Sri Lanka hammer sloppy England in last Test of the summer

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England failed to make it a clean sweep summer, losing to Sri Lanka by eight wickets thanks to one of the poorest performances on Brendon McCullum’s watch.

Overall they can be proud of their work this summer, winning 5-1 against West Indies and Sri Lanka despite several injuries to important players. But this defeat provided a wake-up call as they head for winter Test series in Pakistan and New Zealand.

It is not a summer of Test cricket that will live long in the memory but will be viewed as important for the evolution of this team, fresh faces bringing vibrancy and hope for the future. The new generation led by Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson broke through and on the whole England did refine their approach, judging situations better until they reached the Oval where they switched off. A mixture of tiredness and complacency gave them a slap in the face.

To be 261-3 on day one in good bowling conditions and lose by eight wickets before lunch on day four was a huge waste. With Sri Lanka 93-5 in their first innings, England failed to put foot on throats, agreeing to bowl spin in the gloom to give the fans some cricket but losing the game in the process. If Josh Hull had not dropped a dolly off Dhananjaya De Silva on 23 at mid on off Shoaib Bashir it would have been a different story. But the Hull miss allowed De Silva and Kamindu Mendis to put on 127 and keep Sri Lanka in the game.

Once England were bowled out in 34 overs on day three, it became a one-innings match that Sri Lanka won comfortably. “We shot ourselves in the foot,” admitted Ollie Pope.

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Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten 127 was a fine innings of controlled strokeplay that deserved to win a Test match and was in sharp contrast to England’s hedonistic approach with the bat. A tired England attack took just one wicket on Monday, Kusal Mendis bounced out by Atkinson and caught by a flying Bashir at fine leg. Sri Lanka confidently knocked off the remaining 125 they needed for their first win in England for 10 years.

“I don’t think we played our best cricket this week and that is going to happen from time to time. Coldplay can’t be number one every week,” said Joe Root, who was named man of the series. “My point being is we are not always going to get it right all of the time. For 90 per cent of the summer we have. We have shown what a good team we can be when we play in that manner.”

Pope steps aside for Ben Stokes with a hundred in this Test and two wins from three. He did a decent job without Mark Wood for two Tests, Zak Crawley for three and an unbalanced side in the absence of Stokes. Whether he is Stokes’s long-term successor is not really any clearer, but he should grow from the experience.

England’s selection was bold and signalled the biggest culture shift in that area for years. They plucked players out of county cricket based on their own judgment. Where they were conservative was changing the team from match to match. It resulted in Atkinson over-bowling and suffering a quad injury. It was a similar story with Wood, who played back-to-back Tests against West Indies with the series won and will not be seen again this winter.

The decision to open with Dan Lawrence was based on loyalty and was a failure but a negative can still be a learning; Lawrence can be scrubbed off the list of Test batsmen for the Ashes.

Hull was an intriguing call, and he is a raw talent with great potential. He had never bowled with a wobble seam until James Anderson showed him in the nets before this Test and physically this was a real challenge for a bowler with so little cricket in his body. He ran out of steam and needs to play more cricket, build up his physique and continue to work with Anderson. If all goes well England will benefit massively from having a giant left-armer to throw at Australia.

Atkinson’s 34 wickets in six Tests and stunning century at Lord’s made him the player of the summer. He can be England’s Josh Hazlewood, hitting upper 80smph, relentlessly pushing batsmen back not with sheer pace but quick enough to make them feel uncomfortable. He bowled through the pain in Sri Lanka’s second innings showing commitment to the cause, impressing the management further.

Smith is a wonderful talent, possibly a once in a generation player. He can bat like a Test veteran and blaze like a T20 machine. His keeping was understated and efficient, his batting powerful and his temperament just as level-headed as Atkinson’s. To have him prowling below Stokes at seven in Australia and confident batting with the tail is a potential game- changer from recent tours.

Tougher opponents await these players. They are yet to face genuine pace or mystery spin but the building blocks are there and with McCullum tightening his grip on the England team as overall head coach, and extending his contract, there is stability.

There were a smattering of Sri Lankan flags at the Oval to celebrate a famous win, and it was better for Test cricket as an ecosystem for them to beat England this week. The gulf between the top three and the rest has never been starker and England, India and Australia getting a bloody nose every so often is not a bad thing.

The 10,000 day-four crowd was a decent effort by Surrey on a Monday but English cricket has to stop being complacent with its ticket prices for Test cricket and recognise they have to adapt to the market better. That, possibly, is the biggest learning of all.

Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket win, as it happened: below

02:19 PM BST

Well played Sri Lanka

England threw this game away with the bat by Sri Lanka still had plenty to do, and very encouraging for them that an inexperienced side has won in England, only the fourth time SL have done so. England didn't seem too bothered about the defeat and can of course rightly say they have won five Tests out of six this summer. Australia are here later this month for white ball cricket and we will of course be blogging that. Thanks for your company this Test summer and we will see you soon.

02:08 PM BST

Boycott unimpressed by England tactics

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01:49 PM BST

Fine knock indeed

01:38 PM BST

Gus Atkinson

is indeed injured, and will miss the white ball action against Australia. England have three T20s and then five ODIs against the old enemy, throughout the month of September. Are you champing at the bit for eight England matches between now and 29th September? I think I am not in full champ mode. Bring your woolies.

01:37 PM BST

Ollie Pope

"Disappointing not to be on the right side of the result today. Day three we shot ourselves in the foot, we were not at our best.

"Wouldn't say it was complacency. It has been a long summer but that is not the reason. It was just one of those days (day three) where it didn't come off. We want to keep learning, bettering ourselves and moving forward and I think we have done that this summer.

"Not easy having back to back Tests for the fast bowlers.

"We knew the pitch was swinging and seaming, we realised that this was the main threat with the bounce here. In a short chase you have to make decisions (ie why they didn't use Bashir much today).

"Loved being captain. Obviously when Stokesy is back he will step back in but it has been an honour.

"Disappointing not to win today but we have won five out of six Tests this summer."

01:32 PM BST

De Silva

"One of the most happy moments as my career. Big moment to win here (only SL's fourth in England). Very proud for my team and my country. Nissanka is the best bat in Sri Lanka right now."

01:27 PM BST

Kamindu Mendis

is Sri Lanka’s player of the summer.

"I just wanted to enjoy the game in the middle. Altered my game from home conditions, just small changes nothing too big. I moved a bit over to off stump after the first game. Always a challenge in England facing the seamers. To be confident and enjoy your cricket is important."

01:26 PM BST

Joe Root

is named both player of the summer and the England player of the series.

“We have played some nice cricket. Good to see the team put its best foot forward and find new ways to succeed. I love playing in this team, some great lads, fun and exciting cricket. Last few years have been most enjoyable of my career.

"We came up against different conditions in this game, we always want to put opponents under pressure. That is what us makes us a team that stands out from others."

01:22 PM BST

Player of the match

Unsurprisingly and correctly, the man of the match is Nissanka.

Through an interpreter he says he is pleased and proud. "Some difficulty in the morning but a positive mindset."

01:21 PM BST

Presentations

At The Oval.

01:08 PM BST

Stick around for reaction

(on Sky)

01:06 PM BST

Sri Lanka win by eight wickets

Pathum Nissanka’s classy 127*, supported by 39 from Kusal Mendis and 32* from Angelo Mathews taking them home.

01:05 PM BST

OVER 40.3: SL 219/2 (Nissanka 127* Mathews 31*) (target 219)

Mathews works Bashir for one to leg. Nissanka cuts hard behind point, England cannot cut it off, that's four runs and that's the match.

01:04 PM BST

OVER 40: SL 214/2 (Nissanka 123* Mathews 31*) (target 219)

Josh Hull comes on. Offers width. Smashed through the covers by Nissanka, four runs for that and Sri Lanka need just five.

01:00 PM BST

OVER 39: SL 208/2 (Nissanka 118* Mathews 30*) (target 219)

But yes, now that the match is de facto over, Bashir is getting some bowling. Mathews sweeps him for four.

12:58 PM BST

Wrong strategy

12:57 PM BST

OVER 38: SL 202/2 (Nissanka 117* Mathews 25*) (target 219)

Stone trying out some short stuff. After four singles, Nissanka wallops one into the stands. Hard lines for the food concessions at The Oval, this is gonna be done by lunch.

12:52 PM BST

OVER 37: SL 192/2 (Nissanka 109* Mathews 23*) (target 219)

Atkinson running in manfully but causing few difficulties.

12:50 PM BST

Record breakers

12:49 PM BST

Some seats still available, part 94

12:46 PM BST

OVER 36: SL 190/2 (Nissanka 108* Mathews 22*) (target 219)

Stone, perhaps grumpy, bangs the ball in. Nissanka sways out of the way of one, then slaughters the next short delivery for six! Another short one, Nissanka now with the uppercut... chance for Bashir... oh no, he has dropped it. Had to dive forward but no dice.

Scyld said earlier that Bashir was one for two, that's now one for three catching in the deep.

12:39 PM BST

OVER 35: SL 181/2 (Nissanka 101* Mathews 21*) (target 219)

He has done it! Punches the ball through point for three and celebrates with his arms spread, helmet off. Well done Pathum Nissanka, that’s a terrific, match-winning century and very nicely made it was too.

12:36 PM BST

OVER 34: SL 176/2 (Nissanka 98* Mathews 19*) (target 219)

Stone with an excellent delivery that squares up Angelo Mathews.  Nissanka tucks the ball through point for a couple and nudges to the offside. He's on the brink.

12:31 PM BST

OVER 33: SL 172/2 (Nissanka 95* Mathews 19*) (target 219)

Nissanka smashes Woakes for four through point. Woof. A ton beckons and it'll be a fine knock too.

12:29 PM BST

OVER 32: SL 166/2 (Nissanka 89* Mathews 19*) (target 219)

Oooh! Stone draws the edge of Mathews' bat but that flies wide of the slips and it's another four.

12:22 PM BST

OVER 31: SL 161/2 (Nissanka 87* Mathews 15*) (target 219)

Bashir not felt to be the answer and he’s off after just one over. Woakes is the man who replaces him.

Sri Lanka will have this wrapped by lunch at this rate.

Woakes strays legside not once but twice. Two boundaries given as extras to the fine leg fence, I think it was byes for the first and leg byes for the second. Cheap runs either way and England are not really landing a glove at the moment.

12:18 PM BST

Surely the correct view

12:15 PM BST

OVER 30: SL 152/2 (Nissanka 87* Mathews 15*) (target 219)

Stone gets Nissanka playing and missing. But miss he does.

Again Stone too straight on occasion here.

Drinks.

12:14 PM BST

OVER 29: SL 147/2 (Nissanka 82* Mathews 15*) (target 219)

It's probably last chance saloon for England, they needed someone to get on a Broad-style roll and to be honest that has not happened. Pope tosses the ball to Bashir.

Not the game breaking over England needed.

Too short, walloped. Four.  That was Nissanka. Now Mathews gets in on the act with a sweep for four and it all makes for a ten run over.

12:04 PM BST

OVER 28: SL 137/2 (Nissanka 77* Mathews 10*) (target 219)

Crashed through point from the Nissan Man and that's a lovely four.

12:03 PM BST

OVER 27: SL 129/2 (Nissanka 70* Mathews 9*) (target 219)

Stone's a bit too straight in this over and is worked around for five runs without much trouble.

11:52 AM BST

OVER 26: SL 124/2 (Nissanka 68* Mathews 6*) (target 219)

Slow but eminently sensible march from Sri Lanka so far: the only moment of silliness was Kusal Mendis hitting two top edge slogs in a minute, the second of which was caught.

Josh Hull is into the attack. Good accurate stuff, but well played.

11:49 AM BST

OVER 25: SL 123/2 (Nissanka 67* Mathews 6*) (target 219)

A bowling change, Stone comes on. Nissanka pulls the first ball away for a couple. Stone getting a bit of seam movement back into the RHB.

11:47 AM BST

Skipper spot

Ollie Pope, the opposing captain, could do well to watch Pathum Nissanka, almost the same height. Nissanka is more compact, more balanced, seldom trying to hit the ball too hard. Whatever happens from here….

11:44 AM BST

OVER 24: SL 120/2 (Nissanka 64* Mathews 6*) (target 219)

Atkinson finding some lift in this over. Mathews rides it well enough and that is a maiden .

11:37 AM BST

OVER 23: SL 120/2 (Nissanka 64* Mathews 6*) (target 219)

Woakes swings the ball into Mathews, who tucks it for one. And now a boundary from Nissanka that takes the target below three figures. A nice shot as well, punched through point.

11:35 AM BST

OVER 22: SL 115/2 (Nissanka 60* Mathews 5*) (target 219)

Atkinson just searching for his line a bit in this over. Single to Nissanka off his legs. Now three to Mathews off the pads.

11:29 AM BST

Fine leg key

That’s the second catch, out of two chances, which Shoaib Bashir has taken at fine leg. It’s going to be such a key position in the next Ashes.

11:28 AM BST

OVER 21: SL 111/2 (Nissanka 59* Mathews 2*) (target 219)

Woakes to Mathews. Beaten by a jaffer outside off. Testing exam for Angelo, who looks rattled and takes a Red Bull run into the offside. Nissanka isn't too thrilled, he had to unpack an Klinsmann-esque dive to get home and I don't think he would have been sage had it hit. Looks like Nissanka has mildly hurt himself in that tumble but he's okay. Probably just not much fun diving on the hard Oval pitch in September.

11:25 AM BST

OVER 20: SL 109/2 (Nissanka 58* Mathews 1*) (target 219)

Angelo Mathews, who is due a score, is off the mark first ball.

11:21 AM BST

WICKET! Kusal Mendis c Bashir b Atkinson 39

Kusal Mendis takes on Atkinson’s short one first ball of the over, gets a top edge but it lands safe. But Kusal has not learned his lesson! He’s been watching too much Bazball, the silly sausage. He goes for another ambitious hook, and this time he has picked out Bashir in the deep. Well, I say he has picked him out - Shoaib Bashir actually had to make some good ground there and he’s taken a really good catch. England are in the hunt! FOW 108/2

11:18 AM BST

OVER 19: SL 106/1 (Nissanka 57* Kusal 38*) (target 219)

Kusal with the tip and run. Atkinson with the swoop in the infield, gathers and throws down the stumps. Nissanka is in.

Woakes is in the game. Appeal for a caught behind but that was Nissanka's thigh pad. Pins him on the crease now but that's too high.

11:13 AM BST

Wigmore

11:12 AM BST

OVER 18: SL 101/1, Nissanka 56 Kusal 34 (target 219)

A better over from Atkinson but the 100 comes up with a tuck through the leg side from Nissanka.

Atkinson is up around 85mph, which rather suggests that he's not feeling too bad. The empty seats around the Oval mean that the exhortations of the England fielders are echoing around the stadium. Curiously – for a bloke representing a country with a climate of high heat and monstrous humidity – Nissanka is in shirtsleeves.

11:09 AM BST

OVER 17: SL 99/1, Nissanka 54 Kusal 34 (target 219)

There is some swing for Woakes, bowling from the Vauxhall end. He finds Nissanka's outside edge but the ball falls short of second slip. Nissanka tucks a single off his hip, but that's a tidy start from Woakes.

Not sure there's ever been a day of Test cricket when this wasn't true but....England need early wickets.

11:05 AM BST

Woakes to share opening duties

With the lacquer off the ball now, Woakes will need to find some swing.

11:04 AM BST

OVER 16: SL 98/1, Nissanka 53 Kusal 34 (target 219)

Atkinson's opening ball of the morning is a rank slider down the leg side and his third really should have been smashed to the point boundary. Nissanka does pick up four from the final ball of the over, driving through mid-off. Pretty ropey first over.

"Come on lads," comes the call from the corden "Four down with 100 to win here."

That's basically the Boycott rule – add two wickets to the score, then see how it looks – with an extra wicket thrown in for optimism.

10:59 AM BST

Gus Atkinson has the ball!

Perhaps he's made a miraculous overnight recovery. Anyway, here we go. Play about to start on day four.

10:57 AM BST

The last day of the Test summer

It feels very autumnal in South London today (well, the bits of South London where you can see the trees, at least). Today will surely be the final day of play after six Tests this summer. But, remarkably, there are still three T20Is and three ODIs to come this 'summer', all of them against Australia. The first – preposterously – is on Wednesday in Southampton.

10:47 AM BST

Boycott’s view of day four

As Sir Geoffrey says in the audio briefing below, historically totals of a little more than 200 have been difficult to chase, but that's because ordinarily the batting team is faced with a turning pitch. That's not the case here.

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10:36 AM BST

In your inbox

10:35 AM BST

Every day’s a schoolday

06:55 PM BST

Day four preview

Hello, good morning and welcome to our live blog of day four of the third Test at The Oval. Sri Lanka resume on 94/1, needing to score a further 125 to pull off what would be a superb victory. England need, therefore, nine wickets to avoid some awkward questions about how they have thrown this Test match away.

England were 290/4 in their first innings having done well after being inserted in bowler-friendly conditions but the worst excesses of their attack-at-all-costs mentality came to the fore and they lost their last six wickets for 35. Even still, having bowled Sri Lanka for 263 on Sunday morning, they had the opportunity to make the game safe and then turn the screw on the tourists’ iffy batting line up on days four and five. But once again, they played like millionaires, got shot out in 34 overs and set Sri Lanka just 219 to win. Dan Lawrence, particularly, played the most absurd innings of hit-and-giggle.

Chris Woakes had Dimuth Karunaratne caught and bowled on Sunday evening before Pathum Nissanka made a classy and composed half century and then rain intervened. Nissanka and the experienced Kusal Mendis resume this morning.

The forecast for today and Tuesday isn’t exactly delightful but the tourists won’t need many overs to get what they need and England really just have to come out all guns blazing and knock Sri Lanka over this morning. Can they do it? Absolutely. But if Sri Lanka keep their nerve, there’s no particular demon in the pitch and the bookies aren’t making them 9/1 on to win for nothing. I guess Sri Lanka have struggled to put together two good days, or even two consecutive good sessions so far in this series, but that’s what they can do now. Stuart Broad said on Sky last night “these are the sort of days you dream of as a bowler, a chance to take wickets and win your side the game.” Somebody needs to make himself a hero with a Broadesque grab of the momentum, that’s for sure. Play starts at 11am so please join us for that, as well as updates from our experts at the ground.