Summary

  • Embuldeniya removes both England openers cheaply

  • Six-wicket haul for Anderson - becomes oldest paceman to get five wickets in Asia

  • Dickwella hits his highest Test score (92); Number eight Perera adds unbeaten 67

  • Mathews falls early, caught behind for 110

  • Second Test, day two, Galle, England 1-0 up in two-match series

  1. Postpublished at 12:31

    Shall we do this again tomorrow?

    You can catch up on today's play here and with the Test Match Special podcast, which will be available shortly.

    We'll be back in the early hours for day three. In a bit.

  2. From the virtual press boxpublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  3. Postpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Zak Crawley did get a good ball after a couple skidded on, but the only thing you'd say is did he defend towards mid on a little bit too much?

  4. How's stat?!published at 12:24 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Zarina Kapasi: I think Jimmy doing it on the flat wickets of Sri Lanka is the equivalent of Messi doing it on a wet Tuesday night in Stoke. Jimmy is the GOAT.

    AndersonImage source, Sri Lanka Cricket
  6. 'I want to give absolutely everything'published at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    More from Mark Wood on Test Match Special: "My role has been pretty mixed - at times Joe has asked me to make it difficult for them to score, and at other times he wants me to get a wicket or we're trying a different tactic or we're mixing it up with bouncers to disrupt the batsman. Often bowling, not just for myself, but the guy at the other end. We have had good plans but it is unforgiving like you say - I don't think the TV does justice for how red my face is.

    "I haven't really got a target. I just want to give my best for the team and give absolutely everything that I've got. As a kid I would have given absolutely everything to play for England so it's about doing that."

  7. Postpublished at 12:19 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Jimmy Anderson is just a freak. He is leading the attack, as Stuart Broad did last week, they are just leading the way for the next generation to try and follow what they've done. It's going to be pretty impossible. It's incredible to get that amount of wickets.

    I was delighted that Mark Wood got the wickets too because he ran in hard and the paces were great.

    WoodImage source, Sri Lanka Cricket
  8. 'Anderson's a genius'published at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    More from Mark Wood: "James Anderson is a genius. All the hours he's put in back home in the cold, all the running he's done, he's as fit as he's ever been, and all of that hard work has definitely paid off for him. The skill level that he's got is through the roof and very similar to Broady, they just never seem to miss their length. It's relentless and it must be awful to be a batter. He really did earn those wickets.

    "He's earned a reputation to make batsman fear him. They know how highly skilled he is and he doesn't actually give you that much to be fair. We said if they are allowed to leave the ball you're wasting energy out here so Jimmy made them play over and over again."

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:14 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Simon Windle: Root is a better sweeper than Franz Beckenbauer. A joy to watch.

    Bhavik Kapadia: The fluency in this Joe Root innings has been amazing. Class player of spin. Watch out @BCCI.

  10. Postpublished at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    England bowler Mark Wood on Test Match Special: "I think that's probably the most effort I've put in for England while maintaining the outcome. My pace was still up at the end, and I was still trying to bowl to the captain's plans. I was really happy with the effort I put in first and foremost and to get some wickets was a bonus.

    "In the first game I thought I bowled OK, but unfortunately didn't get the wickets, so I was feeling a little bit of pressure coming into this game."

  11. Postpublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    #bbccricket

    Bob Wheeler: Guess this series confirms that if Joe Root wants to bat at 4, England should let him be there

  13. Postpublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    England were 5-2, so that's a good recovery by anyone's standards.

    And another word for Jimmy Anderson, who just gets better with age.

  14. Postpublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley certainly have a thing against left-arm spin. It's not the end of the world, and it's certainly correctable and it's just a little hiccup in their career. They won't have experienced it in their career before and the challenge of Test cricket is how you handle these random challenges you face.

    I almost wish I was out there able to help them.

  15. Postpublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    Let's not start this debate again. Joe Root is settled at number four. Let your best batsman play where he is settled and build the team around him.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    Text 81111 (UK only)

    Someone remind me why Root doesn't open for England? I appreciate there's a lot of pressure (hello Cookie) but great players have managed it (hello again Cookie). We need someone experienced at the top for the Ashes, which, let's be honest, it's all about...

    Mike, Bedford.

  17. Postpublished at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    At 98-2, England are still right in it.

    This is the challenge of playing in the sub-continent and seeing if you can overcome those little challenges.

  18. Close of play - Eng 98-2published at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    And that is a very good day of Test cricket.

    Joe Root walks off with 67 to his name and Jonny Bairstow on 24.

  19. Eng 98-2published at 29.3 overs

    This will be the last over, thanks to a tremendous amount of faffery on everyone's behalf.

  20. From the virtual press boxpublished at 11:57 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2021

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post