Charles Dagnall
BBC Test Match Special

"The movement is there for Lakmal, but he's not making the batsmen play nearly enough."

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"I think Angelo Mathews will be disappointed with his opening bowlers here. They've bowled a bit short."

One man who has made it into the crowd in Durham is injured England all-rounder Ben Stokes. He's got his daughter on his knee but, in general, looks thoroughly hacked off to be missing out. Ah, nice from the skipper, Cook playing a whipped-pull to move closer to the 10,000 club. Brian Lara-esque. 11 more needed....

I think I'm just interested by the economics of it all. If the ground is barely a quarter full when tickets are £30, would it not better to charge £10 and get more people in? Or does it not work like that? Hales, who in the previous Eranga over whipped to long leg for four, almost finds third slip with an ugly, turned-around leading edge.  

Now then, big appeal. Lakmal hits the seam, jagging the ball back into left-hander Cook. Big appeal. Is that for leg before? Caught at short leg? Umpire Ravi shakes his head. The short leg fielder is asking for a review, but Angelo Mathews isn't keen. The leg before looks too high and there was no inside edge. Good call. 

Matt Cull: Just to cheer everyone up I paid £5 to watch Stokes and Bairstow at Cape Town.

Tris Tusa: 1,000 people watching the first day of an international test match. Not exactly a good advert for Test cricket. Cheaper tickets!

Robert John: Ticket prices for what is very weak opposition are way too high. £50 minimum for one dayer at Trent Bridge.

Slightly more movement out there, both the ball shaping into the pads of Alastair Cook and the odd rugged-up spectator making their way into the white seats. Ooohhh, that's another good one from Eranga, nipping away to beat Hales. When the right-armer gets too straight, Hales clips past the feet-first dive of long leg for four.  

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Hales left well outside the of stump at Headingley. He was a bit loose in South Africa, but he's obviously been working on it and he left positively."

If the cheapest ticket for today is £30, is that about right? The swathes of empty seats suggest not. Alastair Cook, at the toss, said he thought it looked like a batting deck. Nothing so far to say that isn't the case, but some movement away from his leaden feet by Lakmal produces a play and miss. Apart from that, it's sedate stuff, both in the middle and in the stands.  

Robert Eagleton: My ticket was 40 quid each for tomorrow? Think that was the cheapest.

Image source, Reuters

The skipper looks in good order, getting right back to punch the shiny red leather through the covers for a single. Eranga, a sturdy fellow, is hinting at a touch of wobble in the air, but the tall, shuffling figure of Alex Hales looks to be sliding back into his Headingley patience.

Brian Lewis: Amazing really, if Cook had decided to bowl there would have been an equal number of naysayers pleading the case to bat first.

Tony: Part of me is suspicious that Cook chose to bat first so he can get the 10,000 run record monkey off his back.

Suranga Lakmal shares the new ball, posting only two slips for Cook, who already looks busy at the crease. I'll be honest, the atmosphere inside Chester-le-Street is pretty non-existent, as if we're watching a Championship match. I'm told that the cheapest ticket for the first four days of this match is £30 and that sales are decent for the weekend.  

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"The last thing that Sri Lanka's openers would have wanted is to strap their pads on face Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. But perhaps England were thinking that it might have been deadened a bit, and that it might quicken up as the game goes on."

No swing for Eranga, Cook getting under way with Test run 9,881 clipped off his pads for a single. Three slips in place for Alex Hales, who is wrapped up underneath a long-sleeved shirt and sleeveless sweater. Eessshh - no carry to the keeper. A paceless pitch? Let's hope not.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"I'm surprised [at England's decision to bat] because of what they did to Sri Lanka at Headingley, and because of the conditions."

Image source, Reuters

I missed Jerusalem, I was trying to find out the ticket prices. The players are out there, figures in pearly white illuminating a dark morning. Alastair Cook on strike, Shaminda Eranga has the ball.

Mark Reynolds: I live in Chester le Street and it's a balmy 11C right now. These cricket wusses need to toughen up!