Image source, Getty Images

Buttler and Moeen rotate the strike against Lakmal well, picking up four from the over.

Image source, AFP

Nothing can stop Jos Buttler sweeping.

He waits patiently for the over-pitched delivery from Malinda Pushpakumara and marmalises it to the fence for four.

Buttler then goes to the reverse sweep next ball and picks up a single to keep the strike.

Last month Jonny Bairstow got involved in a game of footy in training, as per usual.

However, he sustained ankle ligament damage in that game, missed the fifth ODI, the one-off T20 and the first Test.

In his absence, Ben Foakes played in Galle, made a century on debut and impressed with his excellent keeping. As a result, Bairstow was left out for this Test.

So The Cricket Social team are looking for your cricketing Sliding Doors moments.

Send them in to the usual places - tweet us using #bbccricket, text 81111 or email tms@bbc.co.uk. The best will feature on The Cricket Social and this live text.

Oh! We're going to have some pace bowling. Captain Suranga Lakmal brings himself back after lunch - a cunning ploy to stop Jos Buttler sweeping away?

Tidy over from Lakmal, just a single from it.

Moeen Ali sweeps fine for a couple of runs to get himself and England going after lunch.

Eek. There's a brief shout for lbw as he goes to sweep again and the ball turns into the pads. Must have been some bat or glove on it.

A single to finish the over.

Jos Buttler is at the non-striker's end after lunch, with Moeen Ali to face first up.

Malinda Pushpakumara to bowl.

Here we go...

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Pallekele

Image source, Reuters

Jos Buttler's innings is one of the best I've ever seen - every single run has been scored by an orthodox sweep or a reverse sweep. It's an incredible innings considering how much the ball is spinning. Under the circumstances, to score 38 off 33 balls, and not through slogging or biffing but by playing proper shots, has been terrific to watch.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on The Cricket Social

Image source, AFP

Root will be disappointed to have been bowled. One of the things as a batsman is to protect your furniture. At least if you're lbw, you're getting something in the way. Once you get bowled a few times, it does get into your mind.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent in Pallekele

This is a proper bunsen. It's spinning an awful lot. The pitch is doing a lot - if it goes beyond three days I'll be very surprised.

• England won the toss and elected to bat
• Keaton Jennings' flaws against pace returned - the opener prodding uncertainly at Suranga Lakmal to be caught behind for one
• Ben Stokes played well in his new number three position before he missed a sharp turner to be out lbw on review
• Joe Root defended loosely, leaving a gap between bat and pad to be bowled by slow left-armer Malinda Pushpakumara
• Rory Burns hit a Test-best 43 before he nicked Akila Dananjaya to slip
• Jos Buttler has counter-attacked brilliantly, sweeping and reverse-sweeping with aplomb to reach 38 not out off 32 balls
• England are 120-4 off 30 overs at lunch

Graham Thorpe, my favourite batsman to watch growing up, is talking about how to bat on subcontinent pitches on the telly.

The highlights show him starring in a tight victory in the third Test against Sri Lanka in 2001. Thorpe an unbeaten century in the first innings with a crucial 32 not out to guide England to 74-6 and a four-wicket series-sealing win.

He wore a headband that Test. Cricket needs more headbands.

More thoughts from Michael Vaughan as well as Simon Mann, Dan Norcross, Andy Zaltzman, Ryan Sidebottom and award-winning writer Emma John on The Cricket Social now.

Watch or listen by clicking the tab at the top of this page!

I'm not sure Peter's idea of picking the number three out of a hat each innings is any worse than Nick Compton's selection of Sam Curran as England's future number three.

The Surrey young gun no doubt has the ability to move up the order, but a Test match number three? Not for me, Clive (Lloyd).

Peter Collins: Look, the solution to England's number three problem is simple. When the openers go out to bat, put everybody else's name in a hat. Whoever gets drawn out is the number three in that innings, and the rest of the line-up then continues normally.

Cheers Amy. Morning all.

If you're just joining us - England's top order issues are still present, the pitch is turning and Jos Buttler is very, very good at batting.

Mahela Jayawardene is currently singing Jos Buttler's praises on the telly, which is a much better endorsement than anything I can say.

With that in mind, I'm off for breakfast. Jack Skelton will see you through to tea.

Don't forget, The Cricket Social is on air from 07:00 GMT via this website. Today's line-up is a good one: Michael Vaughan, Simon Mann, Dan Norcross, Andy Zaltzman, Ryan Sidebottom and award-winning writer Emma John.

Notts captain Steven Mullaney, who skippered the likes of Sam Curran and Ben Foakes with the Lions this summer, is also going to pop in - as will ex-England seamer Derek Pringle.