England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Old Trafford, 21-25 August, 2024

Another replacement ball given to England when they were struggling for traction.

Another 100 or more from Slanka and England will be jittering, as theres def some help for the spinners from the pitch.

Smiths runs for england this summer have been vital. His keeping to the spinners has been his weak spot, but that was also the case with butler and bairstow. Plus eagle eyed ump Wilson spotted that his big black gloves were marginally in front of the stumps and awarded a no ball, something i dont remember ever before.

Basil wrote:S/L 204 for 6 at the close, 82 ahead. Wood limped off before the close. Let's hope it's precautionary.

Can't see Lanka getting far enough ahead to trouble England here.

Lost Wombat wrote:Another 100 or more from Slanka and England will be jittering, as theres def some help for the spinners from the pitch.

Smiths runs for england this summer have been vital. His keeping to the spinners has been his weak spot, but that was also the case with butler and bairstow. Plus eagle eyed ump Wilson spotted that his big black gloves were marginally in front of the stumps and awarded a no ball, something i dont remember ever before.

My overall impression of his keeping is that he's tidier than either Buttler or Bairstow ever were. It'll be interesting to see if he gets picked for the 50 over stuff against the Aussies. He could conceivably get in purely as a batter.

Surely he's in. Buttler's time has gone, they'll never choose Bairstow again, and if Foakes isn't getting a go in Tests he won't get a go in the ODIs.

Wood has a thigh strain and won't take the field on day 4

Without Wood England may struggle to dismiss SL in the time available b4 the rains come back or SL get too far ahead, as Sunday could be a washout.

70 runs added for no wickets lost. Lanka 153 in front as the rain comes.

Well it was a struggle but England got there in the end, just. Not until Smith again attacked the bowling was the tension released, after Pope and Brook had got out carelessly. Could be a tough old series if Wood is out of the attack. The list of fit fast bowlers is rather short.

With Chandimal and Mendis's partnership building, at 6-307 Lanka seemed to be setting a defensible target. But then they crashed, losing 4-19.

Another 50-70 runs may have made it very hard for England. Root was still there at the end, but SL were into the English tail, so who knows.

Anywho, reasonable show by Lanka but congrats to England.

Not enough runs from Sri Lanka. Nearly, but not enough.