Key events
Hold the bells, the England team are loitering by the boundary edge. That must mean play is about to resume. Lunch is still at 1.15pm.
No news of a restart time. If you want some live action, a couple of County Championship games have avoided the bad weather.
“If it helps I once drove into Manchester in the lovely month of May under heavy snow,” says Jeremy Boyce. “An hour later we were in bright sunshine. Whatever, I think the answer to Gary Naylor’s question is a local chap who recently departed from the international scene, who knows the ground well and how to exploit the conditions…”
Don’t rake up old graves.
Lunch is scheduled for 1.15pm. That might be moved back now because the covers are coming off and the concerns about the lightning seem to have passed.
On Sky Sports, Stuart Broad is explaining why Old Trafford is usually a new-ball wicket, a point made by Chris Woakes on the first evening as well. “You get that dryness, there are cracks in the pitch, and when the ball is much harder it exaggerates the movement.”
The second new ball is due in 2.1 overs. If England break this partnership they could clean up. If they don’t, things will be even more interesting.
“This is an excellent partnership and reflects more accurately the quality of Sru Lanka’s batting,” says Michael Galvin. “One or two of our bowlers look tired and bereft of ideas, not least Atkinson.”
Yes, hard to say from so far away but he looks mentally tired. Welcome to Test cricket, son, this is what it’s really like.
The rain has stopped, but one of the temporary stands at Old Trafford has been evacuated because of a lightning warning. Blimey.
“Do you think England might be missing a trick by making no use of Dan Lawrence’s off spin?” says Rick Foot. “He did a surprising amount of damage early in the County Championship season, and is more than just an occasional bowler… plus he has a fabulous action, like a man fighting an octopus in a sleeping bag. Worth an over or two before the new ball, surely.
That’s a great shout, and an even better description of Lawrence’s action!
That will probably be all for the morning session. If so, Sri Lanka won it emphatically by scoring 71 in 17.5 overs without losing a wicket.
“Just wanted to commend Jordan Cox on his excellent 141 for Essex yesterday against Hampshire,” writes Brian Withington. “Made batting on a slow surface look effortless and only dismissed by a direct hit run out from the boundary. As an Essex supporter I’m rather grateful that England can’t yet accommodate him.”
He looks terrific, doesn’t he? If only he wasn’t so diffident.
Rain stops play
77.5 overs: Sri Lanka 275-6 (Kamindu 90, Chandimal 57) Kamindu is beaten by a loopy slower bouncer from Potts. After struggling in the first innings, Potts has been much more like himself. Crucially, he has given England control: 15.5-4-38-1.
The reason he’s bowled 15.5 overs is because the rain has gone from 0-60 in about three seconds. It’s pelting down.
77th over: Sri Lanka 274-6 (Kamindu 90, Chandimal 56) I’m not sure when England should start the worry. When the lead hits 200? Half an hour ago?
If this pair get through the second new ball, which is imminent, Sri Lanka will arguably be favourites.
76th over: Sri Lanka 271-6 (Kamindu 90, Chandimal 53) An effort bouncer from Potts barely reaches waish height. This is a good test for England, who need to improve when the going it at its toughest. Kaminda cuts two to move into the nineties. Sri Lanka lead by 149, and that’s drinks.
“Who are we missing most – Stokes the bowler or Stokes the captain?” asks Gary Naylor.
That is an exceedingly good question. Captain?
75th over: Sri Lanka 268-6 (Kamindu 88, Chandimal 52) Kamindu seizes on a quicker, wider delivery from Bashir, back-cutting for two with very fast hands.
Bashir’s last two balls are flighted tempters outside off stump, one of which keeps very low. Kamindu ignores them anyway.
74th over: Sri Lanka 265-6 (Kamindu 86, Chandimal 51) A rare error from Kamindu, who is a bit late in trying to leave Potts. The ball hits the face of the bat and deflects safely into the ground. Potts, who has bowled very well in this innings, is getting nothing out of the pitch.
73rd over: Sri Lanka 264-6 (Kamindu 86, Chandimal 50) Chandimal pushes Bashir for a single to reach a courageous half-century from 73 balls. A long hop from Bashir is walloped through midwicket four by Kamindu Mendis, who is approaching a third century in only four Tests. And he made an unbeaten 92 against Bangladesh.
72nd over: Sri Lanka 259-6 (Kamindu 82, Chandimal 49) The new ball is due after 80 overs. Nothing is happening with the old, bar the odd bit of uneven bounce, so this is a really good chance for Sri Lanka to increase their lead to somewhere near 180. They are well in this game.
71st over: Sri Lanka 254-6 (Kamindu 80, Chandimal 46) A double bowling change, Bashir replacing Woakes. His loosener is pulled for a single by Chandimal, then Kamindu drags a sweep past leg slip for four more. Sri Lanka lead by 129 dot dot dot.
70th over: Sri Lanka 249-6 (Kamindu 76, Chandimal 45) Matthew Potts replaces Gus Atkinson, who has looked increasingly weary – mentally and physically – in this match. A pretty accurate start from Potts, two from it.
69th over: Sri Lanka 247-6 (Kamindu 75, Chandimal 44) Chandimal slugs a short ball from Woakes for four. It was in the air, and there were oohs and aahs from the crowd, but his placement was fine. Sri Lanka have scored 31 from the last fours overs; this is getting interesting.
68th over: Sri Lanka 241-6 (Kamindu 75, Chandimal 38) Now Dan Lawrence has hurt his ankle. He rolled it after throwing the ball in from the boundary and is in a bit of pain, though he’s going to stay on. Don’t be a hero!
Kamindu Mendis continues to look seriously impressive. He push-drives and pulls Atkinson for successive boundaries to move to 75. Atkinson’s last two overs have gone for 25 and Sri Lanka lead by 119.
“C’mon Lanka, hang in there,” writes Paul Sokhy. “Good to see a fightback, a lead of 170/180 lead would mean squeaky-bum time for England.”
This has been a really admirable performance from Sri Lanka. There have been multiple opportunities for them to accept the apparent logic of defeat and stop do0ing the hard work. It was a free pass; any criticism would have been of the schedule and the distribution of wealth, not the team. But they have brawled to the point they are going to almost certainly set England an awkward target..
67th over: Sri Lanka 229-6 (Kamindu 64, Chandimal 37) As the pitch gets slower and lower, so England have moved towards a subcontinental field. Woakes has an absurd mid-on for Chandimal, just off the cut strip, and is bowling wicket to wicket. See, he does still play overseas Tests for England.
His tactics are almost rewarded when Chandimal – who fell to a Bashir grubber in the first innings – is beaten by a grotesque cutter that doesn’t bounce at all and just misses off stump.
66th over: Sri Lanka 229-6 (Kamindu 64, Chandimal 37) Chandimal tries to drive Atkinson and gets a thick inside edge over square leg for four. None of the England players picked it up as it came off the bat.
Oof, how close was that? Chandimal tries to pull and gets a bottom edge that whooshes past leg stump and away for four. Thirteen from the over.
So far so good for Sri Lanka, whose lead is now 105. Apart from that shemozzle yesterday morning they have played really well this Test.
65th over: Sri Lanka 216-6 (Kamindu 62, Chandimal 26) Woakes goes around the wicket to Kamindu, who defends with a certainty that has Nasser Hussain purring in the commentary box. “Look at that technique,” he says. “That is perfect.”
64th over: Sri Lanka 214-6 (Kamindu 60, Chandimal 26) After straying onto Chandimal’s pads early on, Atkinson bowls a terrific scrambled seamer that almost gets through. Chandimal inside-edged it onto his body, after which it could have gone anywhere. A maiden.
63rd over: Sri Lanka 214-6 (Kamindu 60, Chandimal 26) Two near misses in two balls for Woakes. A leading edge from Chandimal loops over his head and drops short of the man running round from mid-on; then he clips the next ball just short of Bashir at midwicket.
62nd over: Sri Lanka 211-6 (Kamindu 60, Chandimal 23) Chandimal, who had his thumb scrunched by Mark Wood yesterday, doesn’t look totally comfortable but is in there and fighting. He’s hit on the pad by a good ball by Atkinson, who surprisingly doesn’t appeal for LBW. The cordon went up and, though it was probably missing leg, I reckon it was closer than Atkinson thought.
Chandimal gets his first runs of the day, clipping Atkinson for three. There have been lots of those in this game because of the slow outfield.
61st over: Sri Lanka 208-6 (Kamindu 60, Chandimal 20) The first ball of the day snakes away, keeps a bit low and beats Kamindu Mendis outside off. Kamindu smiles wryly, knowing there wasn’t much he could do, then drives crisply through the covers for four. He looks a very good player.
“Sad to see Wood injured,” says Tom Van der Gucht. “I was intrigued to find out what you meant when you said about England’s use of him recently- do you feel they’ve over-bowled him, or have a more insightful theory.
“As for his replacement, I feel that the spirit of Bazball includes a fondness for left-field selections based on potential. With that in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone more random get the call up like Josh Hull. I seem to remember Key mentioning him and he’d bring some different angles and extra height.
Not sure about that, though Hull might be in the white-ball squad. One thing Stokes and McCullum rarely do is change the cab rank unless there’s a good reason, and Stone is next in line. He’s also closer to a like-for-like replacement. With Wood, I don’t think they’ve overbowled him really (maybe one spell in the third Test) but the injury will make them review it all with fresh eyes and that can’t be a bad thing. He is so precious. Imagine a pace attack of Wood, Archer, Atkinson and Stokes in the Ashes. I dare you, I double dare you.
Chris Woakes has the ball in his hand. Play!
Here’s the TMS overseas link. You know who to thank.
Game considers game
In case you missed this yesterday
Simon Burnton on Big Ange
At times he conjured memories of his great innings at Headingley a decade ago, before he fell for 65 to a combination of Chris Woakes and a changed and swinging ball. England will be grateful that similarities with that 2014 match did not get any more pronounced: on that occasion Sri Lanka scored 257 in the first innings and England made 365 in reply – an almost identical script to this game – before Mathews struck 160 to set up a comeback victory. Sri Lanka continue to dream of a similar outcome in 2024.
Ali Martin’s day three report
Weather forecast
As for the weather, it’s over to the Ian McCaskill des nos jours. It looks like play will start on time.
Preamble
Morning one, morning all. We start with bad news, and for once I’m not talking about the Manchester weather. I’m sorry to report that the world is going to hell in a handcart Mark Wood will not bowl today because of a thigh muscle injury. Chances are that’s him for the summer, never mind the game.
It’s such a shame, because he has been throwing flames with remarkable consistency. But in the medium term it might not actually bethe worst thing: it will make England review their use of Wood (I’m not sure they’ve done too much wrong in this game on that front) and it will probably give them a chance to have another look at Olly Stone.
Every cloud and all that. We reserve the right to revise this opinion if, in Wood’s absence, Sri Lanka build substantially on their overnight lead of 82 and pull of a victory for the ages.
