As expected, Anderson comes in to the side for Broad to share the burden.
It's not often I would say I'm not sure Jimmy coming back into the side will improve it, but Broady bowled very well. Wickets early in the first innings then tight bowling spells afterwards.
Let's hope Jimmy can do the same.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:56 am

As expected, Anderson comes in to the side for Broad to share the burden.
It's not often I would say I'm not sure Jimmy coming back into the side will improve it, but Broady bowled very well. Wickets early in the first innings then tight bowling spells afterwards.
Let's hope Jimmy can do the same.

I'm not surprised they've rotated the quicks, and Broad although he bowled well will need to be managed carefully over the next 12 months, as will Jimmy, so expect to see plenty more rotation throughout the rest of this year, it's purely to maintain players fitness ahead of the Ashes tour, and also to allow them some time outside the bio-bubbles, the advantage that England now have is our strength in depth which is vast these days.

They should have brought Woakes in. He would have strengthened the batting and offered pretty similar with the ball.

Oh Jimmy Jimmy..... 5 overs, 2 maidens, 2-4.

Burnley..... at the centre of sport again.

England’s greatest.

Oh jimmy Jimmy....

This planet has been around for billions of years..... time to appreciate how lucky to be on it at the same time as England's greatest ever bowler.

Not many seamers get wickets here, particularly on day 1

Love the field placings.

Anyone have one too many after last night's win?

8 overs...... 3 maidens...... 3 wickets........ 6 runs.

And some think he can only bowl well when it's cloudy.

Well he's certainly stepped into Broads shoes this Test.

Wickets and great control.

Jimmy is putting the icing on the cake !!!
(Note to self .celebratory whisky gives you a headache!)

Anyone else fancy taking a wicket? Help the old lad out a bit.

That 3rd wicket, such a local wicket.

B Anderson (from Burnley) c Buttler (From Waterfoot)

155-3.

Very slow, flat wicket.

Going to be a big test to get 20 wickets on here. Good chance for our batsman to get some runs under their belt when they get chance.

Bit surprised Wood is playing again with his injury record.

Reckon they have to test him. He can't be a key part of a test squad if he can't play back to back games. This year, with the bubble and so many tests is likely to be the exception in terms of rotation.

Wood gets reward for his fantastic efforts. 197-4 now

229-4 at the close, an excellent unbeaten century for Matthews, he's been the rock to Sri Lanka's solid first day with the bat, what a contrast to a week ago, but anyone who follows cricket should have known SL couldn't possibly be as bad again, and it looks a good toss to win, put a score on the board 35-400, and see what England are really made off, this will be a test of these young England players, last week they weren't really facing scoreboard pressure, but in this test they most certainly will be, however if they want to cement their place this is exactly the type of situation they should relish, go out and score runs when your team needs you.

England's seamers toiled away, but apart from Jimmy's opening burst they have struggled to get much out of this surface, Wood bowled 8 overs straight after tea, which surprised me, but he did get his wicket finally, both spinners have disappointed too short and wide, and giving easy runs away, which then released all the pressure the quicks had built up, both will have to greatly improve in the coming weeks, otherwise it'll be a long tour of India for them.

The worry for England is this wicket is more likely than not to begin breaking up as the match progresses, so they need to be at least around evens on 1st innings to give themselves a chance, of course England do only need a draw to take the series, and that shouldn't be beyond them if they bat well.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:44 pm

229-4 at the close, an excellent unbeaten century for Matthews, he's been the rock to Sri Lanka's solid first day with the bat, what a contrast to a week ago, but anyone who follows cricket should have known SL couldn't possibly be as bad again, and it looks a good toss to win, put a score on the board 35-400, and see what England are really made off, this will be a test of these young England players, last week they weren't really facing scoreboard pressure, but in this test they most certainly will be, however if they want to cement their place this is exactly the type of situation they should relish, go out and score runs when your team needs you.

England's seamers toiled away, but apart from Jimmy's opening burst they have struggled to get much out of this surface, Wood bowled 8 overs straight after tea, which surprised me, but he did get his wicket finally, both spinners have disappointed too short and wide, and giving easy runs away, which then released all the pressure the quicks had built up, both will have to greatly improve in the coming weeks, otherwise it'll be a long tour of India for them.

The worry for England is this wicket is more likely than not to begin breaking up as the match progresses, so they need to be at least around evens on 1st innings to give themselves a chance, of course England do only need a draw to take the series, and that shouldn't be beyond them if they bat well.

It looks more like a 550-600 pitch. The ball did nothing. Sri Lanka a fraction ahead, maybe 10/11 SL, Even money England, 6 the draw?

We just need to make sure we get runs first innings as not to put us on the back foot to early.
We need to be able to bat for 5 sessions.

But that's what the young lads are out there to learn how to do.

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:48 pm

It looks more like a 550-600 pitch. The ball did nothing. Sri Lanka a fraction ahead, maybe 10/11 SL, Even money England, 6 the draw?

It does look a good pitch, however how many times have we seen the team batting first rack up 500+, and then the team batting 2nd struggle, ideally England would like 3 wickets before lunch tomorrow to restrict SL hopes of a huge total, and with the new ball, and Jimmy on form you wouldn't bet against that, even on this surface, but if SL get through to lunch tomorrow with only 4/5 down, then it'll be another long day in the field for England, what's impressed me with England is they've kept the RR in check, so if a couple fall early tomorrow the card could suddenly look very different, if say after the first hour Matthews is dismissed, and then another one or two fall, 229-4 could easily become 260-6/7 and then it's a different game entirely, so England won't be too deflated after day 1.

340 - 8 Sri Lanka

6 for 39 for Anderson

2 for wood

nowt for the spinners yet.

Another fantastic achievement for jimmy broke another record as well upthecolne

James Anderson now has the biggest time between his first and latest five-for in Tests: J Anderson: 17 years, 7 months, 30 days (2003-2021) F Woolley: 17 years, 5 months, 13 days (1912-1930) M Muralitharan: 16 years, 10 months, 22 days (1993-2010)

There really are no words for that man! I’d love more than anything for him to have a good series in Australia, with him and Broad bowling together for the last time in the last test to win it, Warner caught behind needing 2 to win the Ashes

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:12 am

There really are no words for that man! I’d love more than anything for him to have a good series in Australia, with him and Broad bowling together for the last time in the last test to win it, Warner caught behind needing 2 to win the Ashes

With it being the only innings Warner had reached double figures in the series.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:17 am

With it being the only innings Warner had reached double figures in the series.

Yeah on 99 as well

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:27 am

Yeah on 99 as well

When he hadn't nicked it but they'd already used up all their reviews on plumb LBW decisions.

Sri Lanka 381 all wickets taken by seam.

England 5-2 in reply

The Indian spinners will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Sibley.

jrgbfc wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 23, 2021 10:34 am

The Indian spinners will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Sibley.

They won't get a chance. Burns will be back in.

Have our openers shown enough to face Australia? I’m out of touch with county cricket so don’t know who would be behind them in the queue.

Just catching up, sounds a competitive day of test cricket, outstanding from Jimmy on a dead pitch, and some folks think he's only effective when it's overcast and swinging, how wrong those folks are, after all how would he have reached 606 test scalps if he could only pick up wickets in English conditions, he looks fresh and revitalised as well, that enforced break he's had over the last couple of years could be a blessing in disguise, and also possibly prolong his career for a further year or two, certainly in this form he won't even be contemplating retiring yet.

Another impressive partnership by Bairstow & Root, and badly needed as well, now that's the good, now the bad not a single wicket for the spinners, I know it's a decent pitch, but even so you'd expect at least 1 or 2 for your slow bowlers in SL, and now for the ugly, the openers are a big problem, and they can't both tour India, Burns has to come in, I'd imagine for Sibley, who's horrendously out of nick, and looks all at sea against the left armer.

From the match POV, England simply need to ensure they're still batting by the close of play tomorrow, if they are then they should be roughly equal with Sri Lanka's 1st innings, or maybe even have a small lead, and England probably will require a 1st innings advantage, because batting 4th on here trying to chase a target of say 200 or so, or even just batting out the final day will be tough, especially as England are basically 2 down at the start of their innings.

Well said tiger76,summed up perfectly.

Jimmy finished with 6-40 from 29 overs on a flat track as the Sri Lankan score of 381 suggests. Could be one of his best ever performances. Been a good week for Burnley

Another excellent innings from Root. 162no and has great support from Bess who has 24 off 60 balls.

Buttler got a 50 and got out off his boot. I thought it bounced off the floor to be honest but the 3rd umpire give it out.

311-6 now trail by 70

Game on

Been a batting masterclass from Root.

No reason we can get at least level with SL
SL need to force it to level the series.

Only shame is theres not too long left to watch it today, and get infront.

Root 174 just been missed on 172.

Batted superbly.

Currently trailing by 61.

MrTopTier wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 24, 2021 11:16 am

Root 174 just been missed on 172.

Batted superbly.

Currently trailing by 61.

Bit harsh classing that as a miss it barely carried to first slip.

Root has been incredible again, and Buttler firstly, and now Bess have provided great support to the skipper, when your captain is in this type of form all you need to do is stick around with him.

Game still in the balance, but as it stands draw must be favourite ATM, which would suit England fine I guess.

However I notice the lefties took 5 wickets, and he could be difficult to play in the 4th innings, which is why England need to keep this 1st innings going as long as possible, obviously this will help them build a lead, but secondly it'll also take time out of the game.

It's just nice too yet again see England playing proper test match cricket, and batting for long periods of time, they'll definitely need to do that in India, so it's promising that they've shown the patience required here.

Bess gone, trailing by 48.

Going to need others to step up and help Root in the 2nd Innings.

Think Sri Lanka might sneak a lead here.
Root struggling physically, no surprise. 180 not out

333-7

Bit harsh classing that as a miss it barely carried to first slip.

Ha ha Tiger obviously you’ve never been in a slip corden when I have been bowling. I was being generous with a miss. Would have been a fine back in the day

337-8 wood gone shocking shot

Root running out of partners if he is to get to 200

Stupid shot from Wood in the circumstances, just stay in until the close and back up the skipper, who's on course for another double ton.

Leach will play sensibly I suspect, which is exactly what England & Joe Root need.

What a sickening way for Root to get out and bring to an end a brilliant innings.

MrTopTier wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 24, 2021 11:49 am

337-8 wood gone shocking shot

Wood needs to play like that, he can hit a long ball. If it comes off then it puts the pressure back on them. He will only get out to his dodgy defence if he tries to hang around.
Send Leech in if you just want to block block block.

Root gone in the last over of the day, run out again, that last half hour has just tilted the day in Sri Lanka's favour, prior to that I'd have given it to England, but the lead is still 42 and this pitch isn't going to get any easier to bat on.

The one concern from an England POV, is that Root is scoring the bulk of the runs, and as MrTopTier correctly stated some others well have to step up in the 2nd dig.

7 wickets for the leftie, he's had a good day.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 24, 2021 12:02 pm

What a sickening way for Root to get out and bring to an end a brilliant innings.

Agree but great fielding.

The short leg has took blow after blow in this game so to stay focused like that is very brave and professional.