 3. England nonetheless have a really attacking subject, therefore all these scoring alternatives.
“I do know it’s an apparent consequence of run charges approaching 5 an over, however it actually does assist to minimise the affect of the second new ball (when you get that far),” says Brian Withington. “I’m sufficiently old to recall sequence within the 80s in opposition to a quartet of WI quick bowlers the place it felt like England not often averaged three an over. Many was the innings the place England might need gamely progressed to the low 200s for 3/4/5 solely to be obliterated by the second coming. And one other (associated) factor – how usually have been the WI final 4 or 5 wickets a lot extra productive than England’s. I go away the statistical element to others …”
That was additionally the case within the Ashes between 1989 and 2002-03. I keep in mind Lawrence Sales space doing a statistical overview of 1 sequence, probably 2001, which confirmed the groups have been principally equal till they have been 5 down. After which got here Gilchrist. Nevertheless it wasn’t simply him: there have been damaging 70s from bowlers like Geoff Lawson, Damien Fleming, even Merv.
fifth over: Sri Lanka 27-0 (Nissanka 21, Karunaratne 6) Nissanka bat-pads Woakes within the air however comfortably vast of quick leg. The ensuing single takes him to 21, then Karunaratne will get off the mark subsequent ball.
Sri Lanka have began very comfortably, with not a lot motion for the England bowlers, and Karunaratne feels safe sufficient to time a gorgeous off drive for 4.
Perhaps the ball will swing extra when the lacquer comes off; for now Sri Lanka are on high and England’s pre-lunch slogathon isn’t wanting fairly so innocent. Lengthy solution to go.
4th over: Sri Lanka 20-0 (Nissanka 20, Karunaratne 0) Atkinson bursts one from a size to beat Nissanka all finally ends up. That’s a cracking supply, and it’s noticeable that his velocity is up round 90mph. It was down earlier within the sequence.
“I despatched a message to a buddy this morning with a hyperlink to Flintoff presenting Josh Hull together with his England cap,” says James Brough. “I additionally mentioned, ‘If he’s not England head coach in 10 years, I’ll be stunned’ My mystic powers appear to be doing fairly nicely at present.”
Attention-grabbing. I’d be stunned if he ever turned head coach – I’m undecided that function fits him, definitely not in addition to his new job. It’s simply an intuition, although, I’ve no foundation for saying that.
third over: Sri Lanka 19-0 (Nissanka 19, Karunaratne 0) Nissanka has the flexibility to be a long-term opener for Sri Lanka, and he has began nicely right here. A deft contact vast of leg gully brings him his second boundary; then he thick edges an excellent supply for 4 extra.
Woakes looks like the important thing bowler in these situations, however that was an costly over – 13 from it after Nissanka drives the final ball stylishly for 3 off the again foot.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 6-0 (Nissanka 6, Karunaratne 0) Atkinson’s first ball is a nasty lifter that Nissanka does very well to glove on the bounce to second slip. It kicks as much as hit Duckett within the aspect of the face. That might have been nasty, however he appears to be okay.
Nissanka larrups a lower for 4 later within the over, a terrific shot. England have eight males in catching positions – 4 slips, a gully, leg gully and quick leg – so there ought to scoring alternatives.
“I’m unsurprised if a tad dismayed by the criticism of Duckett for ‘solely’ moving into the mid 80s. Pope aside, he outscored his different 9 teammates – plus extras – mixed. If he was the principle downside, England can be nicely served certainly.”
I can perceive among the criticism, and I believed England batted poorly this morning. It’s the tone of a few of that criticism – entitled, an empathy void – that makes me wish to go off-grid for the following 40 years. No person goes to sit down on their loss of life mattress and say, ‘Cor, I want Ben Duckett hadn’t performed that final ramp shot at The Oval.’
Gus Atkinson, searching his thirty fourth wicket of the Take a look at summer season, will bowl the primary over after lunch.
“One other interpretation of occasions is that England haven’t revered the situations or the opposition this morning,” writes Jonathan. “However the prevalent perception is that Stokesy (Popey) can do no mistaken, regardless of the consequence of their actions, so all is nicely.”
I’d argue that’s needlessly passive-aggressive. Your interpretation is totally cheap, as is my notion that human beings typically make errors. So we’re each proper.
Lunchtime studying (non-compulsory)
“I believe this expectation of Pope to be infallible is slightly unrealistic,” says Paul Griffin. “However with regards to fortunate knocks, Lara’s 501 was simply the flukiest cinquecento I can recall.”
“Simply arrived in Edinburgh for the third T20I between Scotland and Australia at The Grange,” writes Simon McMahon. “It’s dreich, and am crossing my fingers that we make the scheduled 2pm begin. I believe Scotland’s greatest likelihood to keep away from a 3rd straight drubbing is for the Aussies to have been out on the lash final evening, or for them to be so chilly that they’ll’t really feel their fingers. I believe I really feel a bit like England supporters should have within the 90s.”
Lunch
1st over: Sri Lanka 1-0 (Nissanka 1, Karunaratne 0) Woakes has seven males in catching positions for Pathum Nissanka, who has been moved as much as open from No3: 5 slips, a gully and a leg gully. Oh and there’s the keeper as nicely.
Nissanka works one off the hip, then the left-handed Karunaratne survives an enormous shout for LBW. It was hitting however pitched a good means outdoors leg. Karunaratne performs and misses on the subsequent ball earlier than seeing off the final two. That’s lunch.
It was Sri Lanka’s morning, no query, although England’s rating of 325 feels above par in such useful bowling situations. We’ll discover out quickly sufficient.
The TMS overseas link is here. Sorry, forgot to put up it earlier.
The gamers are again on the sphere. There can be a single over earlier than lunch, bowled by Shoaib Bashir Chris Woakes.
Effectively in, Fred. What an ideal job that’s for him.
“Duckett’s knock yesterday was immense,” says Iain Chambers, “however absolutely with only a smidgen extra management he might’ve added one other 30-40 runs in anticipation of this morning’s trickier situations/Sri Lanka lastly finding some luck.”
However with a smidgen extra management he wouldn’t have scored 80-odd, or stolen Sri Lanka’s benefit on the toss inside half an hour. The miracle of this England group, in my endearingly humble opinion, is how comparatively few errors they make given such a dangerous strategy. They’re solely the third greatest group on the earth, it’s true, however watching them makes me really feel about 20 years youthful.
There must be time for one over earlier than lunch, which has been pushed again to 1.15pm to make up a few of yesterday’s misplaced time. Sri Lanka bowled beautifully, had some vile luck within the first hour after which accepted numerous items from England within the second. It was – and I’m not likely saying this critically, as a result of they’ve earned the correct – some of the irresponsible batting performances I can keep in mind from an England aspect. Wager they’ll bowl nicely this afternoon although.
WICKET! England 325 all out (Bashir c Kumara b Rathnayake 1)
Shoaib Bashir slogs Rathnayake’s first ball to mid-off to finish a basic end-of-term collapse from England, who have been 261 for 3 after which 290 for 4 earlier than slogging themselves out of rivalry.
69th over: England 325-9 (Stone 15, Bashir 1) Asitha continues to harass the center of the pitch, so Stone top-edges him straight over Chandimal’s head for six. Disgrace, with this recreation being at The Oval, that it didn’t go for four.
“I used to be at Trent Bridge for that Atherton innings in 1996,” says John Swan. “Jeez, it was a painful watch. Way more entertaining was the second the good girl subsequent to me dropped her hat off the sting of the balcony and it wedged between the balcony wall and the promoting hoarding – simply out of attain, natch. It was retrieved by an enterprising steward with a wire coat hanger.
“In different information, that girl is now my spouse of 25 years.”
That’s an important story. Surprisingly sufficient, Johnny Marr instructed a not dissimilar story on Would I Lie To You? final evening.
WICKET! England 318-9 (Hull c Dhananjaya b Asitha 2)
Asitha replaces Dhananjaya and strikes instantly when Hull clunks a pull straight to midwicket. England have misplaced 5 wickets for 28 and 6 for 57.
68th over: England 317-8 (Stone 7, Hull 2) There’s been a last-day-of-term really feel to England’s batting, which I suppose is human nature. Josh Hull will get his first Take a look at runs with a fairly nice off drive for 2.
“It’s a truism in life that there are not any absolutes, even within the binary case of ‘out’ and ‘not out’ in cricket,” says Steve Colwill. “There may be at all times a gray space between the 2 choices. It’s only a query of how in depth the gray space is. In cricket, DRS considerably decreases this gray space, however it nonetheless stays. It’s only a query of what you do with this the rest – tough decisions have to be made with which not all people will agree.”
67th over: England 314-8 (Stone 7, Hull 0) Stone, who’s an honest lower-order batter, will get off the mark with a sweep for 4 off Dhananjaya. A technique or one other, England can be bowling quickly.
66th over: England 307-8 (Stone 0, Hull 0) The debutant Josh Hull flashes at his third ball and is overwhelmed. A wicket maiden. Vishwa’s figures at present are wonderful, they usually don’t flatter him: 5-1-14-2.
WICKET! England 307-8 (Pope c Karunaratne b Vishwa 154)
Sri Lanka deserved a load of wickets within the first hour; now they’ve been gifted a number of. A shock quick ball from Vishwa is pulled straight to deep backward sq. by Pope, ending a mighty innings of 154 from 156 balls. He had some luck, it’s true, however England can be in all types with out these runs.
sixty fifth over: England 307-7 (Pope 154, Stone 0)
WICKET! England 307-7 (Atkinson c Rathnayake b Dhananjaya 5)
A second wicket for the offspinner Dhananjaya. Atkinson prices down the pitch and drags him excessive in the direction of deep midwicket, the place Rathnayake steadies himself to take the catch. A crap shot, in fact, however we’ve all performed them.
sixty fourth over: England 303-6 (Pope 153, Atkinson 2) Vishwa Fernando has bowled fantastically this morning. He beats Atkinson twice in three balls, and the opposite supply was a stunning inswinger that Atkinson inside-edged onto the pad.
“The primary 80 or so of Zak Crawley’s 189 at Outdated Trafford within the Ashes was hilariously fortunate so perhaps matches the invoice, though after that it was fairly astonishing so perhaps not fairly proper?”
He was all around the present, you’re proper, although I believed it was just for the primary 30-odd runs. I wouldn’t put the farm on it thoughts.
63rd over: England 301-6 (Pope 152, Atkinson 1) In different information, Tom Bowtell has a helluva reminiscence. “Mike Atherton’s 160 in opposition to India in 1996 was at all times my benchmark for worst 150,” he writes. “As per Wisden: ‘Atherton had reached his tenth Take a look at century – his fourth at Nottingham – 90 minutes after lunch, with out ever wanting convincing. He was overwhelmed a good variety of instances, however caught to his activity’