Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"The 19th over against Afghanistan was absolutely vital in that game and they need the equivalent of that."

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"Where are the boundaries? They are assessing this - they must have in their minds what is a good score."

Boundaries looking like an endangered species. England nudging, nurdling and scampering, biding their time. Remember, it was the 19th over against Afghanistan that was the catalyst. Herath. Float and loop. Single here, single there. Run a ball. Drums at the end of the over. 

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"All the bowlers have bowled well - they haven't given any freebies to England."

A left-right combo for England, who at some point will need to locate the gas pedal. The floodlights beat down in Delhi, each man of the field casting a shadow in four directions. Morgan, open-mouthed, waits for Mathews, dances and misses. Five singles from it. Good one for the Lankans.

Francis Edwards: Buttler is due some runs. Bigged up every time like AB but is about consistent as a turtle in a marathon.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"A good innings from Roy - some memorable shots but quite a few dot balls. That's the way he plays. England need a magic over or two. Sri Lanka have been excellent so far - they have given them nothing."

I've seen Roy punish kit quite often. We all know them, don't we. The players you avoid when they're out. Eoin Morgan the new man. This time he remembers to play a shot. Roy's was hitting, by the way.

Image source, Reuters

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"I think he thinks that it might have been a bit high but Rod Tucker had no hesitation. Roy throws his bat as he gets to the edge and tosses his helmet on the ground." 

Andy Pearce: If Morgan can't be trusted to come in at 4, what value is he adding to the side?

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Buttler's almost behind the stumps when he finishes that shot. There was a man down there but he got it so fine he got full reward."

Back comes Mathews, maybe looking to burgle an over against the new batsman. Lots of slower balls, so many that normal pace should probably now be called the quicker ball. Jos Buttler! How do you do that? The first scoop/ramp/kamikaze shot of the day. I heard today that some people have tetrachromacy - the ability to see colours others can't. Buttler can score in places others can only imagine.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Well, that was almost cheeky. Before Buttler faced that ball they had a short third man as well as another third man a bit squarer. What does Buttler do? He plays the reverse sweep for four."

Root is back on the bench. He looks distraught. Someone give him a cuddle. In the middle, three Sri Lanka fielders converge on the ball, no one bothers to pick it up, allowing Roy back for a second. Buttler is straight into his stride, showing wrists made of Playdoh to reverse sweep for four. Wonderful 

MTB: Absolute Bunsen and yet we still refuse to play 3 spinners! Will we ever learn? Having said that, Come on England!

Image source, Getty Images

Jos Buttler is the new man...

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Root is England's helmsman - the rest play more exotic shots. He wasn't quite certain whether he was trying to hit it for six or trying to place it. Root is furious with himself."