The debutant Ben Foakes made a superb 87 not out to help England recover from losing five wickets before lunch on the first day of the series
Close of play report
If there are any flies on Vic Marks, they’re paying rent. His report from Galle has already landed and been through the editing machine, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company, emails
and poetry today. See you tomorrow!
Related: Debutant Ben Foakes unbeaten on 87 after leading England recovery in Galle
Ben Foakes is chatting to the chaps on Sky
“It’s been a whirlwind day. I had a lot of emotions going on this morning, so to get out there was fantastic. My nerves weren’t too bad – I was better than I thought I would be – and I wanted to just grind and make it hard for them to get me out. I haven’t got the array of shots of these guys so I just try to use my feet and play a simple game.
Meet the new England, same as the etc. They lost five wickets before lunch, when they played with reckless abandon, before the proper batsmen down the order knuckled down. England, who were 103 for five, reached a solid 321 for eight on a pitch that should deteriorate.
Sam Curran and Adil Rashid, who hit five sixes between them, played very nicely. But the undoubted star was the debutant Ben Foakes, who played an Alastair Cook tribute innings of 87 not out from 184 balls. His judgement and shot selection were almost flawless, and he has given the England selectors another headache to go with the ones they were already nursing. When do nice headaches become nasty?
91st over: England 321-8 (Foakes 87, Leach 14) It’s hard to know whether Leach should play like a nightwatchman or with Foakes’s possible century in mind. He scampers back for a second after edging Dhananjaya, which suggests the former. Then he cuts a poor ball through the covers for three, which suggests the latter. At least it would have been three, had Lakmal not decided to pick the ball up even though both feet were behind the ropes. Four runs. “I don’t think you can do that…” says Bumble on Sky.
The last ball of the day is edged by Leach and goes straight through first slip for four more! He didn’t lay a hand on it. That means Leach will resume tomorrow morning. So, more importantly, will the superb Ben Foakes.
90th over: England 311-8 (Foakes 87, Leach 4) Perera is hunting his usual Galle five-for, and I have no idea how he didn’t get it in that over. Leach was beaten by three consecutive deliveries and then edged the next two. The first fell short of slip and the second brushed the fingers of the man at second slip as he plunged to his right. Technically that’s a dropped catch but even Garry Sobers would have struggled to take it.
The 90 overs have been bowled but because the over-rate has been so good, we’ll have time for an extra over.
89th over: England 308-8 (Foakes 87, Leach 1) Foakes is happy to take a single off Herath’s first ball. Leach can hang around – he helped Jonny Bairstow to a century on his Test debut – but he’s still a tailender so there is risk in that approach. Leach survives a big LBW appeal from Herath, having been well outside the line, and then drives a single off the fourth delivery. We should only have time for two more overs, so I think Foakes is happy to sleep on it.
88th over: England 306-8 (Foakes 86, Leach 0) It’s the eyes. It’s the eyes that make Ben Foakes resemble Alastair Cook when he’s under a helmet. That and the fact he bats like it’s 1982. No, that was a compliment. But he might have to bat like it’s 2018 if he wants to get a century, because Sri Lanka are now into the tail.
Rashid’s frisky romp ends when he edges a drive to slip. That’s a fourth wicket for Perera, who has lived up to expectations as Sri Lanka’s dangerman. It was a cracking cameo from Rashid: 35 from 38 balls with four fours and two sixes.
87th over: England 305-7 (Foakes 85, Rashid 35) Rashid drives Herath mighily over extra cover for four to bring up a rapid fifty partnership from 55 balls. We might look back on this as an important day in England’s move towards (for want of a better phrase) bits-and-pieces Test cricketers. Not for the first time this year, more than half the runs have been scored by Nos 7-9.
86th over: England 300-7 (Foakes 84, Rashid 31) A nasty delivery from Perera is gloved wide of short leg by Rashid. Every now and then a ball has really exploded from the pitch. On Sky, David Lloyd and Brad Hogg make the point that England may want to open with a spinner, either Moeen or Leach, to make the most of the extra bounce. That’s an excellent shout.
Foakes pushes a single down the ground to take England to 300. It feels like a par score for the conditions today but better than par for the match, if that makes sense. It doesn’t? Even better.
85th over: England 296-7 (Foakes 82, Rashid 29) Herath, who has switched ends, is chipped to cow corner for four by Rashid. Two balls later he lofts a sweet straight six, his second of the innings. This is the jauntiest of cameos from Rashid, who has raced to 29 from 28 balls.
“Hi Rob,” says Pete Salmon. “What is even more stunning than the rhyming of the three final phonemes, is that the three names have utterly diverse etymologies.
84th over: England 282-7 (Foakes 79, Rashid 18) Perera, on for Herath, is pulled round the corner for four by Foakes. It’s been a very simple innings, with low-risk shots and firm punishment of the bad ball. If you forget the beard, Foakes even looks a bit like Alastair Cook under the helmet.
83rd over: England 276-7 (Foakes 74, Rashid 17) Rashid top-edges a hook for six off Lakmal, with Dhananjaya helping it on its way as he fell over the fine leg boundary. England are inching towards 300, which would be a fine effort after losing five wickets before lunch.
“Rhyming cricketers?” says Dave Lovely. “Ahem...”
82nd over: England 268-7 (Foakes 73, Rashid 10)Chandimal has left the field again with his groin injury. As Mike Atherton says on Sky, that’s a big problems these days because you are no longer allowed a runner. There could be fun and games if a wounded Chandimal and Angelo Matthews are at the crease together.
Back in the present, Rangana Herath shares the new ball. Foakes continues to bat in his bubble, pushing a single down the ground to move to 73. He is 27 away from becoming the second English wicketkeeper after Matt Prior to make a century on debut. That was a very different innings.
81st over: England 267-7 (Foakes 72, Rashid 10)Suranga Lakmal takes the second new ball and gets a bit of outswing to Rashid, who crashes an excellent cover drive for four. He has started very perkily.
“I note that England’s attack has right and left arm seam to complement wrist and finger spin,” says Gary Naylor, “but have they got drinks too? Always a handy option when a captain needs a wicket.”
80th over: England 262-7 (Foakes 71, Rashid 6)Rashid gets his first boundary with one of the most stylish shots of the day, a wristy chip over midwicket off Dhananjaya. The new ball is due and will surely be taken straight away.
“Rhyming cricketers?” says Stephen Wolstencroft. “We had a full rhyming XI at one point: Cooky, Straussy, Vaughney, Trotty, Belly, Colly, Matty, Broady, Ashley, Harmy, Jimmy.”
79th over: England 254-7 (Foakes 68, Rashid 1)Foakes pushes Dilruwan fractionally short of the swooping Mendis at short leg.
Since Sam Curran made his debut, only Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Jos Buttler have faced more balls in Test cricket than him. #SLvEng
78th over: England 252-7 (Foakes 67, Rashid 0) Chandimal, the Sri Lankan captain, started limping as he began to celebrate that catch. He hurt his ground earlier in the day and, though I’m sure he’ll bat, I doubt he’ll be taking any quick singles.
“All this poetry inspired me,” says Matt Dony. “Just struggled with the last rhyme...
A dry, turning pitch in Sri Lanka;
A home win is often a banker.
Sam Curran falls after the drinks break. He tried to flash a wide delivery from Dhananjaya through the off side and edged to slip, where Chandimal took a smart catch. Curran played a stylish, confident innings and will be frustrated to miss out on a third Test fifty.
77th over: England 251-6 (Foakes 66, Curran 48) “With Woakes, Foakes and Stokes all potentially in the same team,” says Mark Hooper, “has there been a rhyming trio of cricketers in a Test match before?”
Hick, Trescothick and Caddick played together a bit in 2000-01, if they count. Hold that thought, because it’s drinks.
76th over: England 249-6 (Foakes 65, Curran 46) Akila Dhananjaya, the most expensive bowler today, returns in place of Dhananjaya de Silva. Curran, who has accumulated patiently when not hitting sixes, moves to within four of a half-century. England have so well since lunch, which they took in a bit of a mess at 113 for five.
“I’m pretty sure the last time we had any semblance of a genuine Big Narstie in the side was when Tremlett had his one great tour of Australia in 2010/11,” says Harkarn Sumal. “The Curran lads are more Kris Kross really. Tremendous fun. As for Anderson and Broad, well, I’ll make you an opening offer of PJ Harvey and Nick Cave.”
75th over: England 246-6 (Foakes 65, Curran 43) Dilruwan brings a man into an unusual fielding position for Curran, halfway down the pitch on the line of short leg. I don’t know what you call that position. Extra short leg? Absurd mid-on? Desperate measure?
“Continuing the poetic theme,” begins Jake Garlick, “I advocate Woakes being selected next Test so that the following limerick can be wheeled out (at least five times per session):
There was an all-rounder named Stokes,
And they picked another named Woakes.
74th over: England 243-6 (Foakes 64, Curran 42) Dhananjaya da Silva tosses one up to Curran, who drives it lazily down the ground for a one-bounce four. The next ball is a nervous long hop that Curran pulls extravagantly for his third six. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this kid! This has been another superb innings. Who needs a top order when you’ve got Sam Curran at No8?
“Morning Rob,” says Matt Emerson. “I was listening to the radio coverage on my way in (TalkSport are doing a good job - Gareth Batty and Matt Prior were excellent) and Atherton said that Galle is in his top half dozen of overseas grounds, along with Adelaide, Newlands, and the Antigua Recreation Ground. None of which I’ve been to, but I wondered if some of the fellow OBOers had? It’s about time I dragged the entire family half way round the world to watch a cricket match they’re utterly uninterested in, rather than going into London for the same outcome...
73rd over: England 231-6 (Foakes 63, Curran 31) Two spinners are an OBO writer’s worst nightmare, with the exception of the recurring dream in which your fingers freeze at the precise moment England win an Ashes decider by one run. They get through the overs so quickly that they become almost indistinguishable. That last over, from Dilruwan, brought only a single to Foakes.
72nd over: England 230-6 (Foakes 62, Curran 31) “Rob,” says Brian Withington. “Your reference to a piece of filth courtesy of Perera put me in mind of early forays into adult cricket as a 70s adolescent. One middle-aged, rotund slow bowler in particular prided himself on describing his own bowling as left-arm ‘flighted filth’ with frankly troubling lasciviousness. Younger batsmen were lured into his sordid web and terrified of succumbing to one of his flighted dirt bombs that resembled a mortar shell for ‘hang time’ and often landed with similar effect. Disturbing days.”
And I thought the world of light entertainment was bad in the 70s.
71st over: England 226-6 (Foakes 60, Curran 29) Foakes is dropped at short leg! It was a sharp chance to Kusal Mendis off the bowling of Dilruwan, who got one to turn sharply into Foakes. He flicked it towards short leg, where Mendis reacted smartly but was unable to hang on to his left.
70th over: England 226-6 (Foakes 60, Curran 29) The offspinner Dhananjaya da Silva - not to be confused with Akila Dhananjaya, unless you’re a racist - comes into the attack for the first time. Curran almost gives a return catch, with the ball landing just short of the bowler. That aside, it’s a quiet over.
69th over: England 224-6 (Foakes 59, Curran 28) In recent years, Sri Lanka have routinely bowled non-Asian opposition out for less than 200, sometimes less than 100. They look a bit confused by England’s inability to commit hara-kiri. Foakes has 59 from 135 balls, Curran 28 from 76. This, I suspect, is the main reason Curran was picked ahead of Stuart Broad, and so far it has worked.
“So Rob,” says Phil Harrison. “What the heck do you do when Bairstow’s fit? It’s bordering on impossible, isn’t it? I’m wondering if they might have to look at Stokes up the order, possibly at three? It sounds ridiculous but I just don’t see what else they can do. Dropping Foakes would be crazily harsh after this performance, Buttler played well today and was England’s best batter in their last series and Bairstow (just about) still has enough credit in the bank. It’s ridiculously tough.”
68th over: England 223-6 (Foakes 59, Curran 27) It’s easy to forget, as I type the OBO while muscular flunkies wave a fan either side of my freshly moisturised phizog, that the humidity in Sri Lanka is hideously uncomfortable. When he made a century against Murali in Colombo in 1992-93, Robin Smith didn’t go to the toilet for 48 hours afterwards. Foakes and Curran look a little hot and bothered, though it has yet to affect their decision-making with the bat. It’s been a superbly judged partnership.
67th over: England 221-6 (Foakes 58, Curran 26) “Foakes has tickled my imagination,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “He has been solid in defence, and has unfurled compact shots at appropriate moments - considering he can keep too, maybe he is the orthodox batsman this rather inventive English Test has needed. He has also managed to tickle my poetic muse, which has allowed me to write this small rhyme to chug us along on what has sometimes been a slow, if still absorbing, day of good ol’ cricket!
Sit up, folks!
We have got not one, not two, but three English blokes
66th over: England 221-6 (Foakes 58, Curran 26) Curran brings up the fifty partnership in style, jumping down the track to lift Herath over wide mid-on for six. This kid!
65th over: England 212-6 (Foakes 58, Curran 17) A piece of filth from Perera is pulled firmly for four by Foakes. His patience and shot selection have been immaculate. Apart from the fact he’s right-handed, bats No7 and has a beard, it’s just like watching Alastair Cook.
64th over: England 208-6 (Foakes 54, Curran 17) Foakes, the monk at the orgy, works Herath for a single to move to 54 from 123 balls. Given the circumstances, both for him and the team, it’s been such an impressive innings.
“Kim Thonger is a conceptual, strategic, forward-planning genius,” says Matt Dony. “I can’t imagine a better approach. Certainly not a more entertaining one. Maybe a run at Brexit, next?”
63rd over: England 207-6 (Foakes 53, Curran 17)
62nd over: England 205-6 (Foakes 52, Curran 16) Nobody knows anything, not until both sides have batted on a pitch, but the recent history of Galle suggests England are in a pretty good position here. If they reach 300, they’ll be favourites. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal is back on the field; he pulled up with a groin problem in the afternoon session.
61st over: England 203-6 (Foakes 51, Curran 15) Dilruwan Perera replaces Lakmal and is worked for a single by Foakes, who reaches an accomplished, level-headed fifty on debut. Well played indeed. Later in the over Curran is beaten by a cracking slower off-break that spits past the edge.
“Half-centuries on debut are not conducive to staying in the side, then,” says Andrew Benton. “Whatever happened to Tim Ambrose.”
60th over: England 199-6 (Foakes 49, Curran 14) Rangana Herath returns to the attack after tea. Sri Lanka know that one wicket could bring four, so this is an important little period in the context of the game, the series and the future of the whole wide world. He bowls a maiden to Foakes, who thus stays one short of his fifty.
“Morning Rob,” says Kim Thonger. “I’ve had an epiphanic lie in. The Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) principle should apply to selection policy for Sri Lanka tours.
That was a much better session for England, who sexed down their approach from the morning and scored 86 runs for the loss of Jos Buttler, caught behind off Dilruwan Perera. Buttler, Curran and especially Ben Foakes played with an abundance of commonsense. See you soon for the evening session.
59th over: England 199-6 (Foakes 49, Curran 14) Foakes glides Lakmal wide of gully for four, another effective stroke in this admirably low-key innings. A couple of weeks ago he was a strong contender for the all-time England Uncapped XI; now he’s one away from a fifty on Test debut. And with that, it’s tea!
“Morning Rob,” says Ben Powell. “Great to have Test cricket back, if only briefly and before what looks like a long gap until the Ashes. I want to say Matt Prior for the last w/k to score 50+ on debut overseas, but feel that’s too obvious so am going to say Geraint Jones. Cue laughter track?”
58th over: England 192-6 (Foakes 44, Curran 12) Dan Woodward wins the great OBO pop quiz by pointing out that Tim Ambrose was the last England keeper to make a half-century on debut in an overseas Test. In fact only two have ever done it: Tim Ambrose in 2008 and Jar-Jar Binks in 1964.
Dhananjaya continues to Curran, who is defending with impressive certainty. It’s a maiden.
57th over: England 192-6 (Foakes 44, Curran 12) Foakes pulls Lakmal just short of midwicket and through for a couple. I think the ball stopped in the pitch, which caused that rare false stroke from Foakes. The equilibrium of his innings has been jolly impressive.
“I’m a little bit disconcerted,” says Richard O’Hagan. “For the first time in, well, as long as I can remember, I can’t think of anything to criticise in this England selection. I would’ve liked to see Denly get a chance, but I simply can’t think who he would’ve replaced. It’s a very strange feeling.”
56th over: England 190-6 (Foakes 42, Curran 12) After making six runs from his first 36 deliveries, Sam Curran doubles his score by swiping Dhananjaya sweetly over long off. This kid! That’s the first six of the match.
“How about a shout-out for Zimbabwe winning their first away Test since 2001 – when the world was very different,” says Andrew Gladwin. “A huge result in the current context of the travails of both Zimbabwe as a country and a cricket team. Bairstow back as opener? Would be more an option surely if he doesn’t need to keep.”
55th over: England 183-6 (Foakes 41, Curran 6) The underrated Suranga Lakmal, Sri Lanka’s token seamer, returns to the attack. He picked up Rory Burns and Moeen Ali this morning, two bonus wickets in many ways. Curran plays a wristy cut stroke but can’t beat the man at point, so it’s a maiden.
54th over: England 183-6 (Foakes 41, Curran 6) “Ah, England Test cricket, how I’ve missed you,” says Guy Hornsby. “Though nothing punches you in the metaphorical chops quite like the first morning on a turning pitch in Galle. I wonder how much Rory Burns is kicking himself, as he’d looked lively. I sense he may have something to say about getting 9 in the second innings, but by then getting to 30 will feel like a ton. A penny for YJB’s thoughts right now. He should give Glenn McGrath a call.”
Bairstow will be straight back in the side when he’s fit, though it might not be as keeper. Who’d be a selector? I would! It’s bloody great fun at times like these, especially from the armchair.
53rd over: England 180-6 (Foakes 40, Curran 4) Pop quiz, children: who was the last England wicketkeeper to make a half-century on debut in an overseas Test?
Meanwhile, Dhananjaya replaces the slightly subdued Herath - he’ll do his work in the second innings - and produces one big legspinner that Curran defends. These two are going well. Slowly, but well.
52nd over: England 178-6 (Foakes 38, Curran 4) This will probably be described as a lower-order revival, but the way we should view this England Test team has changed under Ed Smith. Effectively, they have eight batsmen and six bowlers, so runs from Curran at No8 are no more unusual than runs from Nos 1-3. If anything, they are less surprising.
51st over: England 177-6 (Foakes 37, Curran 4) Foakes has, paradoxically, caught the eye by being so unspectacular. He’s played an old-fashioned Test innings and looks the sort of even-tempered player England need. I know it’s early but he already looks a serious long-term option, especially as his keeping is world-class. Goodness knows what happens when Jonny Bairstow is fit. Maybe England should just do away with a top-order and play seven all-rounders, like Pep Guardiola does with midfielders.
50th over: England 176-6 (Foakes 36, Curran 4) There are already hints of the vicious pitch this should become, with the odd ball turning sharply. There’s another from Perera, which rips a long way past Curran’s attempted drive. If England get 250 they will be right in this game.
49th over: England 174-6 (Foakes 35, Curran 3) A quiet over from Herath is enlivened by a nice stat from Bumble on Sky, who points out that Curran wasn’t born when Herath made his first-class debut.
“Curious that the match is taking place on a pitch which is likely to deteriorate in 2-3 days,” says John Starbuck. “Anyone would think they couldn’t be bothered to play over five days. Is there no-one around in cricket with a good appreciation of the money aspect?”
48th over: England 173-6 (Foakes 35, Curran 2) The non-striker Curran survives a token run-out referral after scampering back for a second. The pitch is pretty good at the moment, so there’s no need for England to be as frantic as they were in the morning session. The longer they bat, the less time Sri Lanka will have before the pitch starts to turn square.
In other news, here’s Charlie Tinsley. “Should Foakes be releived of the gloves to allow him to bat further up the order?”
47th over: England 170-6 (Foakes 33, Curran 1) Herath continues to the impressive Ben Foakes, who has played with patience and commonsense. That game of football in Colombo a couple of weeks ago may prove to be a significant sliding door in English cricket history, like Michael Vaughan’s slipping in the nets at Lord’s in 2004. Foakes works the ball through midwicket, and the chasing Chandimal pulls up holding his groin. That’s a worry for Sri Lanka, and he leaves the field immediately.
46th over: England 166-6 (Foakes 30, Curran 0) All the pre-match talk was understandably about the retiring Rangana Herath, but of late the offspinner Dilruwan Perera has been equally if not more dangerous. He has a stunning record at Galle – a better average than Herath, a better strike-rate than Murali– and almost grabs his fourth wicket of the innings with a gorgeous delivery that rips past Curran’s outside edge and just misses the off stump. A maiden.
45th over: England 166-6 (Foakes 30, Curran 0) Thanks Tanya, morning everyone. Well this is fun! Cricket in Galle is rarely dull and today has been no exception. Although England haven’t batted particularly well, they aren’t too far away from a competitive score on a pitch that should deteriorate from day two or three.
44th over: England 164-6 (Foakes 28, Curran 0) Sri Lanka breakthrough just as England were starting to look comfortable. A third forDilruwan Perera, and a smart catch by the keeper Dickwella to make up for his terrible review advice earlier in the day. Buttler had looked in super touch - undone by uncertainty at the last. Enter Sam Curran and I’ll hand over now to the master, Rob Smyth. Thank you for your emails!
On the the brink of drinks, Buttler edges and is caught close to the stumps by Dickwella.
43rd over: England 162-5 (Buttler 37, Foakes 27) The steady ship Herath does his job - three runs nurdled from the over as Buttler and Foakes’s partnership moves on to 59.
42nd over: England 159-5 (Buttler 35, Foakes 26) Dilruwan replaces Dananjaya and wheels in, a long cloth flowing from his back pocket. Foakes sweeps, sweetly, for four. It’s his third boundary of the innings and he’s not looking out of place. This has been a good first 50 minutes for England after lunch.
41st over: England 154-5 (Buttler 34, Foakes 22) Just one run comes from Herath’s over, who has England prodding and poking inelegantly. In the Sky box, Athers and Arnold have gone for identical dark blue shirts.
40th over: England 153-5 (Buttler 33, Foakes 22) A leg-glance for two then a pull for four as Buttler eases into third gear. Akila Dananjay opts to go around the wicket to Buttler, and he drives him for one. Akila Dananjay proving expensive 0-65 from 12.
39th over: England 144-5 (Buttler 25, Foakes 21) Herath comes back to stem the flow - and he does. Just one run comes from the over. A slower ball foxes Foakes but he survives.
38th over: England 143-5 (Buttler 24, Foakes 21) Ah, lovely from Foakes. An off-drive, smooth, controlled, sweeps over the grass for four. It follows a nicely timed push through cover . An expensive over from Dananjaya. Pressure easing a little on England now.
37th over: England 133-5 (Buttler 22, Foakes 13) Buttler hauls Lakmal past the bowler’s outstretched hand, over the bent-double umpires straight for four. Then another super shot, a cut for two.
Meanwhile, Ian Sheldrake writes from Perth: “You published an email from my colleague Tom Leeming during the lunch break, with whom I share the highs and lows of being two cricket loving Poms in our office in Perth, Australia.
36th over: England 127-5 (Buttler 15, Foakes 16) Sky showing a split screen ofAkila Dananjay. I coudn’t pick him in a million years. A maiden.
A note from India. Hello Sathish!
35th over: England 126-5 (Buttler 15, Foakes 13) Aha, Lakmal reappears from the other end. And that’s a bootiful cover-drive from Foakes, head in just the right place. Only gets two for it, but that matters not a jot. What ho! With a high elbow he pulls Herath high for four and his first boundary in Test cricket.
34th over: England 120-5 (Buttler 15, Foakes 7) Lakmal comes off and is replaced by Akila Dananjaya . Foakes prods tentatively, Buttler nudges. And that’s another quiet over.
33rd over: England 118-5 (Buttler 14, Foakes 6) Herath again, and that’s another maiden. He’s testing England here, with his length and line - ten overs, 1-30. This may well turn into a game of patience. England haven’t shown a great deal so far this match.
32nd over: England 118-5 (Buttler 14, Foakes 6) A back-foot push from Buttler just beats the diving fielder at the cover-point boundary. Cracking shot that. Lakmal steady but these two seem happy to defend. Sense and sensibility.
31st over: England 114-5 (Buttler 10, Foakes 6) Herath resumes from the fort end, where I once bought some coconut milk back in 2001. Incidentally Herath does have a magnificent moustache. Foakes looking comfortable, but as I write that he nearly drags the ball onto his stumps. A maiden.
30th over: England 114-5 (Buttler 10, Foakes 6) Lakmal bowls the first over after lunch - not a wasted delivery amongst them. A nudge off the hips from Foakes gets him off the strike - and that’s the only run from the over.
My ten year old has just watched the morning’s highlights and said, with some disgust, “I thought this was supposed to be a Test match.” From the mouths of babes... anyway, England resume on 113-5. Two tall, slender right-handed batsmen walk to the crease.
A charming email from Christian Cummings, so charming that I’ll give him a plug:
“Dear Tanya,
“The hardest thing in the sub-continent is getting the tempo right.” says Mike Atherton in Galle. He suggests that England didn’t quite manage it. “A little too frenetic.”
And words of wisdom from Russel Arnold: “Trust your defence.” England need to sellotape that to the dressing-room door.
Well, that was... surprising!
England were certainly bold. Might we say reckless? Root and Stokes won’t want to watch their dismissals again in a hurry. Though Root played nicely, as did Jennings, whose sweep shot came in particularly handy
29th over: England 113-5 (Buttler 10, Foakes 5) Akila Dananjaya bowls the last over before lunch. Buttler forces himaway for two and then a top-edged sweep for two more. Could have been four but the outfield is slow. He just has that air of calm about him - the perfect partner for Foakes on debut. And they head off for something delicious in the Galle pavilion - Sri Lanka dining more happily than England, I wager.
28th over: England 108-5 (Buttler 6, Foakes 4) Dilruwan is the quickest Sri Lankan to 100 wickets - quicker even than Murali. An lbw shout against Foakes but it is outside the line. The fielders move around and a leg slip comes in. Foakes dances a down the pitch and they get a single. We glance at the Galle clocks - one says five to 12, and one says five past. I know which one England would rather use.
27th over: England 106-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 3) A looser delivery from Herath hands Foakes a couple of runs on the leg-side and the pressure lifts a little. Herath slows it down evern more and Foakes prods elegantly. Six minutes till lunch.
26th over: England 104-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 1) The field is tight. Dilruwan tosses it up but Buttler doesn’t try anything flashy. And that’s another maiden - the second in a row. England now have two right-handers in which isn’t going to help.
25th over: England 104-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 1) Foakes standing tall to Herath, and plays out a maiden. It shouldn’t feel totally alien to Foakes. He once played a season of club cricket in Columbo and bought himself a rickshaw to drive around in.
24th over: England 104-5 (Buttler 5, Foakes 1) Foakes bats away his first ball in Test cricket, and gets runs from his second with a push through midwicket.
The boundary boards are carrying an advertisment for Wellman Vitamins but England are looking rather sickly...that was a terrible shot from Stokes.
Stokes sweeping, bowled behind his legs. Middle stump gone. He got far too far across his stumps there.
23rd over: England 103-4 (Stokes 7, Buttler 5) Herath trundles in and releases his dangerous paper-weights. Ah that’s lovely, Buttler drives with style, to the boundary.
22nd over: England 99-4 (Stokes 7, Buttler 1) That’s why England have been so aggressive. you never know when a ball is coming with your name on it. A change of pace and of bowling and Jennings was bamboozled. A shame for him - he’d looked in lovely touch, a confident knock, and a good one. Buttler off the mark with a soft-hands late-cut.
Jennings steps way back to cut and is bowled. Instant bowling change magic.
21st over: England 98-3 (Jennings 46, Stokes 7) Just three singles off that over from Herath, balls on a good length.
20th over: England 95-3 (Jennings 44, Stokes 6 ) Jennings on top of his game here. Looking confident and controlled. The long limbs which can make him seem like an over-grown daddy-longlegs against pace, are his friends against spin. Levers that help him sweep and stretch.
19th over: England 86-3 (Jennings 35, Stokes 2 ) Herath, again. I’m with you Martin, there’s something very-appealing about his round-armed demeanour. But Stokes has no mercy. He’s down on one knee and bam! Sweep - the ball is at the boundary. England attacking every loose ball they can.
18th over: England 75-3 (Jennings 28, Stokes 2 ) A good over from Dananjaya, a probing maiden. Stokes’ long frame slightly awkwardly getting down to muffle the spin.
Martin Wright is already at his keyboard. “Morning Tanya,”
17th over: England 75-3 (Jennings 28, Stokes 2 ) Stokes off the mark with a single, using his feet dandily to his first ball from Herath. Oooh, that dismissal of Root’s doesn’t look any tidier on replay - waltzing out into the middle of the dance floor only to find someone has stolen his dance partner.
Root steps down the pitch looking to drive and is bowled! That’s Herath’s hundredth wicket at Galle.
16th over: England 72-2 (Jennings 35, Root 27 ) A drop! Angelo Matthews somehow puts down an easy top-edge from Keaton Jennings at first slip. It comes in at a good height and an easy pace. Jennings seems unruffled.
15th over: England 70-2 (Jennings 34, Root 26 ) Lovely TV pictures of everyone sitting up on the fort overlooking the ground as Herath rolls out another steady over.
14th over: England 65-2 (Jennings 24, Root 31) Some ripping turn from Dananjaya has Root prodding first ball. Then Root and Jennings sweep and nudge eight from the over. That’s their fifty partnership up in just 66 balls.
13th over: England 57-2 (Jennings 19, Root 28) And it’s the man of the moment, the man of the Test match - Rangana Herath. The grey-haired, smiling, cuddly bank manager is on the button straight away with England managing just a couple of quick singles.
And that’s drinks. Meanwhile, here’s a close-up picture of the pitch:
Briefly unveiled between showers, the Galle pitch looks a good’un. pic.twitter.com/pqKstsVDG0
12th over: England 55-2 (Jennings 18, Root 27) Sri Lanka having a shocker with their reviews. The wicketkeeper Dickwella insistent that a sweeping Jennings has got an edge - it goes to review where the cameras reveal what everyone else already knows - the ball got nowhere near the ball. And that’s both reviews gone in 11.1 overs. A tidy over from Dananjaya.
11th over: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 26) Lakmal: exacting, accurate, testing. Another maiden from him - a great spell this morning.
Adam Wilson is up and emailing. Thanks Adam! “Morning Tanya. Delighted to find Ben Foakes finally has been picked. He was an unused squad player for the last Ashes plus 12th man a few times over the past few years. Here’s hoping the early morning wobble does not descend into chaos by the time he gets to bat.”
10th over: England 52-2 (Jennings 16, Root 26) Jennings survives a near-run out after dawdling at the non-striker’s end. Soft hands from Root and then a huge lbw appeal from Dananjaya. Umpire Erasmus is not interested but Sri Lanka review - the impact is outside, though it would have hit the stumps. Arghgh! An ugly back-foot edge by Jennings to the last ball of the over, almost in slow-motion, passes slip and keeper. England move past fifty.
9th over: England 45-2 (Jennings 12, Root 23) Lakmal’s skinny frame brings some calm to proceeding with a maiden. He bowls with his shirt buttons done up and his trousers tight. It’s still overcast in Galle, no sun, no shades, but no jumpers either.
8th over: England 45-2 (Jennings 12, Root 23) And we have a change of bowling as Akila Dananjaya comes into the attack. Root watches him warily for three balls then pounces. He sweeps, beautifully, for four and to the next ball dances light-footedly down the pitch for another boundary. England’s run-rate is 5.63.
7th over: England 36-2 (Jennings 11, Root 15) Root down on one knee to a wider ball from Lakmal and clop, the ball glides away for four. Just lovely. The next ball is straighter and Root shuffles more awkwardly. He’s not in, in yet, if you know what I mean. A thick outside edge for four finishes the over.
And an email, two emails! From John Starbuck (hello John!) and Sachin Paul,who is admiring Jennings’ early-morning footwork:
6th over: England 28-2 (Jennings 11, Root 7) Jennings! Two boundaries from the over: a flashing square drive for four following a reverse-sweep to the boundary a few balls earlier. He is making the most of his height and reach here.
5th over: England 20-2 (Jennings 3 Root 7) Root not utterly convincing here. Finishes the over with a drive for four, but squeezes in an awkward inside edge too. Lakmal bowling beautifully.
4th over: England 14/2 (Jennings 3 Root 1) After being a shell-shocked spectator for the first three overs Jennings gets going with an awkward prod and then a more confident sweep.
That was Moeen’s first golden duck in Test cricket.
3rd over: England 10-2 (Jennings 0, Root 0). Root survives the hat-trick ball but a double-wicket maiden for Lakmal, not quite the start England were hoping for.
Next ball! Lakmal goes round the wicket for Moeen’ first ball, Moeen plays down the wrong line and the off stump careers away.
Oh dear. Burns tickles one down the leg-side and walks off with a wry smile.
2nd over: England 10-0 (Burns 9, Jennings 0) We didn’t have to wait long for the first over of spin - Dilruwan Perera is thrown the ball. And Burns is looking very confident here, lovely footwork as he drives Perera past Herath for another four. I wonder if Alastair Cook has his radio on down at the farm?
1st over: England 5-0 (Burns 4, Jennings 0) And Burns gets off the mark with a four! A glide off his legs and a huge smile to match. Suranga Lakmal drifting a little bit over to Burns’ legs.
We bid farewell this match to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, the last man standing who played Test cricket in the 1990s and who emerged from the shadow of Murali to his own personal triumphs.
His stats are incredible - with an astonishing 430 Test wickets, he lies 10th on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers. Would you have put him that high?
Teams: England have handed caps to Rory Burns and Ben Foakes and dropped Stuart Broad. “It’s never easy” says Root, “I wouldn’t see it as being dropped but playing a balanced attack on this kind of surface.”
So they’re playing three spinners, a new opener, a new wicketkeeper, and an unproven No.3 (Moeen). “We feel in a really good place, it’s a great opportunity. Be bold,” says Root.
Good morning everyone! The overnight rain has passed and play is due to start on time. Joe Root has just won the toss and will bat first, “Obviously it is quite tacky, so it might be hard work for the first hour or so.”
It is a good toss for England to win - in the last eight games at Galle the side batting first has won. Ah but Sky have just flashed up some more stats - England’s win percentage away from home since 2013 is 12 per cent.
And so here we are. Bonfire Night over and done with. Darkness falling at half past four. Christmas nuts in-store. And an England Test series about to begin.
To Galle then, at this ungodly hour, and the lovely ground overlooked by the ancient old fort, where Sri Lanka and England start the first of three Tests at 4.30am GMT.
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