First Test: Sri Lanka v England in Galle, 6/11/18.

[meninblue]

Seems Foakes and Buttler are fighting back now. Anyone watching it? What is a par score?

I am watching this.

No demons on this wicket. The ball is not shooting, neither turning or bouncing severely. IMO England batsmen put themselves in precarious situation losing 5 wickets in first session on Day one on Asian wicket.

Par score should not be guessed from how England have batted. The first innings par score for team batting first should be at least 400 over here. England are far away from that. Nearing end of second session and it's still normal surface to bat on. This pair have managed to stop the collapse and bat for 18 overs. The first 5 wickets fell in 22.3 overs. So these two have done a lot of cleanup relatively.

[sussexpob]

Buttler goes. Curran so far has proved to be a decent bat, need a score from him

[meninblue]

164/6.

Brilliant take by Niroshan. Jos edged of Dilruwans bowling and it was caught low. Lot of keepers drop such catches nowadays .

[sussexpob]

Par score should not be guessed from how England have batted. The first innings par score for team batting first should be at least 400 over here. England are far away from that. Nearing end of second session and it's still normal surface to bat on. This pair have managed to stop the collapse and bat for 18 overs. The first 5 wickets fell in 22.3 overs. So these two have done a lot of cleanup relatively.

So well under the par. I guess the advantage of bowling last might be worth 100 runs if the pitch turns later, but then again it looks like a match where 5 days is really going to be 3.5 days due to the weather, so might find if we get a 4th innings, it wont truly be a worn out 5th day pitch.

Although the BBC feed is suggesting it looks like the rain might stay away till overnight

[meninblue]

Par score should not be guessed from how England have batted. The first innings par score for team batting first should be at least 400 over here. England are far away from that. Nearing end of second session and it's still normal surface to bat on. This pair have managed to stop the collapse and bat for 18 overs. The first 5 wickets fell in 22.3 overs. So these two have done a lot of cleanup relatively.

So well under the par. I guess the advantage of bowling last might be worth 100 runs if the pitch turns later, but then again it looks like a match where 5 days is really going to be 3.5 days due to the weather, so might find if we get a 4th innings, it wont truly be a worn out 5th day pitch.

Although the BBC feed is suggesting it looks like the rain might stay away till overnight

Think the rain will help England if ball gets wet and 3 Lankan spinners will hence be unable to grip the ball well and manage revolutions and control during release. England look like folding today .

Palakelle IMO will help England pacers because it's near to water body and even medium pacers have got success there.

[bigfluffylemon]

Normally you'd say 400 in Asia, but on recent records 300 in Galle might be enough.

England well under par though.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Runs from Foakes though in a tight corner and on debut.

[sussexpob]

Runs from Foakes though in a tight corner and on debut.

Judging purely on the ball by ball commentary, it sounds like he has rode his luck a little with a few shots.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Curran getting stuck in too.

Why were Jennings, Root and Buttler scoring so quickly?

Stay out in the middle, cut out the risky shots.

Fifty for Foakes. Well done to him. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the short term when JB1 comes back if Foakes has a good game.

[sussexpob]

Fifty for Foakes. Well done to him. It'll be interesting to see what happens in the short term when JB1 comes back if Foakes has a good game.

I think Bairstow would play over others, and that Foakes isnt his direct competitor for a place. Ali moves to open, Burns gets dropped. Ali swaps for Bairstow, or Ali moves down and Rashid comes out for Bairstow, all seem more plausible outcomes than Bairstow not getting a game.

[sussexpob]

Curran loves a smash, doesnt he. I wonder if he fails with the ball, at what stage England would pick him as a specialist bat. He's done a lot better than some in the top 6, and looks a natural.

[sussexpob]

Nature of the pitch maybe starting to show. Sounds very easy to bat on as the morning session has given way.

[bigfluffylemon]

Yet again the England lower order dig them out of a hole and towards respectability. They're still well under par, but at least if they can get to 250 it's something to bowl at. And with the rain around and England bowling last, you never know.

Well done to Foakes in a tricky time to come in. Curran too.

[sussexpob]

Done know who is doing the Cricinfo live commentary, but I think they may have had too much to smoke.

[sussexpob]

Curran goes...