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England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day Three: Five Things We Learned

England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day Three: Five Things We Learned

England get the series up and running with a commanding innings and 88-run win over Sri Lanka. Here’s what we learned from a one-sided day three…

MAN OF THE DAY – JAMES ANDERSON

Two years ago, Jimmy was crying at end of a gruelling Headingley showdown with Sri Lanka. This time, after just three days, he had a a smile on his face. “It’s nice to put that to bed,” says Anderson, as he reflected on his second innings five for 29, which gave him his second 10-wicket haul in Tests. Just as he did yesterday, he ensured the ball was full and gave it every chance to move through the air and of the pitch. While the result was a formality, England weren’t quite at their best with the ball this morning. Apart from Anderson, of course. With Chester-le-Street next week, he will fancy another sack full.

KEEPING AT IT

Jonny Bairstow, who was given the man of the match award, can no doubt hold down a place as a batsman. Long term, that may be what England decide and opt to reinstate Jos Buttler, or another candidate, who is superior with the gloves. He dropped a chance today, to his right – Kusal Mendis the lucky recipient – but ended up with nine catches to go with a fine 140. All in all, a great few days’ work. Bairstow will pull up trees this next year and, it will be interesting to see if England react to any dip by taking the gloves off him to preserve his form. Because, with the bat alone, he can be a world beater.

BOYZ TO MENDIS

A maiden Test fifty, from 62 balls, with the ball doing all sorts, is an important moment in Kusal Mendis’ Test career. Schoolboy cricketer of the year in 2013 and former captain of the Sri Lanka U19s, there was an inevitability to Kusal Mendis’ Test call-up. The early showings against New Zealand were promising: four scores over 30 suggested a level of aptitude and concentration, against Trent Boult and Tim Southee, that is rare in a 21-year-old. Two scores of sixty in the tour matches against Essex and Leicestershire had all but secured his spot at number three, but after a first innings tw0-ball duck, there was much to learn from how he would respond in the second innings. Brilliantly, that’s how. He gave a couple of chances – dropped by Jonny Bairstow and James Vince – but he played aggressively knowing that going into his shell and feeling forward in defence will only bring about his demise. The immediate future is fairly bleak for Sri Lanka but Mendis is proof there is light beyond the horizon.

WHOLESALE CHANGES NOT THE ANSWER

There will be a temptation from Sri Lanka’s selectors to chop and change. More so than most other Test nations, the success of the team directly correlates to the merits of the committee and, as a result, it is not uncommon for them to instigate a total top-to-bottom overhaul to preserve their jobs. But the truth is, for all their incompetence in this match, this is probably Sri Lanka’s best XI. The openers are their on merit, while the middle order of Chandimal-Mathews-Thirimanne won’t be improved by others on the periphery. These players will learn from defeat – from the feeling of being bested by a superior side in alien conditions. And they should be allowed to do so, together.

TO DURHAM

A cold, traditionally seam friendly Test venue, where England have an 100% record at. Call it 2-0 and move on to Lord’s?