Otherwise, thanks all for your company and comments – sorry I couldn’t use them all – and we’ll be back for more fun and frolics tomorrow. Join us at around 4.15am GMT to see what unfolds. Ta-ra.
On which point, here’s our report of another superb day.
The standard of excitement in Test cricket at the moment is so ridiculous – every match is an absolute banger, and this is shaping up to be another. I can’t help but favour Sri Lanka to square the series now – let’s say the first-innings scores are roughly level, you’d reckon they’d get between 150-200, which should be enough.
Elsewhere, Luton have just pulled a goal back against Chelsea.
“Bess is a better batsman than a spinner at this point of his career, and that isn’t exactly encouraging signs for England,” reckons Abhijato Sensarma.
England have a big problem in that regard. They’ll need to win some tosses to get anything in India, I shouldn’t wonder, but if they can get Moeen back and in form, that’ll help. It’s a shame Rashid is injured, though I’m not sure he’d have been oicked in any case.
“Don’t think we’ll be seeing the Bannerman breached today,” said Phil Russell about 36 years ago, “thanks to Buttler’s jaunty knock. Quite hard to score two out of every three runs when he’s going at that pace.
For reference, to break the record you need to score at least:
202 out of 300
236 out of 350
270 out of 400
Shake a leg Joe, it’s not a Test Match! Oh actually...”
Talking of which, here’s adopted Yarkie Jason Gillespie doing the important work.
“So, Joe Root is currently averaging over 200 for the series,” says Simon McMahon. “Gets to travel the world doing a job he loves, is captain of England, admired by his teammates and the wider public, is tall and boyishly handsome. But is he happy?”
Er, he’s from Yorkshire?
Lasith Embuldeniya is tired, he says, but kept to his line and length. The pitch is on the slow side, allowing the batsmen to go back, but he can control his line and length so just focuses on that. The pitch is turning more now, so some early wickets then a lead of 150-200, and he fancies the win.
Jos Buttler tells Sky that batting was tougher today than earlier in the match, before praising his captain’s “physical and technical masterclass”. He enjoyed his own time in the middle, he says, and knew the ball the got him had hit his foot, but the shot had brought him some runs so what can you do. Any runs the last pair can eke out will be useful, he revelates, also praising the bowling of Embuldeniya.
“That link to the stats of English batsmen got me thinking back to this article recently in the Graun,” says Bill Hargreaves, “and Tim Rice’s Oscar acceptance speech in 1995:
‘The English lyricist had no idea what he was going to say. So he drew a breath then decided, on a whim, to thank his childhood hero, Denis Compton. No one in the Hollywood audience had heard of the England and Middlesex cricketing all-rounder and his words were greeted with a bemused silence’.”
On Sky, Sanga saysRoot’s innings was one “to learn from”. Imagine that! There can be no higher praise.
Updated
“Rereading that excellent Joy of Six on showboating got me thinking of the great David Foster Wallace and his resemblance to former Man City liability Martin Demichelis,” emails Darrien Bold.
I was lucky enough to be in the away end when he was finished by Dr Marcus Rashford MBE. But I always had Demichelis down as Furio Giunta.
“Loving the OBO vocabulary this morning with ‘trifecta’, lest’, ‘eschew’ and ‘regimen’ all featuring pleasingly,” says Brian Withington. “Speaking of the 16/8 TRE regimen, how are you finding it so far? For my part, I do still occasionally miss a morning mug of milky tea with the obligatory Rich Tea biscuits - our three retired/failed guide dogs are particularly bereft having become accustomed to competing for the post-dunk crescent residuals. I don’t know how much longer I can keep eschewing the option lest the trifecta of beasts withdraw all affection...”
I’m not a breakfast-haver, so find it a decent compromise in terms of being able to enjoy eating while still getting work done. I tend to hold off lunch for as long as I can, do that meal properly, then try and be sensible thereafter.
Close of play: England 339-9
Well! This Test is beautifully poised, Sri Lanka leading by 42. If England can chip just 20 more off that and even if not, they’ll fancy themselves to make things unpleasant for the hosts in the third innings. On the other hand, no one wants to bat last in these conditions, and if England are knocked over quickly in the morning, they could soon be an absolute stretch behind.
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WICKET! Root run out (Fernando) 186 (England 339-9)
Root nudges to short leg and after batting all day just doesn’t have the kaiach to get back in his ground; short leg blocks then half-arms into the stumps, and he’s gone! Root looks absolutely ruined by that, but what a monstrous innings he’s played, again; what a player he is. And well played Sri Lanka – they kept their intensity until the end and that’s a brilliant piece of fielding.
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115th over: England 339-8 (Root 186, Leach 0) Here comes Perera with the final over the day AND HAVE AN ABSOLUTE LOOK!
114th over: England 339-8 (Root 186, Leach 0) Root won’t be worried about Leach, who knows how to bat time – though I’ve not a clue how one does such thing with glasses. This is not an aesthetic point, I promise, just that the vision relative to lenses is poor – you feel half asleep and have no peripheral vision.
113th over: England 338-8 (Root 185, Leach 0) Root comes down to drive back past the bowler and they saunter one, the only run from the over; Leach sees off its three remaining balls well enough.
“Root overtook Boycott, Pietersen and Gower’s runs for England today,” says Patrick Treacy,” and he’ll definitely get by Stewart and Gooch too. He’s also got a fair chance of passing Cook eventually, but that’ll take a lot more work.
112th over: England 337-8 (Root 184, Leach 0) Thirimanne is the first Sri Lankan fielder to take five catches in an innings, say Cricinfo, but back to Embuldeniya, this is only his ninth Test, and at 24 he’s got a lot of improving still to do.
WICKET! Wood c Thirimanne b Embuldeniya 1 (England 337-8)
Seven for Embuldeniya! Wood, having watched his captain bat 302 balls, gets down on one knee to show him how it’s down, carting a slog-sweep over the continent for six. In his mind. Back in reality, he’s avoiding his captain’s look, except his captain can’t even bring himself to do that, having seen enough when the ensuing top edge was taken at slip.
112th over: England 337-7 (Root 184, Wood 1) Root knocks to cover for one....
111th over: England 336-7 (Root 183, Wood 1) Two lots of nelson here – David Shepherd would be hovering. And Perera comes into the attack to take advantage of the situation, which lasts one ball – swept, of course, by Root. They run one, and two more singles follow.
110th over: England 333-7 (Root 181, Wood 0) Before Wood has so much as faced a ball, Root’s down with some kind of back situation, but he seems fine shortly afterwards.
WICKET! Bess c Thirimanne b Embuldeniya 32 (England 333-7)
Review that one! This is a good ball, a bit of extra bounce and grip doing for Bess, who gets low in defence and gloves to slip. That’s six for Embuldeniya and the end of an extremely valuable innings – one which might just get its exponent a spot in the first India Test.
Updated
NOT OUT!
That was pretty clear. No fingers under the ball, which pitched.
REVIEW!
I think this has bounced.
110th over: England 333-6 (Root 181, Bess 32) Root takes one, then Bess edges as the ball slants across him ... did it carry? The soft signal is out!
Updated
109th over: England 332-6 (Root 180, Bess 32) Root pulls for one, then Bess glances around the corner .... just between Dickwella and the diving Mathews, at slip for precisely such eventuality. Four more to the total, then another to long on and Bess will be fancying himself for something decent here; his highest Test score is 57.
Updated
108th over: England 325-6 (Root 177, Bess 26) Embuldeniya rattles through a maiden, beating Bess’ edge in the process. This is a seriously crucial knock from him and the partnership is now 73, or King’s Cross to Stokey if you prefer.
107th over: England 325-6 (Root 177, Bess 26) Root takes a single to backward square then Bess edges to a similar area; he fancies two but is advised there’ll be no such thing by his frankly malingering captain.
“I am beyond baffled about all the talk regarding Bairstow in the last week,” says David Reynolds. “Between his last test century, which was in Sri Lanka, and the start of this series, he averaged 18.4 in 20 test innings, with a highest score of 52 and numerous gormless dismissals (including many costly ones in the Ashes). Then he gets 47, 35 not out, and 28 in this series, and he’s being talked about in the press as undroppable? This is absurd.”
In general, I think England’s management have done a good job in recent times, but think they got it wrong with Bairstow. He was kept in a fair bit longer than he should’ve been – had they dropped him sooner, he could’ve worked on his solidity and forced his way back in already. But they didn’t, and I also wonder how much guidance he was given because to hear him speak he seems to think it was a form issue, not a technical one. Other hand, he’s a brilliant talent so I understand why he was given so many chances.
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106th over: England 323-6 (Root 177, Bess 26) Root cracks a brace to the off side sweeper and the cramp is bothering him, a huge hoik across the line taking the edge and the ball shooting over slip. He could do with the light helping him out here because he’s tiring, mentally as well as physically.
105th over: England 320-6 (Root 174, Bess 26) A maiden for Mendis.
“Whatever the question is, I’m beginning to think that Sam Curran might not be the answer,” emails Tom van der Gucht. “He seems to be a 21st century test equivalent to England’s 90’s and 00’s obsession with one day bits-and-pieces not-quite all-rounders in the hope they’d balance the side. Is he being picked because he’s got “the right attitude” and that golden arm that occasionally bags unexpected wickets? What’s his strongest suit? Is he one of our top bowlers who bats a bit? Not really. He’s not really a batsman either. He’s Jamie Dalrymple... He’s Ronnie’s Irani... He’s Dermot Reeve... It’s an increasing pity Ali was struck down with Covid.”
I think that’s harsh – he was brilliant in the India home series, has the knack of finding something when it’s most required, and there’s plenty of scope for him to improve. He doesn’t get in my first XI but he’s great to have and far better than Capel, who I think was the first new Botham, Ealham, Austin, Watkinson and ilk.
104th over: England 320-6 (Root 174, Bess 26) The umpires let Sri Lanka know that if they deploy pace, the teams will go off. So Embuldeniya continues and Root takes his first ball for one then Bess does likewise to his fifth. And have a look! Embuldeniya rips one across Root, who plays his first false shot, failing to move his feet and edging behind ... but Thirimanne wasn’t expecting it, already moving right as the ball comes left and can’t even get a hand. They run two as it scuttles away.
Updated
103rd over: England 316-6 (Root 171, Bess 25) Wally Hammond was the last England batsman to score doubletons in consecutive Tests – he did it first in 1928 then again in 1933 – which tells you just was an unreal feat this would be. It’s true that Sri Lanka’s attack isn’t the greatest, but if we’re judging the heat absolutely compensates. Anyhow, three singles then the umpires call for the light meters, and I’m not sure we’ll be out there for much longer. Having just been disturbed by a seven-year-old buzzing at the snow, I cannot tell you little I want this to be so.
Updated
102nd over: England 313-6 (Root 169, Bess 24) The umpire is less charmed by Dickwella’s chat, having a quiet one between overs. In commentary, they wonder if Embuldeniya, Sri Lanka’s best bowler, should focus on getting Root out and bring the field up – currently, he’s looking to keep him quiet, presumably in the hope that the rest will topple. He needs to remember the advice of Phil Leotardo.
101st over: England 312-6 (Root 168, Bess 24) You’re not going to believe this but Root just played a false shot, swiping for a drive outside off and missing. Pathetic. But he then turns a single behind square, after which Dickwella waits and waits for Bess to raise his foot then is slightly slow to react when he does; the pair share some patter as the bails are replaced.
Meanwhile, the OBO’s Tim de Lisle brings my attention to the below, which is very nice indeed.
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Dickwella likes a chat! 💬💬💬
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 24, 2021
He has teased Bairstow for being "dropped", hailed Lawrence's play against spin - and asked Root for a bat! 🤣#SLvENG 🇱🇰🏴
📺 Watch 👉 https://t.co/bT0CP9Q8No
📱 Blog 👉 https://t.co/cJNbB8VWVV pic.twitter.com/yjBFSWII6F
100th over: England 311-6 (Root 167, Bess 24) Yeah, the cramp is really getting to Root now; he gets down again to haul Embuldeniya from outside off ... in front of square ... via switch-hit. Yeah. And the thing is, the knowledge that that’s possible is extremely problematic for the Sri Lankan bowlers, because if he’s mashing them up from both sides of the wicket and with both hands what do they have left?
Talking of the switch-hit, here’s a little something on that.
99th over: England 306-6 (Root 162, Bess 24) Single apiece, then Mendis drags one down but gets away with it when Root picks out the on-side sweeper. The getting onto one knee is bothering him now though – he stretches off, but it’ll be with him till he gets gone now.
“There certainly is a wine equivalent,” says Matt Dony of ceiling sausage-dangling. “A friend of mine had the genius idea of repurposing her fridge’s water cooler feature as a wine dispenser. Chilled white, on tap, every time you pass the fridge. Perfect.”
Goodness me, imagine how much you’d spend on cocktail umbrellas if you had both.
98th over: England 303-6 (Root 160, Bess 23) There are clouds in view, already menacing an early end to play, so Root’s making up for potential lost time, trotting down to turn a slower one into a full toss and opening the face to miss the fielder, the result four more through cover. What a ludicrous display of affirming, mortifying mastery this is, and as I type that he reverse-sweeps a single which takes us to drinks. This has been an excellent mini-session for England, and when we look back might just be the key one in securing them a draw.
“Although not strictly Scottish or Spanish, I’ve recently become hooked on the home-pressed ox-tongue my village butcher produces,” says Tom van der Gucht. “I’m trying to shed a bit of extra timber at the moment do haven’t tried the 70s sex comedy-style tongue sandwich – no carbs before Marbs – but have enjoyed devouring the rich, succulent flesh straight from the paper bag like a homeless caveman. It’s a rewarding experience and one I would heartily recommend.”
Ah man, I love tongue – in its original not plasticated form, of course. It’s pretty much disappeared from kosher restaurants and butchers though, so I’m deriving some vicarious pleasure from this.
97th over: England 298-6 (Root 155, Bess 23) Bow down! Joe Root clouts four through square leg to raise his 150! What an absolute batsman he is! It’s so so good to see him back because his downturn was beginning to look like more than that – “set in” as Athers likes to say – but happily, those of us who doubted him are indeed complete morons. And though Root’s fifty to century conversion has been poor, his century to daddy conversion is supreme; three singles follow.
Updated
96th over: England 291-6 (Root 149, Bess 22) We’re back to spin from baith ends, Perera returning to the attack, and learn that Root is consuming gels from a company owned by Matt Prior. I tried one of those affairs doing three peaks, but don’t drink coffee and within about 10 minutes, lost climbing Scafell Pike in a middle of the night gale, wanted to slice the back of my head off. One from the over, to Root down to point.
Updated
95th over: England 290-6 (Root 148, Bess 22) Bess is dominating this stand! He eases onto one knee to sweep two then wears one on the pad going again, but as Athers explains, the left-arm Embuldeniya, now back into the attack, delivers from wide so needs to straighten them significantly to get an lb.
“Mark’s Deli in Glasgow does kosher haggis, I’m sure you’ll be glad to know,” says Malcolm Brown. “I can’t find any kosher, vegetarian, or even carnivore gentile haggis in Tuscany though.”
Pathetic. These Europeans preach all sorts about food, but really. No Irn Bru chew bars either, I shouldn’t wonder, or Space Raiders,
94th over: England 288-6 (Root 148, Bess 20) In commentary, Bumble is talking about “big swingers”, name-checking Botham – he must’ve seen the snap – and Richard Ellison. Meanwhile Root clumps a single to point, still in total control – he must be rueing that run out roundabout this time last week – then Bess drives a half volley to the cover sweeper and they run two, followed by one to deep backward square. This is important work from him.
93rd over: England 275-6 (Root 147, Bess 17) Hello! Root drives one to cover, then Bess goes back to paddle for through backward point! He’s enjoying this – as we all would if you were equipped with talent and ticker, so entirely different people – then backs it up by following Lakmal’s bumper riposte, seeking to hooke but instead top-edging four more. The lead is now into two figures and down to 97.
“Lest we forget, variety is the spice of life,” says Juice Terry Colum Fordham, “so all three sausages should be purchased. However, I think Joe Root’s improvised left-handed late cut and Embudeniya’s teasing left arm slows could be accompanied by a spicy chorizo. The other two can be hung as suggested and saved for later while a box of Rioja could be placed on an upper shelf to provide the odd drop of liquid sustenance. If needed, I could send Mr Thonger some flavoursome salame from Naples or some spicy paprika- flavoured sausage from Lucania.”
None of this is doing anything for the OBOs 16-8 regimen.
92nd over: England 275-6 (Root 146, Bess 9) Fernando comes into the attack but this is really good from Bess. He’s beaten by the over’s second delivery, the ball skidding by his outside edge, but puts it away to see off three more dots before stretching into a half-volley that he despatches for four through cover.
“Janet Chequer is quite right,” says John Starbuck, “haggis is the thing tomorrow, it being Burns Night. But if you eschew the meaty bits you can still drink plenty of good Scotch, needing no other excuse.”
I had the pleasure of a Bunnahabhain 18-year-old recently, an absolutely gorgeous and exceedingly moreish drop, should anyone fancy.
91st over: England 271-6 (Root 146, Bess 5) Another maiden from Lakmal, who basically needs to be as good as James Anderson and then he’ll be sorted. If England can hang on for another 70 or so, they’ll quite fancy having a go at Sri Lanka in the third innings.
“145 goes from Dagenham to Redbridge,” advises Matthew Doherty.
Quite.
90th over: England 271-6 (Root 146, Bess 5) This is a phenomenal effort from Root, not just of batsmanship but of fitness and mentality; I’ve no idea how you concentrate for this long. And this is growing into a decent and valuable partnership, Root taking one to point then Bess turning two to square leg.
“Dan, please tell Kim that with chorizo and black pudding she can make Madrid’s signature dish, the cocido,” says Tom Morgan. Just throw in some chickpeas, some chicken and a few lumps of fat and cook for three days. Keep the afternoon free from engagements though.”
Tangentially, has anyone had any weird corona symptoms? I didn’t lose my sense of taste and retained almost all my sense of smell – basically, I could notice everything but that which Tom warns us of.
Updated
89th over: England 268-6 (Root 145, Bess 3) Lakmal into the attack as we learn Murali played fly-half at school until he faced a good team, took a wallop, and decided to focus solely on humiliating batsmen. Sanga says his parents sent him to boarding school because he was uncontrollable – that was a threat in the Harris house too – and that he always has an opinion, but it’s always the right one. Maiden.
“At this time of year, we should eschew all meaty things Spanish and embrace the delight that is Haggis,” reckons Janet Chequer.
I have no opinion on this, it being not kosher, and definitely didn’t eat it when visiting Largs for a friend’s 21st.
Updated
88th over: England 268-6 (Root 145, Bess 3) Root drives for one which takes him from Muswell Hill to Edmonton and onto 145, beyond the scope of my London bus recall. Bess then takes one more to leg before Embudeniya deceives Root in the flight but he adjusts well to go back and defend; he’s not only on-point but en pointe.
Updated
87th over: England 266-6 (Root 144, Bess 2) Root is being very Tugger Waugh about this, trusting the man at the other end and slog-sweeping Perera’s first ball for one. Bess then comes forward to flick to square leg – they take one more – and four byes follow. Sri Lanka need something quickly because they’re running out of runs to play with.
“Bonjour from the snowy Combrailles,” says Damian Walsh. “I don’t get Mr. Thonger’s worry about fridge space. He should be hanging up what he doesn’t eat from a hook in the ceiling. A little cocktail umbrella can be stuck into the bottom sausage to catch any drips.”
I like this idea, you can gnaw bites every time you pass. Is there a wine equivalent?
Updated
86th over: England 259-6 (Root 142, Bess 1) A drive into the off side takes Root to 142, helpful if you fancy getting from Bushey to Brent Cross and have three days to spare. Bess then enjoys a no ball and sees away five dots – he looks ok out there and will be conscious of his need to contribute given his lack of wickets.
Updated
85th over: England 257-6 (Root 141, Bess 1) Sanga reckons 170-180 is about as much as can be chased on this track, though it’s not doing as much as last week’s. Root takes another single – he really does have more sweeps than Mr Griffiths – and Bess sees five dots away easily enough.
84th over: England 256-6 (Root 140, Bess 1) Root whacks a single to cover, the only run of the over.
“I well remember deploying the word ‘lest’ in a report I wrote in the first month of my first job and getting a dressing down from my boss - “You’re not at university now”, etc,” says Ian Forth. “But I’m delighted to see you wheeling it out (Over 81) and only a day after I noticed its shy little head appearing above the surface in a Jonathan Freedland article yesterday. Word Of the Year for 2021?”
In my defence, my deployment was a religious inflection – I was referencing my rabbi, and the word is as common as you’d expect in religious tracts which are heavy on warning, punishment and demand.
83rd over: England 255-6 (Root 139, Bess 1) Three dots so Root tries a release and naturally it’s a lefty late-cut. Of course it is. What happened was Root premeditated a reverse but Perera saw him coming, so he naturally searched the entirety his genius in a split of a split-second to ease himself out of shtuck; three singles follow with Bess looking smart in getting off the mark to midwicket.
82nd over: England 252-6 (Root 137, Bess 0) Embuldeniya will finish his over from before tea with four balls to Bess, who can hold a bat. He sees away four dots.
“Might you point out to Luke Williams I doubt that even the grittiest northerner could binge the lot,” retorts Kim Thonger. “It would be 4.33 kilograms of meat in one sitting. By the way I’m not an ultra-picky softy southerner ... I’m an omnivorous wily westerner from Somerset. When on the horns of a dilemma I always ask myself ‘what would Thomas Benjamin Abell do?’”
Bit of challah, bit of hummus, bit of charif and you’re away.
That was an absolutely monstrous wicket. If Sri Lanka can rustle through these last four, they’ll be in a strong position – I don’t think anyone would back England to bat out never mind chase anything in the fourth innings.
That’s tea, and England might need a new plan – Root trusted Curran so took singles, but now he needs to face as many balls as possible.
WICKET! Curran c Thirimanne b Embuldeniya 13 (England 256-6)
A huge breakthrough! In the final over before tea, Embuldeniya trusses Curran like a turkey, flighting one on with the arm and forcing a sideways poke that’s snaffled at slip. Embuldeniya has fifer and will fancy himself for a fair few more, with England’s tail imminent.
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82nd over: England 252-5 (Root 137, Curran 13) Root ianbells one down for a single, which brings Curran onto strike...
81st over: England 251-5 (Root 136, Curran 13) But he’s absolutely chuffed, slapping thighs all over the show, when Curran skips down to deposit Perera back over his head for six.
“To Kim Thonger,” says Luke Williams. “Buy all three, for sure. No need for fridge space for the chorizo – like hot bread fresh from the bakery, just sit yourself down as soon as you get home and binge the lot. And black pudding goes with EVERYTHING, unless you’re an ultra-picky softy southerner...”
I’m going to plead ignorance of all of this, lest my rabbi be reading.
NOT OUT!
No edge, but umpire’s call on height; Micky Arthur is every bit as delighted as you’d expect.
REVIEW!
It’s actually clipped the back pad, and there’s a long look at whether there was an edge. If not, Curran is struggling because he’s punkt in front...
81st over: England 245-5 (Root 136, Curran 7) Perera continues and after Root clobbers another sweep for one, there’s an extremely vociferous appeal when Curran wears one on the pad. Not out says the umpire, and Sri Lanka review...
80th over: England 244-5 (Root 135, Curran 7) Embuldeniya returns, presumably to get himself going before the new ball , and Root defends thrice then flicks to mid on for one with frankly revolting ease; not many batsmen exude the mastery he does when he’s seeing it. Curran then edges the final delivery of the over for two, so it’ll be Root who faces the fresh globe. This is going to be a passage.
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79th over: England 241-5 (Root 134, Curran 5) Root sweeps to the sweeper and they run one, then Curran bunts into the on side and charges home though Dickwella hits with his shy. But it’ll be Root on strike next over because yet another sweep adds one more. Given the batsmen to come, both sides know this is a colossal partnership.
“As an India fan, I’m not worried about the English bowling - it’s below-par in subcontinental conditions, at least if these bowlers are the same ones who face the mighty Indian batting next month. It’s just that the exuberant innings of the newly-inducted youngsters and the willow-wielding masterpieces of the skipper are making me fear what the English might call, umm, ‘squeaky bum’ time.”
The spinners are absolutely below par, but we’ll see what happens with the pitches and tosses. If England bat first and introduce SB Pressure to the attack, things change, likewise if the tracks do loads so even these get something out of them, or if their quicks do damage. I can’t wait to find out, but we’ve got some pretty decent gear going on here too.
78th over: England 238-5 (Root 132, Curran 4) Perera twiddles through a maiden as we await the second new ball.
“Well this is a pleasant surprise,” says David Hindle. “As I’ve often lamented to the commentary team here, England test players remain unhappy, statistical aberrations. Bowlers have far too high averages compared to the rest of the world, and despite many promising starts, no England bat for 50 years managed to finish their career with an average over 50. But, in the current team were counter indicators already. Broad, an particularly Anderson, his career figures disfigured permanently by the ‘bowling coach years’, have had mid-career revivals that are sensational. The question was, could a batter do the same? Get better towards the end? In fact, some already did. Gooch, obviously, but also Thorpe and Trescothick. None were close to 50 at the end, but they went out at the top of their game. In the modern era, there was one batsman who managed such a recovery. His name is Brian Lara. Whilst the crumbling pile of ruins of the game in his country and the effects of the burden of the captaincy on him may be amongst the most extreme in Test history, there are parallels to Root’s situation. It seems, out of nowhere, when I’d given up all hope long ago, that Joe Root has found the best version of himself we ever saw, and that, after already scoring 8000 test runs. This cannot be. He plays for England! Or are we finally turning the statistical corner? I do hope so. This is incredible stuff from Root. Long way to go this year, but already it looks very exciting.”
Yes, he looks like he’s found the mental balance doesn’t he? We need to reserve judgment until we see how he goes in India, but there’s a serenity to all this that suggests he’s found the place. I’m sure the team being better is helpful, but it looks like something more than that – a new state of mind.
77th over: England 238-5 (Root 132, Curran 4) Root is so good at keeping things moving, and he takes Mendis’ first ball for one to backward square, then Curran picks out the man on the cover fence and they amble another. This brings Root back onto strike and after missing out with a sweep, he grimace-grins with what might be a touch of cramp; needs to stop being so lazy with his conditioning, that lad. Absolute joke.
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76th over: England 235-5 (Root 130, Curran 3) Again, Root takes a single – I doubt the bowler minds because it lets them have at Curran and he’s diddled by another beauty, doing well to keep inside it as it rags past his outside edge.
“I suddenly understand what it means to be an England selector,” says Kim Thonger. “I received an email from a marvellous Spanish delicatessen that is my go to source for butter beans, offering irresistible special prices on spicy chorizo, mild chorizo and black pudding. But do I buy one, two or all three? I cannot reasonably deploy them all simultaneously and there is limited room in the relevant section of the fridge. It’s a bit like choosing the right wicket keeper. Jolly tricky. Horses for courses or long term strategic consistency? Help!”
I’d never turn down anything spicy, if I’m honest significantly because I can’t help but try and turn everything into a buzz.
75th over: England 235-5 (Root 130, Curran 3) Mendis’ first ball hits the pad and there’s a feverish appeal from the bowler, but it took the inside edge first. Next, Root clumps a sweep into Oshada’s shin – he’s wearing a chest protector for this precise eventuality –and they run one before one grips and turns away from Curran’s bat. That’s a very good ball indeed.
74th over: England 234-5 (Root 129, Curran 3) Curran looks confident out there; I’m not sure I’ve seen an England all-rounder with his mix of moxie and timing since Ben Stokes, and before that not since Andrew Flintoff. A single apiece from the over, as we learn that Root has only been off the pitch for 37 overs in this series.
“I’ve been patiently waiting for your return after your stint in the first Test,” emails Brian Withington, “when you borrowed the opening lyrics of the Sounds of Silence in fearful anticipation of the fall of English wickets.
It inspired this belated homage that features a forlorn England OBO follower as the wickets start to clatter soundlessly into the void of a dark tormented night...
Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Another England collapse
In restless dreams I switched it on
Sky TV with Atherton
‘Neath the halo of my bedside lamp
I felt my forehead turning cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the shock of a horrid sight
That split the night
Another England collapse
And in the OBO, I saw
Ten other people, maybe more
Batsmen coming without hoping
Batsmen going without scoring
Me sending emails that were never shared
And no one dared
Disturb the England collapse
‘Friends’, said I, ‘Do you not see
The wickets falling without me
Hear my words that I might teach you
Like my tweets that I might reach you’
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
All ignored
Another England collapse
And the people asked and prayed
That the TMS link be displayed
And the text flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the text said, ‘The words of the updates are written as the wicket falls
And every six balls’
During the England collapse.”
Standing ovation.
73rd over: England 232-5 (Root 128, Curran 2) The intensity level increases as Mendis twinkles in to a slip, a gully and a short leg, but Curran defends well then cuts a short, wide one for a single. Meanwhile, Athers didn’t see the photo Ben Stokes tweeted of him on his way to India; “I’m not addicted to social media, unlike some.” S-I-L-E-N-C-E.
72nd over: England 231-5 (Root 128, Curran 1) Perera comes back immediately to attack Currany, and gets five balls at him when Root takes his first for one to midwicket. Sammy, though, defends nicely enough and gets off the consecutive goldens with a twizzle to midwicket of his own.
“Now then now then,” offers Abhijato Sensarma. |I’ve just gotten up after giving a rather satisfactory college entrance exam. Opened up the OBO to check the score, and the latest question on my mind is: Has Buttler passed the Subcontinental Keeper-Batsman Efficiency Test yet? A certain friend of mine, whose name rhymes with the name ‘Blokes’, would like to know.”
I’d say so – he’s a key part of this team in every aspect, but has kept pretty well in both matches and those were big runs.
71st over: England 229-5 (Root 127, Curran 0) Curran got a first-baller in his one knock last Test and his leftyness won’t upset the fielders neither.
Buttler c Fernando b Mendis 55 (England 229-5)
“Out out out” says the third umpire are England are back under pressure! That’s a strange way to cede your scalp but he’s gotta go, and Mendis has his first Test wicket! He’d’ve took it!
Updated
71st over: England 229-4 (Root 127, Buttler 55) So what’s England’s plan from here? They’ll want to secure the series I suppose, so will just bat rather than declare behind and look to set up a chase. Meantime, Root sweeps for one then Buttler sweeps into his boot, the ball leaps up to short leg and there’s a catch! The fielders are certain it’s gone – Mendis, whose first Test wicket it’d be is even keener than you’d expect – and will be gratified to know I do too, but we go upstairs for an umpire review....
Updated
70th over: England 228-4 (Root 126, Buttler 55) Buttler toe-ends Embuldeniya’s slider behind for two after Root eases one down to square leg.
“There is another ‘Bannerman’,” says Ian Forth, “and it’s perhaps more likely to be broken first: his 165 remains the highest Australian test score on debut, though Kepler Wessels got 162 and Archie Jackson 164.”
Goodness me, imagine how long that Kepler innings took; I’m not sure, I’ve never keppled. Well having now looked, 343 balls and 464 minutes is much quicker than I’d have guessed.
Updated
69th over: England 225-4 (Root 125, Buttler 53) Thanks Adam and morning everyone. Lucky they persevered with Joseph Buttler, eh. We’ll never know how close he was before that Pakistan career-alterer but the answer is probably extremely. But sometimes you get talents that deserve patience and here we are – on that basis I’m slightly surprised he’s missing most of the India Test series and would much prefer him to lozz the limited-overs gear. Two singles off the over.
Joe Root averages 50+ in six different countries (5+ innings) - only Dravid and Younis have done so in 7 pic.twitter.com/bLSinINSE0
— Will 🚾 (@ohlookitswill_) January 23, 2021
Updated
68th over: England 223-4 (Root 124, Buttler 52) Embuldeniya again and Jos calls his captain through for a quick single to cover. Gee, had the throw been on target, the replay shows, that would have been the end of Buttler with his bat getting stuck in the turf when sliding. Not to be for Sri Lanka. Back to Root, dancing and clipping through midwicket for four - superb timing. Indeed, such great timing that Dickwella asks the England captain if he has a spare bat for him. I’m fairly sure Root answers in the affirmative, so one go watch after the series. Going well. And that’s drinks at Galle; the halfway mark of the day and the Test. It also marks my time to hand the OBO baton over to Daniel Harris. Thanks for your company!
67th over: England 217-4 (Root 119, Buttler 51) Mendis to Root, who turns him around the corner. Buttler is less at ease against the man on debut than he was against Dilruwan, but he’s through the over safely. A quick crunch of the numbers at my end shows Buttler averaging 55 since the start of the last English summer.
Pop "Josh" Buttler into this trifecta. https://t.co/sswo5nVZV2
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) January 24, 2021
Buttler passes 50
66th over: England 216-4 (Root 118, Buttler 51) After a short breather, Embuldeniya is back into the attack replacing Dilruwan. But he drops short to Buttler, who makes no mistake carving him away behind point to raise his half-century. He reaches the mark from 79 balls with seven boundaries. This pair have added 84 vital runs with the England ‘keeper providing sturdy support to his skipper.
65th over: England 211-4 (Root 117, Buttler 47) Ramesh Mendis, the man on debut, is giving it a good old rip now with his off-spin. After making a duck with the bat at the first time of asking, he’ll be desparate to get in the book. He doesn’t here but it is a pretty useful over in terms of the turn he’s generating. Handy.
Playing in England a lot can contribute to low scores. But I've always felt it helps to judge batsmen on how well they do away from home.
— R. (@RolloTreadway) January 24, 2021
So this is the best averages, away from home, minimum 20 innings, last fifty years. Root is 23rd. Chris Broad at number 1 though! pic.twitter.com/1e3SXJUoZS
Chris Broad!
64th over: England 209-4 (Root 116, Buttler 46) Lizard stops play?! Not quite, but the little guy is racing across the outfield in front of the sight screen making for some beautiful shots on the slow-mo camera. Another is Buttler getting down low into his reverse sweep posture, crunching Dilruwan away through point for his sixth boundary. England’s are still 172 behind but these two are ticking over nicely.
63rd over: England 203-4 (Root 115, Buttler 41) Universe Jos brings up England’s 200 with an elegant cover drive - his best of the innings, racing away for four off Lakmal’s seam. That might be just about the final over of his spell. Quality cricket.
“Hi Adam.” Hello, Graeme in Fontainebleau. “I was reading in the last test that Joe Root’s batting average is bothering 50 again. He looks a fine player - as fine as any Englishman I’ve seen (I go back to Gower) - I was wondering why, whilst the finest players of other countries average 50+, if there’s any reason why English batters don’t?”
This has been coming up on twitter as well. My simple and reflex answer is that if you play half your Tests in England, your batting average will reflect that.
62nd over: England 198-4 (Root 114, Buttler 37) Root’s technique on the reverse sweep is so well honed that even when he doesn’t get it right, the ball still ends up going straight into the turf off the bottom edge. Buttler scored from that shot earlier in the over, so the attack is clear against Dilruwan. He then gets a couple to finish, opening up the blade to steer behind point. Jos is 37 from 67 and going well.
Updated
61st over: England 194-4 (Root 113, Buttler 34) Another classy maiden from Lakmal, who looks the man most likely since lunch for Sri Lanka. Despite looking a million bucks out there, Root’s inside edge is still beaten by that late inswing. They go up for leg before, not out on account of height. Good decision; no review.
60th over: England 194-4 (Root 113, Buttler 34) Dilruwan returns to the attack, the offspinner who created a couple of chances earlier on. It doesn’t take long for Root to dance and clip, just past midwicket. Buttler lunges forward to a ball that really rips out of the rough, spitting into his inside edge and front pad. Back to Root, who doesn’t have a care in the world when sweeping, retaining the strike accordingly.
“Hi Adam.” Hello, Robin Hazlehurst. “This talk of when Bannerman’s record will go sounds like you could make a song (or shanty) about it. ‘When will the Bannerman go? This time it will not be Joe. Someday someone will make it though. And carry his team along.’” Lovely. But yes, it will never fall.
59th over: England 191-4 (Root 111, Buttler 34) Buttler is fortunate not to spoon Lakmal a catch in his follow through, miscuing a drive off the leading edge. Both men inspect the pitch; there was a puff of dust there when the ball pitched. The seamer continues to be a handful with the movement he’s getting with the old ball.
Is there a venue in world cricket that gets more aerial love from the camera than Galle?
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) January 24, 2021
That drone camera has enjoyed quite the work out over the last week and a bit.
58th over: England 190-4 (Root 110, Buttler 34) With Embuldeniya hanging a fraction wider this time around, both men are able to tick the board over through cover with a minimum of fuss. The partnership is 58, England’s deficit 191.
57th over: England 187-4 (Root 108, Buttler 33) Lakmal to take up the attack, having bowled a few handy overs in the first session, getting the old ball to hoop around a bit into the right handers. In turn, there’s a catching short midwicket on the edge of the pitch. With this in mind, Buttler is playing watchfully here to begin, getting forward to defend. He tries to lash a drive later on but doesn’t get much of it with the ball moving late. That’s the best over of seam we’ve seen today.
“Hi Adam, you’re a busy fella!” Tim Gilkison, great to have you with us. “Just sat here on the Sai Kung waterfront (pic below) catching up on your text commentary before I’m dragged around the shops. Great to see Root Going well and getting another ton. It bodes well for the challenges ahead. Right, the supermarket beckons (apparently).” Enjoy the struggle - stick with me on the OBO.
56th over: England 187-4 (Root 108, Buttler 33) The 50-run partnership is up with that Root sweep we’ve seen so often, taking a single to deep midwicket off Embuldeniya. Buttler is drawn forward later in the over, playing something of an unintentional Natmeg through his legs off the inside edge for three.
Glenn Finkelde raises a point here: in this innings we currently have on the shelf a Laker, a Bannerman and 229 - the lowest score not made in Tests. Dream!
Imagine a Laker and a Bannerman (which gets to 229) in the same knock.
— Glenn Finkelde🌈 (@GlennFinkelde) January 24, 2021
What a time to be alive!!!
The players are back on the field. “DRS is back on, gentleman!” says one of the umpires. Embuldeniya to continue, Root (105) the man on strike. A vital session coming up with England 200 behind. Can this pair bat for a couple of hours? PLAY!
“Hi Adam.” Hi, Max Savochkin. “Just reading through the list of England’s top run scorers and can’t help notice that the last England batsman to retire with an average north of 50 was Ken Barrington in ‘68, 53 years!! If you think of all the players from other countries who’ve managed it since! I’m assuming England’s home conditions are the main factor here?”
I would say so, yes. However, it’s also worth noting that only 42 men have retired with a 50+ average in the history of Test cricket - far fewer than I expected when this was brought to my attention last week. It reinforces how good Root is that he’s right on that mark as he prepares to continue this unbeaten gem.
January 26. In case you missed it, the main details are captured in this story, with Jason Gillespie the latest player to come out in support of Cricket Australia. That isn’t stopping the usual suspects unleashing online in response - ugly stuff, sadly.
“Hello from Bangkok.” Hello there, Leo Philips. “I notice that it is a nice patch of England batsman Root finds himself in as regards all time career aggregates having just overtaken Boycott’s 8,114, and with Pietersen 8,181, and Gower 8,231 in reach today... with Stewart next on 8,463 (before we reach the great IVA Richards on 8,540).” That he is - let’s tick them off. And a 100th Test cap in his next start.
Here the full list for England. Given how many Tests he is going to play in 2021, he’s almost certain to go from 8th to 2nd in the space of a year.
What a gem of an innings this is from Joe Root. We all sensed last night that he was putting something special together, and this morning he made his way to a 19th Test ton from just his 139th ball in the middle. It’s an innings that has included sweeps, reverse sweeps, drives, a switch hit - the works. After losing Bairstow (28) and Lawrence (3) to the superb Embuldeniya - who has all four of Sri Lanka’s wickets - the England captain needed support and got it through Buttler, who eats his sandwich on 30 with the partnership worth 49. All told, a super contest.
LUNCH: 181-4
54th over: England 181-4 (Root 105, Buttler 30) More information on the Buttler saga: they’ve picked up on the stump mics that he was actually given out leg before wicket. And, because he hit it, they didn’t need to use ball tracking. There we have it. One, two three singles from the final over, England finishing the hour on a positive note. Two wickets and 83 runs in the session; England trail by 200.
54th over: England 178-4 (Root 103, Buttler 29) There’s still a bit of confusion out there - is DRS available at one end and not the other? That’s what Root wants to clarify before facing up to Embuldeniya, who is brought back to bowl one over before the lunch break. Buttler gets a couple when he overpitches but then plays and misses at the one that breaks big away from the right-hander. He follows it with the quicker one darted in at off-stump. Class. By my clock that should be lunch, they’re not in position, but they’re going to let them squeeze another in.
53rd over: England 175-4 (Root 102, Buttler 27) Some controversy here: the players were, so TV is reporting, told that DRS wasn’t able to be used at this moment because the technology is down. But then, Buttler did use it. So, Chandimal, the Sri Lankan captain, isn’t happy. Play continues, and the right decision was arrived at, but that episode is going to prompt a stewards’ inquiry at the lunch break.
NOT OUT! A lot going on but the edge on the reverse sweep is into the ground. The poor old third umpire is battling to relay that information to Umpire Dharmasena but he gets there in the end with the correct decision. Buttler survives.
IS BUTTLER CAUGHT IN CLOSE? Kumar Dharmasena says so but Jos is reviewing.
52nd over: England 173-4 (Root 102, Buttler 26) Shot! Jos at his best, slamming a cover drive on the up into the gap and holding his pose for just long enough. And it’s back to back boundaries, leaning back to ride the bounce through the gully.
Those boundaries will put an end to that Bannerman chat - fun while it lasted. On that, Malcolm Brown in Tuscany, where he insists it is wet and windy. “The irony about Slater’s 123 is that when he was dismissed he was ahead of Bannerman, but his inconsiderate team mates added 4 runs for the last 2 wickets, thus taking the record away from him.”
For the best, as we never would have heard the end of how he was (probably) incorrectly given not out by the third umpire. Oh wait, that’s the case anyway!
Brilliant from Joe Root. Century number 19 scored at a 71 strike rate. Hit a switch hit like a loon, too.
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) January 24, 2021
First time he's scored hundreds in back-to-back Tests #SLvEng
51st over: England 164-4 (Root 102, Buttler 17) Dilruwan goes around the wicket with the changed ball, a slip and short leg in for Buttler after Root gets off strike. The England wicketkeeper is playing a careful game for the most part but is happy to unfurl a checked-drive to finish, out through cover for three. Nice and steady.
ROOOOOOOT! 💯
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 24, 2021
Another century for the England skipper, his 19th in Test cricket.
He's taken England to 157-4, trailing by 224 #SLvENG
📺 Watch 👉 https://t.co/bT0CP9Q8No
📱 Blog 👉 https://t.co/cJNbB8VWVV pic.twitter.com/ItESqpvY34
50th over: England 160-4 (Root 101, Buttler 14) Asitha Fernando goes again at Root - a largely tidy set, attacking the stumps. The skipper keeps the strike with a single off leg stump. Now it looks like they’re going to change the ball between overs.
49th over: England 159-4 (Root 100, Buttler 14) Dilruwan bowls the over that takes Root from 98 to 100, Buttler celebrating the skipper’s milestone with a reverse sweep of his own, albeit to a man in the deep. Root has faced just 139 deliveries - a strke rate of 72. Other than Buttler (52), nobody in this match has gone at better than 50. It wasn’t long ago that Root was widely seen as a member of Test batting’s Big Four alongside Smith, Kohli and Williamson. That’s not the case at the moment but he’s batting in a fashion that could see him back there quickly. As a leader and a player, 2021 will go some way to defining his career. What a way to start it.
Joe Root brings up his 19th Test century!
He gets there with a single to midwicket. What a performance from England’s number one, striking 14 boundaries along the way, combining the conventional with the innovative. Tons in consecutive Test Matches; his third in Sri Lanka.
Updated
48th over: England 154-4 (Root 98, Buttler 11) Asitha Fernando on for his first twist of the third day, bowling five wicketless overs yesterday. Root is drive away from a ton but he won’t get it here, clipping a single instead. Back to Buttler, who has wound it back after his quick start, defending soundly then driving to cover, straight to the man stationed there for that very shot. England are 227 behind.
Embuldeniya’s spell this morning 11-2-53-2. Shades of HMRKB Herath.
— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) January 24, 2021
47th over: England 153-4 (Root 97, Buttler 11) Root to 97 via an inside edge - a bit of reverse from Lakmal? Buttler plays the rest of the over defensively. A good one.
“Is anyone every going to break the Bannerman?” asks Matthew Beggs on twitter. “Think the closest that I’ve ever seem and still likely to see is Slater’s 123 out of 184. It’s like the ultimate impossible goal.”
The impossible dream! And yes, without a doubt my favourite cricket record.
46th over: England 152-4 (Root 96, Buttler 11) Such good batting from Root, sweeping with authority through midwicket from the first ball of the new Embuldeniya over. Given his chance, Buttler than does exactly the same thing to race into double figures. Having knocked the spinner off his length, he then oversteps for the third time today. When you consider Nathan Lyon has played 100 Tests without bowling a no-ball, that’s quite a good effort from the young man.
45th over: England 142-4 (Root 91, Buttler 7) Uppish from Buttler! Hard hands, in the air to cover off Lakmal, and not far away at all from the man catching in there. I realise the 43rd over post didn’t submit, by the way - not sure what happened there. At the time, I described a pedestrian maiden from Lakmal to Root.
“Good morning Adam!” Good morning to you, Chris Bourne in Poole. That’s where my mum was born. “We’d all be complaining about Root if he’d got himself out with the switch hit, but it’s certainly good to see how confident he’s become while retaining the captaincy. Nevertheless, he can’t win this one by himself. I suspect Sri Lanka still has the upper hand, since it will take Root and at least one other England batter to go big in order to get a lead over Sri Lanka. Batting last, they need some sort of a cushion, don’t you think?”
Yep, they’re behind in this game now. Using WinViz as a blunt, the hosts are currently at 56% and England 32%. That feels about right to me. As for Root, it’s a joy to see him batting like this. More of it. The perfect time for a golden year.
44th over: England 139-4 (Root 90, Buttler 5) Buttler pushes Bannerman back into the lead with a picture-perfect reverse sweep off Embuldeniya to start his new over - what a shot. I remember talking to Glenn Maxwell about the reverse and he explained that he feels more comfortable using it than the conventional sweep because he has spent so long fine-tuning it over so many years. Buttler falls into a similar category. Root gets his turn and plays carefully even when a full toss comes, happy to knock it out to deep midwicket for one. Into the 90s. Drinks. That’s Sri Lanka’s hour thanks to the fine work of their classy left-arm tweaker.
42nd over: England 132-4 (Root 89, Buttler 0) Embuldeniya, what an impressive young bowler. To the new man Buttler, he brings him forward and pushes him back, mixing up his pace and turn. He has all four of Sri Lanka’s wickets.
Are we on for the Bannerman to be finally broken???
— Opinion (@HowardCombe) January 24, 2021
A long way to go but this is a tasty thought with Root currently contributing 67.4 per cent of England’s runs. The Bannerman mark was 67.35. Watch this space.
WICKET! Lawrence c Thirimanne b Embuldeniya 3 (England 132-4)
Fantastic bowling! Lawrence had to come forward to a delivery angled in at middle stump on a perfect length. It spun sharply, kissed the edge and ended up in the safe hands of Thirimanne at first slip. England have plenty of work to do now.
41st over: England 132-3 (Root 89, Lawrence 3) Seam for the first time today, Lakmal replacing Dilruwan. He’s attacking the stumps from the get-go, which is why both men are able to nurlde singles to fine leg when he gets a tad too straight.
“Morning Adam, thanks for warming the early hours, especially with a busted boiler here.” My pleasure, Paul Turp in Liverpool. Although it must be said, I’m in Australia at the moment on a steamy Sunday afternoon, returning to the UK in late February. “Thoroughly enjoying Dickwella’s sledging about the rotation/resting/dropping of YJB. He’s right isn’t he?! If he was as quick a wicketkeeper as he is a wit, we’d be done for! All the best.”
Yes, at the very moment, it jars. Per the Tim de Lisle piece I linked to earlier on, there’s definitely a place for rotation and rest. But YJB in India just makes sense.
40th over: England 130-3 (Root 88, Lawrence 2) Oh, won’t you look at that? The best of white-ball cricket implemented expertly in the Test Match arena, Root nailing his switch hit through point for four. This was such a wonderful part of the Gabba chase I had the great fortune to witness and call on radio last week, Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar drawing from their T20 best to win a classic Test. I’ve seen the alternative view advanced in recent days, that white ballers should be banned from First Class cricket. Ummm, yeah, wouldn’t have thought so.
39th over: England 125-3 (Root 83, Lawrence 2) Missed stumping! Dilruwan gets one to turn through Lawrence’s gate after dancing down the strip but its bounced over the wicketkeeper’s gloves. That stings for a spinner, turning it square with all the dip you could ever want only for the chance to go begging behind the stumps.
Hi @collinsadam and everyone in Australia! Follow the action live with us, non-geoblocked, no ads:
— Guerilla Cricket #GCFromHome (@guerillacricket) January 24, 2021
🔊LISTEN: https://t.co/qpJ52idXZm
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38th over: England 122-3 (Root 82, Lawrence 2) “The end of a superb half an hour of Test Match cricket,” says Mark Butcher as Embuldeniya comes to the end of another probing over, spinning it big at Lawrence, the young man defending positively. A lot to like about their early exchanges. England still trail by 259.
37th over: England 119-3 (Root 81, Lawrence 1) Dilruwan oversteps - can’t be doing that as a spinner. Root then gets off strike behind square. Lawrence is safely off the mark too in the same direction around the corner. Back to the main action: Embuldeniya’s spell. “Trying to get caught up on the match, how is the fielding positioning going?” asks Peter from Camberley, still in bed. “Are they looking aggressive?” They were for both men but now not so much for Root, the short leg taken out after he walloped a half-tracker off the left-armer. Mark Butcher isn’t thrilled with that conservative decision and I share his frustration.
36th over: England 116-3 (Root 80, Lawrence 0) A fine piece of bowling from the left-arm spinner to Bairstow, getting both drift and dip. Ohh, and he’s getting one to turn big at Lawrence, just missing his outside edge to end the successful over.
WICKET! Bairstow c O Fernando b Embuldeniya 28 (England 116-3)
Yep, a big inside edge before landing at slip. Sri Lanka, who have bowled very nicely so far this morning with Embuldeniya leading the way, get an early reward.
Updated
IS BAIRSTOW CAUGHT AT SLIP? He’s given not out but Sri Lanka have immediately sent it upstairs. They’re certain there was an inside edge.
Updated
35th over: England 111-2 (Root 75, Bairstow 28) The 100-run stand is also up between this pair. Back to Bairstow with Root taking a single behind square from the penultimate ball, preparing to face his first delivery from Dilruwan today. He’s forward and defending, albeit not far away from the man at short leg. Between overs, Dickwella is into YJB’s aforementioned India omission on the stump mic: “Why drop him? Why drop him? He is their best player! After the captain.”
34th over: England 110-2 (Root 74, Bairstow 28) Bairstow dances and wallops Embuldeniya over his head for four. Shot. What a fantastic player of spin. As Nasser Hussain said in his commentary overnight, it does seem a touch odd than YJB won’t be in India for the first two Tests of that series. Of course, it makes sense to carefully manage the three-format players over this hectic winter, but still.
33rd over: England 104-2 (Root 73, Bairstow 24) Root misses another sweep off Dilruwan, his front pad hit and the Sri Lankan fielders up in appeal... turned down. He was well outside the line though, so no review is considered. The hosts have started well here, asking the right questions before Root gets himself re-set.
32nd over: England 104-2 (Root 73, Bairstow 24) Embuldeniya to continue from last night, the man with the wickets so far. He’s tight on it too, eventually getting one to dip at Root, the captain just getting down in time with his sweep. Bairstow to face his first delivery of the day to finish the over and he’s safely in behind it.
31st over: England 103-2 (Root 72, Bairstow 24) Root is immediately using his feet trying to clip the first ball past midwicket as Jerusalem begins up on the fort, sung by England’s one fan, Randy Caddick. Oooh, a sweep and a miss and a boundary. Or not a miss - that was a little underedge, as the TV shows and so signalled. Not really a chance for the wicketkeeper Dickwella but ever so close to the stumps. A better sweep to finish, around the corner for a single to retain the strike.
Updated
The players are on the field. Joe Root (67) is preparing to face the first ball, out there with Bairstow (24) to resume their 93-run stand. Dilruwan has the ball. PLAY!
Joe Root is chatting to Mark Butcher. “A really important day. It’s pretty much parity so far. We worked hard in the hot conditions and the important thing is doing the same thing now with the bat. We talk a lot about batting big in the first innings and now we have a chance to do that.” On his own aggressive game against spin. “It felt like conditions changed quickly so I had to find a way to combat that. It was about making sure I could dictate terms rather than the other way around.”
Pitch report. Russell Arnold is doing his thing on TV. “It’s drying up and starting the crumble,” the former Sri Lankan batsman says. “It will turn and bounce.” So, nothing revelatory, then. Looks like another clear and red-hot day in Galle.
Here’s Jimmy last night responding to his 30th five-wicket bag in Tests. Remarkable to think, as my Wisden colleague Yas Rana tweeted, that more than 18 years have passed since Anderson first starting hooping them around for England.
To get into the mood, here’s Tim de Lisle in the paper. He’s looking at rotation; how it is working so far with Anderson and Broad but why it isn’t a cure-all.
Preamble
Day two at Galle was one where both teams had a couple of times to drive home the advantage and both were able to wriggle off the hook after getting into strife. All told, it leaves honours just about even as we enter morning three, England 98-2 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 381 with Joe Root having already made his way to 67 dreamy runs after he came together with Jonny Bairstow (24) when the score was 5-2.
So far in this series, the visiting skipper has been a cut above all comers with the blade, using his dazzling feet to deal with the home side’s spinners, be in in defence or in attack. He did plenty of the latter before the close last night, already striking ten boundaries. It’s difficult to think of a time when he’s looked so in control as a batsman since assuming the armband nearly four years ago.
A neat statistical quirk thrown up in this brief tour is that Embuldeniya has picked up both of England’s openers, Dom Sibley and Zac Crawley, in all three innings for single-figure scores. And of course, that only goes to reinforce how impressive Root has been, always walking in before he’s had a chance to enjoy a cuppa.
Right, if you’re up early (or staying up late) grab a drink and something to eat and settle in as we ready ourselves. Drop me a line, or ping me a tweet, at any time.
