Summary

  • Root 168*, Buttler 7*

  • Root's first Test hundred since 2019

  • Lawrence 73 on debut

  • Root & Lawrence add 173

  • Bairstow 47 - falls in second over

  • Three wickets for Embuldeniya

  • Rain wipes out evening session

  • First Test, day two, Galle

  • Two-Test series postponed from March

  1. Postpublished at 07:39 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    The electric heater is off. Wish me luck.

  2. Revised playing timespublished at 07:35 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    All of the session times have been tweaked slightly after the morning rain. It does mean we're going to have extended sessions this afternoon and evening - weather and light permitting.

    Here are the new playing times:

    • Afternoon session: 07:40-10:00 GMT
    • Tea: 10:00-10:20 GMT
    • Evening session: 10:20-12:30 GMT

    We can in theory also add on half an hour at the end of the day in an attempt to get the allotted 88 overs in, but the nights draw in in Galle so that may be an ask.

  3. Postpublished at 07:31 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    The pitch has spun a lot more today - but Joe Root and Dan Lawrence had handled it pretty well so far.

    Will Sri Lanka be able to play Dom Bess and Jack Leach better at the second time of asking? That's the question.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:30 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Alain Taylor: Many people moan about wickets being prepared as a road and it’s a no contest. However, having a wicket spin this much on day two of a Test isn’t a good advert either.

  5. Quiz: Name England's Test players from this centurypublished at 07:27 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    Fancy a challenge during the lunch break?

    With Dan Lawrence making his debut in this game, he becomes the 123rd player to play Test cricket for England this century.

    Can you name the other 122? Have a go.

    England's Alex TudorImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 07:24 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    I've just looked outside for the first time today and it's frosty and foggy.

    It's also a lot colder than yesterday. I'm going to have to turn my electric heater off when play starts so I can hear the TV commentary. I can't have both going without disrupting the rest of the house.

    The glamour.

  7. Dan Lawrence - son of a groundsman, brother of a wrestlerpublished at 07:19 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    As I'm sure you know by now, Dan Lawrence is making his England debut in this game. He's up to 40 lunch and has played a couple of cracking drives, before taking aim over the mid-wicket fence.

    Earlier in the week Stephan Shemilt caught up with him, and his dad Mark, to discover how he got into cricket and how his journey has led him to a place in England's middle order.

    Have a read.

    Dan LawrenceImage source, Getty Images
  8. Listen to Australia-Indiapublished at 07:16 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    We're into the final few overs on day one of the decisive final Test between Australia and India in Brisbane.

    Australia are currently 251-5 after Marnus Labuschagne's 108.

    All-rounder Cameron Green and captain Tim Paine are currently 20 and 23 not out respectively.

    Listen to the final stages here.

    Australia's Marnus Labuschagne celebrates reaching his century against IndiaImage source, Getty Images
  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:14 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Ben Oliver: I know it’s very early days, but with Lawrence looking promising, and a potential return to form from Bairstow, are we about to enter an era of English cricket where we have too many top 5 batsmen?! What a turnaround that would be!

  10. What have I missed?published at 07:11 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    Just waking up? Here's what has happened on day two in Galle so far:

    • Play was delayed by 70 minutes due to some light rain. We may get some thundery showers later in the day, although the forecast is improving.
    • When play did start Jonny Bairstow was out in the second over of the day. He pushed forward to a Lasith Embuldeniya delivery and was well caught at short gully by Kusal Mendis without adding to his overnight 47.
    • Joe Root and Dan Lawrence have since added an unbroken 75 for the fourth wicket to leave England 206-3 at lunch - a lead of 71. Root is 99, with debutant Lawrence 40.

    In that session England have added 79 runs for the loss of one wicket.

    Jonny Bairstow is caught by Kusal Mendis on day two of the first Test in GalleImage source, Sri Lanka Cricket
  11. Postpublished at 07:09 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    Thanks Amy.

    Remember when England couldn't find any batsman and we were playing wicketkeepers galore?

    I don't want to curse Dan Lawrence but we may have just found another one.

  12. Postpublished at 07:07 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    Right, I'm off in search of coffee.

    Callum Matthews will take you to tea.

  13. Postpublished at 07:06 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    England lost Jonny Bairstow to the second over of the day after a rain delay, but Dan Lawrence picked up the mantle admirably on his debut.

    A very entertaining morning.

  14. Lunch - Eng 206-3published at 61 overs

    Lead by 79

    Joe Root will have 40 minutes to ponder that one run over his lunch.

    He walks off with 99 to his name, with Dan Lawrence on 40.

  15. dropped catch

    Close!published at 60.4 overs

    Ooft! The ball just floats past Dan Lawrence's outside edge.

    The keeper dropped it, but I don't think he nicked it...

  16. Eng 206-3published at 60.3 overs

    Dan Lawrence pads two balls away.

  17. Eng 206-3published at 60.1 overs

    Joe Root sweeps through deep mid-wicket, a fielder comes chashing round and dives...

    Has he pulled it back in before the rope? He has! Root has to wait at the non striker's end on 99.

  18. Postpublished at 07:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    Lasith Embuldeniya will bowl the final over before lunch.

    Joe Root takes his time before shaping up.

  19. Eng 203-3published at 60 overs

    I think we'll squeeze another over in - and Joe Root is on 96.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 06:59 Greenwich Mean Time 15 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Rachel T: Set up perfectly for Lawrence - all the time in the world & batting with the captain in fine form.