Sri Lanka vs England: All you need to know from day one in Kandy
Wednesday 14 November 2018 14:25, UK
Jos Buttler started the England recovery in Kandy before Sam Curran took Sri Lanka's spinners apart. Here's all you need to know from day one of the second Test...
SCORECARD | AS IT HAPPENED | HIGHLIGHTS
The Report
Sam Curran followed up Jos Buttler's flowing fifty with an explosive half-century of his own in a last-wicket stand of 60 with James Anderson as England rallied from 171-7 to 285 all out on day one of the second Test, in Kandy, writes Oli Burley.
Live Test Cricket
Moment of the day
Having seen Jack Leach bowled by a beauty from Akila Dananjaya and James Anderson reprieved on review the very next ball, Sri Lanka would have been confident of wrapping the England innings up quickly. As it was it should have been over after the following delivery. Anderson pressed forward, got a thin nick but Niroshan Dickwella dropped the catch.
It did not seem particularly momentous at the time, with the ball doing so much Sri Lanka would surely get another chance fairly swiftly. It was only an hour later with Sam Curran walking off the pitch to generous applause from all around the ground, having taken the Sri Lankan spinners apart - hitting six sixes - that importance of the drop became apparent.
Curran, with a little help from Anderson, was able to add another 60 to England's total, taking them from a slightly under-par 225 to a highly competitive 285. In what is expected to be a low-scoring contest, it could make a huge difference. For all Curran's brilliance in the final-wicket partnership, Sri Lanka will know he shouldn't have had the chance to show it.
Stat of the day
Since the start of 2017, England's lower order (8-11) have a higher boundary percentage than every other team's lower order. 8.08% of the balls they have faced have gone for either four or six; South Africa are next in the list with 7.83%. (CricViz)
Talking point
Curran's big-hitting exploits bolstered England's total but he received considerable help from Suranga Lakmal and the Sri Lankan fielders. With Curran applying the pressure to the bowling side, any real discipline evaporated.
Most curious was the way in which stand-in skipper Lakmal and his side seemed content to allow Curran to take singles late in the over and remaining on strike. At times it appeared as though they simply had not realised it was the last ball of the set, either that or they were more concerned with preventing another boundary than having the chance to get a full over in at Anderson.
As much as Curran did superbly, Sri Lanka's questionable tactics only aided his cause and the worry is that for the second Test on the bounce, they have had England in trouble in their first innings, only to allow them to recover and post a handy total.
What they said
DAVID LLOYD: "We thought 250 would be regulation and there are above that. From what we have seen from Anderson and Curran it looks as if all the business will be done by the spinners. But Stokes could have a spell like he did at Galle and if the ball gets old and scruffy, Anderson will get some reverse swing."
MAHELA JAYAWARDENE: "Sri Lanka allowed Curran to keep Anderson off strike and take chances against bowlers he wanted to take chances against. But credit to Curran, who seems to understand the game and his strengths. We have seen a glimpse of what he can do - maybe he can bat higher?"
Tweets of the day
Watch day two of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England from 4.15am, Thursday on Sky Sports Cricket.
