Summary

  • Day three, second Test, Lord's

  • Sri Lanka close on 53-2, still needing 430 to win, after bad light ends play early

  • Root catches Madushka and Nissanka to move to 200 Test catches

  • Root brings up record 34th Test century for England

  • Watch highlights on Today at the Test from 19:25 BST on BBC Two and iPlayer

  1. Farewellpublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 31 August

    Well, we won't keep you hanging around too much longer.

    We'll be back tomorrow from 10:30 BST as England look to wrap up another comprehensive victory on day four. Sri Lanka need another 430 runs and England are chasing eight more wickets.

    If you missed any of today's play, here is Stephan Shemilt's match report from Lord's. You can also read Michael Vaughan's thoughts on Joe Root as he describes him as "England's greatest".

    Thanks for your company, and we look forward to you joining us again in the morning.

  2. Postpublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 31 August

    More from Joe Root, speaking to BBC Test Match Special, about what 'batting nirvana' is: "It is as if you are not there in your own body and just doing it on auto pilot. I think it only happens three or four times in your career. But that is what you are seaching for. That's why you keep improving and driving to get better."

    On moving ahead of Alastair Cook to break the England Test centuries record: "I have a lot of cricket to play yet, but it will be nice to have bragging rights when having a beer with Cooky. But there is still a lot of work to do. I want to play for longer, I feel like I have a long way to go.

    "When I previously got into a bit of a rut I made a thing that was not really a thing. But now the more you play the more experience you get and the easier it is."

  3. Postpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 31 August

    Joe Root to BBC Test Match Special: "That was good fun. It was obviously a nice situation when you are far ahead in the game. But you want to drive it forward and get it into as strong a position as possible.

    "And in these conditions you have to try and utilise them. So it is trying to be proactive and smart in the conditions we had.

    "I wasn't nervous. It was just about getting the balance of moving the game forward and trying to maximise the time we had. I didn't want the game to stand still, that was the main thing on my mind.

    "It doesn't mean you can't score runs if everything isn't perfect and this is something I have learned. There are other ways you can be effective, you can rotate the striker, get a few boundaries away and it does get easier."

  4. Postpublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 31 August

    Gus Atkinson yesterday, Joe Root today.

    It's been a historic couple of days for England as Root notched up his second century of this Test, and overtook Sir Alastair Cook for the most centuries scored for his country.

    Test hundred number 34 was his quickest in terms of balls faced, and as classy as ever. We'll hear from Root shortly as he chats to Test Match Special.

  5. Close of play - SL 53-2published at 17:58 British Summer Time 31 August

    Well, that was worth an hour of waiting around.

    At least the crowd was sensible, and made the dash for the tube. Sri Lanka end day three a whopping 430 runs behind.

  6. Postpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 31 August

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    We are calling it here. It is grey, dark and miserable.

  7. Postpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 31 August

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    The two umpires are out there taking a look, but the sky is uniformly grey across London and there is no indication that it is going to change.

  8. Postpublished at 17:43 British Summer Time 31 August

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    I think everyone has pretty much gone home now.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 31 August

    #bbccricket via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    I don’t understand all the fuss about bad light and over rates. The quality of cricket is far more important than the quantity. Want bowlers to rush between balls? The cricket will be less good. Want them to play in the dark? Again, less good.

    Jim, just leaving Lord’s

  10. Postpublished at 17:32 British Summer Time 31 August

    Just a reminder that they haven't officially called stumps yet.

    The players need to be out there before 18:00 BST, otherwise that'll be it.

    It looks unlikely, however. Everyone is just waiting for the nod.

  11. Postpublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 31 August

    Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It is looking even gloomier out there.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 31 August

    #bbccricket via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Bad light? It's a joke and killing Test cricket. There are floodlights here, get on with the game!!! So frustrating.

    Jared Dann, North London

    Excuse me. I’m going to rant. I am so annoyed with bad light. We play night games. Every ground has floodlights. The crowd have paid a lot of money to be there. Put the lights on, swap the red ball for a pink one of the same age and get on with it. Absolutely deplorable.

    Adrian

  13. Postpublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 31 August

    A tough start for Sri Lanka as two wickets fell in their pursuit of a record 483.

    Nishan Madushka has had a very tricky series opening the batting while Pathum Nissanka didn't play at Old Trafford, but has struggled at Lord's.

    Gus Atkinson had Madushka caught at slip, while Olly Stone had Nissanka also caught by Joe Root.

  14. Postpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 31 August

    Honestly, that last hour or so was just ridiculous.

    On, off, on again. Spinners only, then good enough for two overs of pace.

    Then the seamer takes a wicket and it goes back to the spinners. Poor Ollie Pope looked like a little lost puppy throughout while Sri Lanka were understandably pretty fed up.

  15. Postpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 31 August

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    I think that will be it. It has just got darker and darker, moodier and moodier.

    It has been a strange day weather-wise. It is like a grey duvet has just been sat over Lord's.

  16. Bad light stops playpublished at 20 overs

    SL 53-2

    That is that.

    Ollie Pope wants to bring his quicks back on, he's had enough of the spinners and causing unnecessary wear and tear to a new-ish ball.

    There are still (!) 22 overs left in the day so this isn't stumps, but it's just about whether the light improves.

    If the light improves enough but only to bowl the spinners, Pope can still say no and that will be that.

    We have got until 18:00 BST for them to get back out there.

  17. SL 53-2published at 20 overs

    Target 483

    Now, there are helmets being delivered to the batters.

    Everyone's just standing around looking a little clueless - umpires and England fielders included.

    Will somebody please just make a decision?!

  18. Postpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 31 August

    Alison Mitchell
    Commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    How long will England want to continue with this? It doesn't look like it is going to get any lighter.

  19. SL 50-2published at 19 overs

    Target 483

    Joe Root whizzes through a maiden.

    How long are we going to keep doing this?!

  20. Postpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 31 August

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I wonder if it is worth Dan Lawrence having a bowl. He has an unorthodox action, a bit different to Joe Root.

    It would be good to get him back in the game.