Hales pings Chameera through the covers and picks up two. This stand now worth 49. Meanwhile, it seems I'm not the only one who's been treated to some unconventional barbering techniques...

Rakesh Pradhan: Why does Stokes bat ahead of Bairstow? Jonny is far and away better as his stats in the last year prove

Shanaka has faded a bit after lunch. Bairstow absolutely marmalises a drive through the covers, cracking shot, then guides the ball through gully for another boundary. Handy partnership this for England.

Jeremy Mitchell: Nothing like a good collapse to start the summer! Who'd have thought Hales would be the anchor of the innings?

Image source, Reuters

Bairstow tries to baseball a Chameera short ball back down the ground, but mistimes it completely and bludgeons the ball straight down into the turf. Chameera responds by sending a heat-seeking bouncer whizzing past Bairstow's ears. Which reminds me: I had a haircut the other day and at the end the barber offered to singe my ears. Is that normal?

Russell French: Hales is really showing a good strong mentality. Reined in but still plodding along.

Dasun Shanaka, with his name like a 1980s hatchback, continues after drinks. Hales guides a couple through gully.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"No matter what the conditions or who the opponents are, England always seem to be 100-5. Really good teams don't get themselves in that position as often as this England side do."

Good stat from my colleague Stephan Shemilt - in the last three Tests at Headingley, four England batsmen have made their maiden centuries: Root, Robson, Moeen and Lyth. Can Hales join the list? He's played so diligently so far and he won't want to give it away. He moves ever closer with a nudge off his pads. Time for a beverage.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

"It's been very reserved for Hales. He's not using his feet much, but he will never be someone who gets his foot across. It goes down the pitch instead. He's done very well."

Jay: How ironic is it that a T20 specialist has scored more than half of England's runs in the first innings of a Test match.

Ashley Parker: That's a good knock by Hales with wickets tumbling around him - done well to keep his head. Needs to stick in now.

Bairstow looks full of confidence - he tries to whip one from outside off into the leg side, almost Pietersen-esque, though he doesn't quite get hold of it. He's got hold of that though - sweetly driven through the covers. Woof. Shanaka hasn't quite located the radar after lunch yet.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It's been a very different innings from Alex Hales. He hasn't been able to play in the way he normally would because of the wickets falling around him."

50 for Halespublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 19 May 2016

14:31 BST 19 May 2016

Eng 98-5

After a bit of impromptu on-pitch yoga to stretch out his noodly frame, Dushmantha Chameera returns to the attack. He serves up a freebie, Hales crashes it behind point, and that's his half-century. Well played, but job half done, you feel...

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Do you watch reality TV? Say Yes To The Dress. It's hilarious. They bring about seven people with them. They can never agree."

The world needs to see Geoffrey Boycott on Celebrity Masterchef. Whipping up a rhubarb crumble under the watchful gaze of John and Greg, perhaps wearing his grandmother's pinny. Guaranteed televisual gold. Someone at the BBC has got to make this happen. Shanaka is back into the attack and he starts with a maiden. Boycott's still going, you know...

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"You should see the lunches with my Rachael. I've been watching that Paddy McGuiness on Take Me Out. She's had an operation on her shoulder and I've been the waiter. I make her toast but I lose points if it's too well done or there's too much marmalade. You should see me cook now. I could become a masterchef. I do soup, rice pudding and quiche. There's no end to my talents. If I'd had time, rather than all that batting, I could have learned to cook."