Summary

  • England recover from 17-2

  • Root 66*, Bairstow 47*

  • Embuleniya removes Sibley & Crawley

  • Sri Lanka 135: Bess 5-30, Broad 3-20

  • Succession of poor strokes

  • Lawrence makes England debut

  • Anderson left out

  • First Test, Galle; Sri Lanka won toss

  • Two-Test series postponed from March

  1. How's stat?!published at 05:16 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    This is Stuart Broad's fourth Test match in Sri Lanka and those are his fourth and fifth wickets.

    Before this he'd taken 3-250 in over 80 overs.

  2. SL 16-2published at 7 overs

    Broad 4-1-14-2

    Angelo Mathews tucks himself under a bouncer, and that's a terrific over from Stuart Broad.

  3. Postpublished at 05:15 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    It's an Audi for Kusal Mendis: 0000.

    (Other car makers are available.)

  4. Postpublished at 05:15 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    It is a beautiful bit of bowling from Stuart Broad.

    It was just a little bit wider and it was a poor shot, but Broad just rolled his fingers across it and there was just a hint of away movement.

    Broad will be absolutely delighted to get a couple of wickets on this.

  5. Postpublished at 05:15 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    It is another duck for Kusal Mendis!

    It wasn't a good shot because it was pretty wide of the off-stump. It's the classic dismissal for a batsman out of form.

    Stuart Broad did roll his fingers over the seam but I don't think it did much. What a start!

  6. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 6.5 overs

    Mendis c Buttler b Broad 0 (SL 16-2)

    And now he's out!

    Oh, that's a nonsense shot on a pitch that is doing nothing, and Kusal Mendis has gifted England a wicket. Stuart Broad rolls his fingers on the ball to find whatever tiny bit of movement there is and Mendis nibbles at it and sends a healthy edge through to Jos Buttler.

    That's four ducks in a row for Kusal Mendis!

    England's Stuart Broad celebrates dismissing Kusal MendisImage source, Sri Lanka Cricket
  7. Postpublished at 05:13 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Kusal Mendis is in at three for Sri Lanka.

  8. Postpublished at 05:11 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Lahiru Thirimanne has fallen into the trap there.

    It's a good plan from Joe Root and England will be delighted with that. It looks flat but to get the breakthrough, they will be delighted.

  9. Postpublished at 05:11 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    It was nicely taken by Jonny Bairstow.

    Stuart Broad looked a bit grumpy last over but he's got a smile on his face now.

  10. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 6.3 overs

    Thirimanne c Bairstow b Broad 4 (SL 16-1)

    Stuart Broad strikes!

    On the hip goes Broad and Lahiru Thirimanne's eyes light up, but all he can do is guide it towards leg gully. It's a good catch from Jonny Bairstow actually, stretching to his right to get two hands to it, and judging by Broad's reaction, that was a specific plan for the Sri Lanka opener. Well, it's paid off...

    Stuart Broad celebrates dismissing Lahiru ThirimanneImage source, Sri Lanka Cricket
  11. Postpublished at 05:07 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Phil Tufnell
    Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    It's pitch black and pouring down at The Oval.

    But I am delighted to be here. I was like a kid on Christmas Eve last night - I couldn't sleep.

  12. Postpublished at 05:07 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Tuffers is going to be on fire.

    He's just coming alive at this time.

  13. SL 15-0published at 6 overs

    Have I just brought my duvet and a blanke into my living room because I don't want to put the heating on?

    ...Possibly.

  14. get involved

    I'm following from...published at 05:04 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Chris Armstrong: Listening here in Calgary, Canada. It's 9.30pm so a glass of wine will accompany the first ball of the day.

    Joe Robinson: Recently moved to Seattle. Wife is working lates, cricket starts at 8:30pm. Perfect.

  15. Postpublished at 05:04 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    It was in the air such a long time and Jack Leach went to his right, but if he'd stayed where he was I'm pretty sure it would have gone straight down his throat.

  16. dropped catch

    Close!published at 5 overs

    SL 15-0

    What's happened here?!

    Kusal Perera goes after a short ball and hoicks it into the air. Jack Leach down at fine leg runs to his right, realises the ball is going to his left and ends up flapping at fresh air as the ball plops in front of him.

    Stuart looks delighted.

  17. SL 13-0published at 4.4 overs

    Aerial from Kusal Perera, punching the ball just beyond Stuart Broad's outstretched right hand, before he beats the man at mid-off with a lovely drive for four.

  18. 'Big opportunity for Curran'published at 04:57 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I completely understand and agree with the team that England have gone with here.

    It's a big opportunity for Sam Curran to step up with the left-arm seam.

    I like the team - I think it's a big series for Jack Leach and Dom Bess. Leach hasn't played for such a long time, and I wish him all the best. It's a big six Tests for them, though, because you don't win in the sub-continent without your spinners bowling well.

  19. SL 9-0published at 4 overs

    A thick inside edge brings Lahiru Thirimanne a couple of runs before covering up in perfect defence for the rest of the over.

  20. How's stat?!published at 04:56 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2021

    Andy Zaltzman
    Test Match Special statistician

    According to CricViz, no other top-six batsman has a higher attacking shot percentage in Test cricket than Kusal Perera.