Summary

  • Debutant Ben Foakes makes assured unbeaten 87

  • Foakes shares partnerships of 61 with Buttler, 88 with Sam Curran & 54 with Rashid

  • Rashid edges to slip for 35 off 38 balls three overs before close - gives Perera his fourth wicket

  • Curran makes 48; Buttler (38) only wicket to fall in afternoon session

  • Stokes (7), Jennings (46), Root (35), Moeen (0) & Burns (9) out before lunch

  • First Test in three-match series v Sri Lanka

  1. What you have missedpublished at 06:02 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images

    Just waking up? England have fewer than 100 on the books for the loss of three wickets. Again.

    They lost debutant opener Rory Burns and number three Moeen Ali in consecutive balls. Burns made nine from 12 balls and Moeen was out for a first-ball duck.

    Joe Root then led a frenetic counter-attack with 35 runs from 46 balls but was out to Rangana Herath, playing in his final Test, with the England captain running down the pitch and managing to york himself to the spinner.

    Keaton Jennings has held onto his place in this Test at the top of the order and has so far repaid the selectors' faith. He is closing on a fifty alongside Ben Stokes although Jennings was dropped by Angelo Mathews earlier.

    England have also handed a Test debut to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, dropped Stuart Broad and picked three spinners.

  2. Eng 98-3published at 21 overs

    Stokes 7, Jennings 46

    Ben Stokes punches Rangana Herath away with great power but he finds a man on the fence. He's then rapped on the pads by Herath, who looks innocuous in every way but already has the England captain back in the hutch.

  3. Postpublished at 05:59 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

    It's nearly two years since Keaton Jennings hit a Test match fifty.

  4. Eng 94-3published at 19.5 overs

    Jennings 43, Stokes 6

    Keaton Jennings' highest score in Tests in 2018 is 42.

    NOT ANY MORE

  5. Eng 86-3published at 19 overs

    That's another cracking shot, Ben Stokes this time down on one knee and proposing a smashed four off Rangana Herath. Bang.

  6. Eng 81-3published at 18.2 overs

    Fetch that! Lovely shot from Keaton Jennings, a lofted sweep which went in the air but well safe. Four.

    The ball needs some work when it comes back, it's wetter than an otter's pocket out on that outfield.

  7. Quite a record...published at 05:52 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

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  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:51 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

    #bbccricket

    John Allcoat: Are England still in one day mode? Very hectic start with lots of boundaries and chances. Both Sri Lanka reviews gone as well. Well worth the early start.

  9. Eng 75-3published at 18 overs

    Keaton JenningsImage source, Getty Images

    Ben Stokes and Keaton Jennings need to steady the ship here. Akila Dananjaya is getting some turn and bounce against the two lefties.

  10. Postpublished at 05:49 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

    I've not seen it, but you're suggesting that Kevin Costner's finest work has come in the last two years?

    That is some claim Andy. I shall track it down.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:49 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

    Text 81111

    Costner's best film has to be hidden figures, which might also be the phrase used for Moeen's average at the end of this series.

    Andy, Manchester

  12. Eng 75-3published at 17 overs

    Stokes 2, Jennings 28

    Another tectonic appeal for lbw behind the wicket from keeper Niroshan Dickwella but Sri Lanka can't review it, they've wasted them both already.

    I don't think there was anything in it.

  13. Postpublished at 05:47 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

    It's quarter to six in the morning in the UK and Ben Stokes is already batting. Woof.

  14. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 16.1 overs

    Root b Herath 35 (Eng 72-3)

    Joe Root! He's looking to be positive against the spin of Rangana Herath, he's been dancing around the crease but he gets this one all wrong.

    He comes down the pitch but runs straight past the ball, a fundamental error really in anyone's book. He only succeeds in yorking himself and that's 100 Test wickets for the veteran on this ground.

    More fireworks! And maybe more to come as Ben Stokes comes in at five...

  15. Eng 72-2published at 16 overs

    Just when you think Keaton Jennings is trundling away nicely, he coughs up a chance like that.

    England should really be three down.

  16. dropped catch

    Jennings dropped on 26published at 15.1 overs

    Eng 71-2

    Got to take those! A huge let-off for Keaton Jennings. He spoons a top edge straight to Angelo Mathews at slip and he shells it.

    Easy for me to say, but that's as easy as they get...

  17. Aggers' first hour reportpublished at 05:42 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent in Galle

    A lively first hour of this Test match with two early wickets, two reviews burned off by Sri Lanka and the ball already starting to turn.

    Joe Root has had a little fortune, but is starting to play fluently with the scoring rate very good and Jennings has done well so far.

    All three Sri Lanka spinners have already been on, a sign of things to come this series.

    It is already clear that patience and discipline is going to be key to playing out here.

  18. Eng 70-2published at 15 overs

    Root 34, Jennings 26

    Dismissive from Joe Root, who dances down the pitch and goes inside out to club Rangana Herath down the field.

    These two have put on 60 now.

  19. 0-2 on appealspublished at 05:38 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

    Niroshan Dickwella appeals for Joe Root's wicketImage source, Getty Images

    If you're just joining us, Sri Lanka have burned both of their DRS reviews already. I'm not saying it was entirely wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella's fault but, I mean, look at him!

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 05:36 Greenwich Mean Time 6 November 2018

    Text 81111

    Up for work as normal. Had Woakes and Denly in my XI for Curran and Jennings. If the ball is only going to do anything for the first 10, have our most successful ODI bowler of the last year there to use it under time constraint. Denly has had the season of his life at county level. The tepid warm up games weren't a representation of what he can do in a serious match situation.

    Greg, Burwell