Nick Compton, I told you that you wouldn't need that sweater, now you're getting in a tangle trying to take it off. Perhaps take your helmet off first, otherwise you're risking your own Mario Balotelli moment. Sweaterless, Compton defends Herath with a head-first lunge on to the front foot. 

Andrew Lawton: That's me out of the office sweepstake for today's highest run-scorer. Wonder if Hales will refund my £1 after that awful shot.

Before we move on from Hales, one final point. He went 22 balls without scoring before being dismissed. Then he played this shot. 22 deliveries is not time in Test cricket. A need to up that frustration threshold. Speaking of frustration threshold, Alastair Cook probably doesn't get annoyed when someone waves in front of his face singing "not touching, can't get made". More patience in the face of the returning Lakmal.   

Right then, ComptonWatch. Shift yourself closer to the edge of your seat and cross your fingers. Push Herath wide of mid-off, set off for a single. Direct hit. Surely not? He's well home. No need for the third ump. One down, 99 to go. Dig in, Nick.

At the other end, Cook is the anti-Hales, watching carefully as Mathews slides the ball past off stump. To Cook, his wicket his priceless. Hales has just traded his for a bag of grapes and a shot at glory. Maiden. Are you watching, Alex?

Image source, Rex Features

Ian Bradley: Sorry Hales, genuine openers don't play that shot before lunch on first day, new era or not, unacceptable.

Tyler: Can England continuously pursue with Alex Hales who always gets out to spin bowling which is mediocre.

Thomas Knights: Hales not scored a run since the drinks break, frustration led to his downfall.  

I'm a little bit stunned by that, not least because Hales has played with such patience in the first two Tests. It's good from Sri Lanka - the change has worked and Rangana Herath has done for Hales in the flight. Replays don't do the batsman any favours, if he'd swung any harder he'd have dislocated his shoulders. Under-pressure Nick Compton the new man, seeing off his first two balls.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"He was very cautious against Mathews for three overs and to his second ball from Herath he goes for a mow, aiming for deep mid-wicket. I don't think it turned hugely but it was a horrible, heaving shot. It went so slowly to slip. It is a frustrating dismissal. Hales dug a little hole for himself in that innings and couldn't get out. It is a waste."

Incredible stuff from Andrew Samson. It is time for the left-arm of Herath...

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"There are 32 initials in this Sri Lanka team. There were 39 in the Sri Lanka team in Southampton against England in 2011."

Big shout against Hales from Mathews, turned down. Possibly hit him outside the line, might have even got an inside edge on it. Good spell from the skip, mind. More miserly than Monty Burns. As the Lord's crowd hums with pre-lunch anticipation, the squat, breasty Rangana Herath lurks at mid-off. Time for some spin?

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"That four from Cook ended a run of 29 dot balls in a row."

Oh yes. Alastair Cook gets the board moving again with a wonderful cover drive, reaching out to meet a wide ball from Pradeep and sending it through the covers with nothing more than a gentle push. The scorers are nudged back into action as a burly blue-shirted man in the stands drinks from a pink glass with his pinky in the air.

Top work, George. Give yourself an extra point for the creative use of cereal boxes. Sri Lanka have done well to keep a lid on things since the break, Mathews, new military-style haircut, angling the ball into Hales on a full length. Did they have Imodium at drinks? The runs have dried up...