The third day
It’s been an absorbing see-saw of a Test but England were the victors yesterday. Joe Root played a captain’s innings. He now has 15 centuries for England but only 4 on foreign soil. None was more necessary than yesterday’s.
The England innings did not follow a familiar path. Rory Burns with his 56 established some form of platform. The dismissal of Ben Stokes for a duck was regrettable, the decision to review it proved more so.
England were at an uneasy 107-4 shortly after Root came to the crease. Whilst most preferred the sweep, Joe Root hit some glorious strokes past the bowler.
Another fine contribution from Ben Foakes (51 not out) took the England total to 324-9 before bad light stopped play.
Both Rashid and Moeen Ali were unlucky that no reviews left meant poor umpiring decisions could not be reversed.
A subsequent monsoon indicated that weather will play its part in this excellent Test where any result is possible. The time wasting of the Sri Lankans at the finale indicates a lack of confidence and chasing 278 on a turning wicket makes their win the least likely of the three results.
After the match we had an informal Q & A with Allan Lamb and Graham Gooch. Allan invited Sam Curran to join us.
The Currans’ father Kevin, a supremely fit man and capable cricketer died young from heart failure and the Lambs are Sam’s legal guardians.
Underneath the boisterous exterior of Allan lies a kind man and he drove to Wellington College, arriving at 6-30am, to be the person – and not social media – to break the sad news to Sam.
Knowing a few young cricketers, I realised he might have preferred to be amongst his peers playing the latest video game rather than socializing with us old farts. However Sam acquitted himself well.
Of particular interest was his observation that there are two distinct English sides – the white ball and Test teams.
It will be interesting to see who will be picked from both for the World Cup next summer in England.
Amongst our group we had our first casualty when one fell backwards on the stairs at the lunch interval.
Fortunately his fall was broken by our effervescent fishmonger. In true British stiff upper light the victim made light of his injury.
Afternoon the close of play a MCC member did a flier on the slippery steps and we feared that a loud crack had meant a broken knee cap.
Sri Lanka is the land of smiles but also steps.
