These contests – to use a euphemism for the cricket on show at the Nondescripts ground – are always messy, disjointed affairs and that was most certainly the case on Wednesday. With each side playing a minimum of 14 players there is no meaningful outcome to a match that is denied any status. So Joe Root did not hit his 24th first-class century here even though he effortlessly reached three figures.
Just before tea the tepid nature of the cricket was utterly overshadowed by concern for the 20-year-old Pathum Nissanka, a young batsman from Galle. Nissanka was fielding at forward short-leg when Jos Buttler pulled a long hop from the off-spinner Nishan Peiris. From the meat of the bat the ball thudded into the helmet of Nissanka, who fell to the ground.
The game stopped for 15 minutes after the medical staff of both sides ran to the middle. With England’s doctor, Moiz Moghal, to the fore, Nissanka was carefully placed on to a stretcher with a neck brace in position before being carried from the field. Nissanka was conscious and immediately taken to hospital for further examination.
Though blameless, Buttler’s concern was obvious. The ricochet from Nissanka’s helmet saw the ball loop into the hands of Angelo Mathews at leg-slip so Buttler was out, the regulation about catches off the helmet having been changed this year.
Afterwards Buttler expressed his relief that Nissanka had survived the blow. “You always fear the worst in those situations and never want to cause an injury. I hit that ball hard and it hit the middle of his helmet. Thank goodness he seems to be OK.”
By comparison the inconvenience to Stokes, who retired hurt under his own steam earlier, was the tiniest of pinpricks. On 10 Stokes received a short ball from the fast bowler Lahiru Kumara; he may point out that he played too early when attempting a pull shot. The ball struck Stokes above the right elbow with sufficient venom for him to leave the field. However, he returned in the final session after Root had retired on reaching his century.
These incidents diverted attention from the trio of batsmen yet to establish themselves in the side who yearn to be in the top order of the Test team. Of these Rory Burns had the best day. He struck a neat 47, which included nine crisp fours, before being run out after a breakdown in communication with Joe Denly. Since his selection for the tour back in September the assumption has always been that Burns was probably the first choice to open the batting. This little innings offered confirmation of that.
Neither Keaton Jennings nor Denly was as convincing. Jennings played on to Shehan Madushanka for 13 careful runs acquired in 55 minutes. Denly began edgily, unveiled a couple of sweetly timed boundaries but was yorked for 25 by Kumara straight after lunch. If this was the first round in a duel, it was indecisive.
The rest of the batsmen, most of whom are assured of their places, were more relaxed and purred along without many problems. Root was quietly magisterial; Buttler, until his unfortunate dismissal, was untroubled and hit the biggest six of the day, a massive straight drive that cleared the sightscreen. In the final session Moeen Ali, batting with the aggression he promised on Tuesday night, scored at will alongside Stokes, who was unencumbered by any bruising to his arm and who managed to disguise his disgruntlement at being given caught by Mathews reasonably well.
The rest of the squad, meanwhile, paid sporadic visits to the nets. Jonny Bairstow was there taking some gentle catches and hitting some throwdowns, an activity that suggests he has not ruled himself out of the Galle Test. However, Buttler confirmed that he was preparing as if he would be keeping in the Test after being disappointed with his rhythm behind the stumps in the one-day series. Stuart Broad had a long net, which might be interpreted as a reminder that he expects to play in Galle as well.
At the end of the game everyone shook hands warmly but no one really had any idea who, if anyone, had won.
