Key events
Seems unlikely that the players will get back on again under these skies – especially with only three minutes to go.
Bad light stops play (England 22-0)
4th over: England 22-0 (Duckett 13, Lawrence 9) Andy Zaltzman has been busy with his stats: this is only the second time since 1967 that two spinners have opened an innings in England – the last time it happened was with Monty Panesar and Kevin Pietersen. And it is the first time two specialist spinners have EVER opened the bowling in the first innings in this country. Lawrence whisks Jayasuriya through the off side for four – Sri Lanka decide they fancy bowling a quicker bowlers and the umpires shut up shop.
3rdover: England 18-0 (Duckett 13, Lawrence 5) Duckett sweeps four from Dhananjaya, but does well to survive one that straightens at the last gasp.
2nd over: England 10-0 (Duckett 6, Lawrence 4) Prabath Jayasuriya (71 wickets in 12 Tests with his left arm spin) with the second over. A crazy-risky single off the last ball – Lawrence would have been trudging back had the throw hit, instead he picks up two from an overthrow.
1st over: England 6-0 (Duckett 5, Lawrence 1) The Sri Lankan captain opens the bowling with his off breaks. Duckett blazes four up and over cover, Lawrence, who under his helmet looks very like Stephen Mangan, is off the mark with a single.
A Sri Lankan huddle in the field, as Duckett and Lawrence punch gloves on the boundary edge – in the absence of Crawley, Lawrence is playing the beanpole to Duckett’s bean.
England have sent out the heavy roller, while Sri Lanka’s bowlers roll their arms over on the outfield. Ollie Pope will be happy to have nipped the visitors out for 236 – though half centuries from Rathnayake and de Silva perked up the final score.
Shortly, we get to see what Dan Lawrence can do in the opener’s slot.
WICKET! V Fernando run out 13 (Sri Lanka 236 all out)
A run-out to finish things off, as Vishwa Fernando dabs the ball to midwicket and starts running only to find his partner stone-still, he executes a quick U-turn but not quick enough to beat Ollie Pope’s throw. Sri Lanka all out with 236 on the board – a decent effort from the depths of 6-3 and 92-6.
73rd over: Sri Lanka 232-9 (V Fernando 8, A Fernando 0) The floodlights blaze brightly. Four byes roll over the rope, beating everyone legside.
”There’s a game coming to its denouement in Rotterdam now, with two
well-matched sides for whom the outcome is a Very Big Deal,” taps Romeo.
”It also is for their fans and followers. And it’s free to watch. USA need 35 in seven overs, two wickets left. Netherlands v USA, CWC League 2.”
72nd over: Sri Lanka 227-9 (V Fernando 8, A Fernando 0) To restless, rowdy chants of various hues, Fernando V picks up one run from Root’s over.
71st over: Sri Lanka 226-9 (V Fernando 7, A Fernando 0) A third for Bashir and just reward for plugging away, suspect Rathnayake might find himself promoted up the order in the second innings/Test.
WICKET! Rathnayake c Woakes b Bashir 72(Sri Lanka 226-9)
Rathnayake holes out, having had a heave-ho a couple of balls before. Woakes plucks the ball from above his head at mid-on and the end of a super debut knock. Gets an admiring round of applause.
70th over: Sri Lanka 224-8 (V Fernando 7, Rathnayake 70) Fernando has a heave and picks up four off Root through midwicket. Building block on building block.
69th over: Sri Lanka 220-8 (V Fernando 3, Rathnayake 70) Bashir’s long legs stride in from the James Anderson end, collar up, shirt untucked. And is that the chance England have been waiting for? Rathnayake prods Bashir to short leg where Lawrence can’t hold on, but perhaps off the pad.
68th over: Sri Lanka 216-8 (V Fernando 3, Rathnayake 66) Another maiden. Paul Reiffel takes position with the air of a man dreaming of a radiator and a hot drink.
67th over: Sri Lanka 216-8 (V Fernando 3, Rathnayake 66) Fernando moves onto three after resting nearly an hour on two. Bashir rolls through his 20th over.
66th over: Sri Lanka 215-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 66) Rathnayake mixes it up by swinging at Root’s first ball and sending him arcing into the dirty washing up water gloom for six. Root throws down the bouncer, but Rathnayake is game and pulls him to long leg.
Gareth Wilson muses on the commentators: “Mel Jones is absolutely the heir to Richie Benaud, and Alex Hartley is a big upgrade on Phil Tufnell.”
65th over: Sri Lanka 207-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 58) Pope hasn’t had much need for the sunglasses perched on the top of his cap. The fielders close in, but Sri Lanka plough on regardless – showing the grain of the bat.
64th over: Sri Lanka 207-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 58) Root trips through his repertoire – Rathnayake dabs the ball just short of short leg where Dan Lawrence picks up. Another maiden.
63rd over: Sri Lanka 207-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 58) Knit one, purl one, pattern repeated. Pope tries to mix things up at the end of Bashir’s over but by the time Mark Wood has his jumper off, the umpires have confirmed that it is too dark for anything but spin. Out comes the light meter.
62nd over: Sri Lanka 206-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 57) Pope whistles for Joe Root and can’t say no when Joe suggests that he’s had Fernando caught behind. No cigar and another review burned.
61st over: Sri Lanka 205-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 56) Rathnayake drives through the cover and they jog a single from the final ball of the over, as Sri Lanka find a familiar pattern.
“Distinctly analogue bowling by England’s quicks today,” taps Brian Withington,”as in persistently attempting to remove the digits of the Sri Lankan batters. Ouch.” Yes, the phyiso has been kept busy.
60th over: Sri Lanka 204-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 55) A maiden from Atkinson.
Fifty for Rathnayake!
59th over: Sri Lanka 204-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 55) And he gets that fifty – reaching it by pinging Bashir up and over! What a debut innings at No. 9: 96 balls, five fours, one six. More than that, if it hasn’t quite changed the mood of the game, it has coloured it with a different pencil.
58th over: Sri Lanka 196-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 47) Atkinson tests Rathnayake and Fernando with a bouncer or two but they’re game.
Hello Tom V d Gucht,
“I was interested to hear about the Oasis trumpet medley being played at Old Trafford after I’d spotted this on Twitter this week. I’d always assumed the Mike Flowers Pops cover was the definitive version of Wonderwall, but apparently not. Similarly, imagine being at the festival where Mr Blobby sat down and busted out this set. It probably had a feeling similar to being at Woodstock- a once in a generation cultural zeitgeist type moment that will never be replicated.”
Epic. And a raise you this strange tale.
57th over: Sri Lanka 193-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 44) As Sri Lanka tiptoe towards 200, and Rathnayake to a maiden 50 on debut, here is a lovely read by Taha at Old Trafford on Graham Thorpe.
56th over: Sri Lanka 190-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 41) A wide and a single, this time off the fourth ball.
55th over: Sri Lanka 189-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 40) Rathnayake steals a single off Bashir’s fifth ball and keeps the strike.
“Afternoon, Tanya,” good to hear from you Phil Sawyer
I’m trying to finish off a work report here and have just realised that since you mentioned them I’ve been completely distracted by Matthew Potts’ extremely tight trousers. So thanks for that.”
De rien! Those trousers are made of stern stuff if they don’t split at the seams at some point during this Test.
54th over: Sri Lanka 187-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 39) An Oasis trumpet medley accompanies the tip-toeing approach of Gus Atkinson, who has plumped for peroxide as Jimmy Anderson once did at Old Trafford in 2018. Another corking shot from Rathnayake who pulls Atkinson square for four and drives with ease for three more.
Evening session
53rd over: Sri Lanka 180-8 (V Fernando 2, Rathnayake 32) And they defy the rain outside my window and return to the field after tea. The crowd are well wrapped, shoulders hunched, hoods up. Two from Bashir’s over.
So many lovely tributes to Graham Thorpe on Sky today. Beautifully done. Time for a quick cup of tea.
Hello there Colum Fordham.
“Refreshing to see a Sri Lankan batsman offer some resistance against the England attack. De Silva can be proud of a true captain’s innings to give some sort of respectability to a pretty depressing scoresheet (a De Silva lining amidst the Manchester gloom). He played with panache and bravery against Wood with stunning pulls and cuts.
“Shame that he fell to a tickle round the corner but the trap had been set and all credit to Bashir who is bowling really well and establishing himself as England’s no.1 spinner. He gets turn and bounce and looks the real deal.”
He looks a cracker doesn’t he? And yes, a real shame for Sri Lanka to lose De Silva. And I can report that it has just started raining outside my window.
“Hi Tanya,” Hello Jeremy Boyce!
“You’re not wrong, not just wrong address, wrong commentator name, or are you and Rob Smyth one and the same?” Ha! I’d be happy for some of Rob’s sublime touch and encyclopaedic knowledge if he was up for a trade. But back to the topic in hand….
”Good day at the office so far for “interim” captain Pope, especially as he’s surely feeling the totally chilled-out eyes of “injured” captain Stokes watching on from the balcony. This is the cricket equivalent, rare enough so please remember it, of Eric Ten Hag and all the other managers since he stepped down feeling Lord Ferg’s laser rays burning into their minds from his seat in the stands. Tea cups for tea drinking ?”
I’m sure Stokes won’t mention that review…
TEA – Sri Lanka 178-8
52nd over: Sri Lanka 178-8 (V Fernando 0, Rathnayake 32) Rathnayake sees off a final pre-tea over from Potts and he and Fernando stroll off, followed, in dribs and drabs, by England. Ninety-eight runs in the session, including a partnership of 63 between newcomer Rathnayake and captain De Silva. A shame for Sri Lanka that De Silva fell on the cusp of the break, but England will be happy with their three wicket afternoon haul. Three wickets for Atkinson and Bashir, a couple for Wood.
51st over: Sri Lanka 176-8 (V Fernando 0, Rathnayake 30) After the (big) wicket, England burn a review, Pope convinced there was an outside edge on the new man’s bat. No luck – but Bashir finding spitting turn and De Silva safely off the field – generously applauded by the OT crowd.
WICKET! De Silva c Lawrence b Bashir 74 (Sri Lanka 176-8)
On the brink of tea! A smashing innings comes to an end in a moment of distraction, as De Silva guides Bashir straight into the hands of the waiting leg slip.
50th over: Sri Lanka 176-7 (de Silva 74, Rathnayake 30) Pope strokes his chin, this partnership just starting to develop wings. Rathnayake picks up yet another boundary off Bashir, a short ball pulled with glee.
49th over: Sri Lanka 169-7 (de Silva 71, Rathnayake 26) Gorgeous! Rathnayake cuts with the delicacy of a drifting sycamore key.
48th over: Sri Lanka 164-7 (de Silva 70, Rathnayake 22) Potts bustles in, arms like pistons, Rathnayake, growing into his role on Test debut, short arms him over backward point for four.
Incidentally, I think that the email address might be wrong at the top of the page – my right address is [email protected].
47th over: Sri Lanka 160-7 (de Silva 70, Rathnayake 18) Rathnayake rides his luck against Bashir: hemmed in by fielders, he skies a ball up, but just out of a sprinting Duckett’s grasp.
46th over: Sri Lanka 159-7 (de Silva 70, Rathnayake 17) Mark Wood get a rest and goes in for a rub down and a word with Jimmy Anderson. He is replaced by Matthew Potts who could do with a morale boosting wicket or two. Rathnayake survives a mini barrage of bouncers. On comms, Alex Hartley points out the tightness of Potts trousers and it is true, he does appear to have been sprayed into them.
45th over: Sri Lanka 157-7 (de Silva 69, Rathnayake 16) A second consecutive maiden for Bashir.
“When Bashir came on to bowl – and when he got his wicket –
I heard the Barmy Army trumpeter play Cornershop’s Brimful of Asha,” writes
James Higgott. “Does anyone know the words they’re singing to this? Is it just
‘Brimful of Bashir’ or is there more to it?”
44th over: Sri Lanka 157-7 (de Silva 69, Rathnayake 16) The crowd sound as if they’re getting a bit restless and, from the occassional TV picture, there seem to be quite a few empty seats. The cameraman finds a couple sitting on a hotel balcony wrapped in a duvet and looking as if they’d rather be anywhere else. Sri Lanka drill three from Wood’s over – probably nearly time for him to have a rest.
43rd over: Sri Lanka 153-7 (de Silva 66, Rathnayake 15) A maiden from Bashir as Rathnayake watchfully defends. The sky outside my window, a couple of miles from Old Trafford, has definitely darkened.
42nd over: Sri Lanka 153-7 (de Silva 66, Rathnayake 14) Rathnayake picks up a couple against Wood with a pull but is punished with a searing bouncer that his him in the hand – the physio jogs out but all seems well.
Hello Gary Naylor! “There’s a narrative arc that the commentariat follow on days like these. “Looks a belter of a pitch”… “It’s going to be important to see off the new ball”… “There is the odd one misbehaving”… “That shouldn’t really be happening on Day One”… “Anything above 220 will be a competitive score”. I don’t know why anyone bothers to read a pitch – might as well read the stars.” I can’t say I’ve ever been able to unless there are huge jagged cracks – but… don’t we all love some pitch mumbo-jumbo?
41st over: Sri Lanka 146-7 (de Silva 65, Rathnayake 9) On the England balcony, McCullum rests his boots on the rail, Ben Stokes sits quite demurely, legs and arms crossed, hair gelled back. Suddenly a change of tempo as de Silva slog-sweeps Bashir against the wind for four, then again next ball as he lofts him over the offside. And to finish an eventful over, he nearly gets bowled as he dances down the pitch, is yorked, and Jamie Smith uncharacteristically fumbles behind the stumps – a tricky missed stumping.
40th over: Sri Lanka 136-7 (de Silva 57, Rathnayake 8) Wood pounds in, throwing down his arrows in the direction of Rathnayake who plays him with a ladle of trepidation – ducks a couple of short ones and flails at a few more.
39th over: Sri Lanka 135-7 (de Silva 55, Rathnayake 8) Hello and thank you Rob, that made for a wonderful read from you all – in the tributes to Graham Thorpe and the sensitive discussion around mental health. On the pitch, Sri Lanka are finding their first Test in England since 2016 a tricky challenge at a grey and windy Old Trafford. Bashir reels in, close fielders pulling at their sleeves and clapping their hands, new(ish) boy Dan Lawrence under the lid. One for the over.
37th over: Sri Lanka 134-7 (de Silva 54, Rathnayake 8) I’m not saying he’s going to score 8000 Test runs at 45, but Milan Rathnayake looks very accomplished for a No9. When Mark Wood returns to the attack, Rathnayake stands tall to cut emphatically for four.
Drinks. With that I’ll hand you over to Tanya Aldred. Thanks for all your tributes to Graham Thorpe and thoughts on mental health generally. I didn’t have chance to read them all, never mind publish them, but they’re all appreciated.
37th over: Sri Lanka 128-7 (de Silva 54, Rathnayake 2) Dhananjaya pushes Bashir for a single to reach a defiant, clear-headed and often brilliant half-century from only 56 balls. It’s not his fault his team are on their knees.
Later in the over Dhananjaya skids back to spank a cut for four more. That might be his best shot to date.
Thanks to Ruth for the overseas TMS link, which is here.
36th over: Sri Lanka 122-7 (de Silva 49, Rathnayake 1) No surprise to see Dhananjaya take on the short stuff, slugging Atkinson a long way in front of square for four. He takes a single to expose Rathnayeke, who gets his first Test run with a very correct push into the off side.
“Yesterday evening I was strolling along Deansgate and happened upon Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes (presumably heading back to their hotel for a good night’s sleep),” says Mike Hawkins. “Whilst battling to keep my composure I just about managed to blurt out ‘good luck tomorrow lads’ for which they very politely gave thanks.
“Given the way things have gone so far I think we can all agree my well-wishes have paid dividends today. You’re all very welcome.”
Couldn’t you have bumped into them before day four of last year’s Old Trafford Test?
35th over: Sri Lanka 114-7 (de Silva 43, Rathnayake 0) Bashir replaces Woakes and hurries through an over in the time it takes me to edit and reply to the below email.
“Surely Graham Thorpe’s finest hour’s was mastering Murali in Colombo in 2001: one of the very greatest overseas innings by an England player,” writes Robert Ellson. “What a brilliant player he was. Steve Smith is invariably described these days as a great problem-solver at the crease. That’s how I think of Thorpe too: whether counter-attacking or occupying the crease, whether cutting and pulling the quicks or slog-sweeping Murali, he so often made the right decision for the match situation.
“I feel very lucky to have seen so many of his great moments for England, and hope it has been some small comfort for his family to learn via all these tributes just how much he was loved.”
I love that problem-solver line. He didn’t quite have Smith’s eerie hand-eye co-ordination but he certainly had the same originality of thought and ability to find new ways to solve old problems.
Totally agree on Colombo – that was his finest performance, against a seriously good Sri Lanka side, though the one that meant most to him was his return at The Oval in 2003. He thought he’d never play for England again. He didn’t want to play for England again.
34th over: Sri Lanka 113-7 (de Silva 42, Rathnayake 0) “A tough morning for Sri Lanka,” writes Kim Reynolds. “Would any OBO regulars have the TMS overseas link so I can surreptitiously follow the rearguard action?”
WICKET! Sri Lanka 113-7 (Jayasuriya c Smith b Atkinson 10)
Very good from Gus Atkinson. After pushing Jayasuriya back he slips in a fuller one that Jayasuriya, driving loosely, edges to Jamie Smith.
The wicket came two balls after the non-wicket. Not quite Darren Gough to Greg Blewett at Edgbaston in 1997, but still an eye-catching triumph for a bowler who is having a remarkable first summer in Test cricket.
DISALLOWED WICKET! Sri Lanka 113-6
Jayasuriya is bounced out by Atkinson, flapping meekly to Pope at gully, but the ball was above shoulder height and he’d already bowled two in the over so it’s a no-ball.
Shame as the switch to short stuff has worked instantly for England.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 111-6 (de Silva 41, Jayasuriya 10) Jayasuriya flicks Woakes this far short of Bashir at midwicket. He’s playing quite well, that shot aside, and a push for two takes him into double figures.
At one stage during the West Indies’ first innings at Edgbaston, Woakes’ figures for the Test summer were 2 for 103 and he was done, kaput. Since then he’s taken 12 for 164.
