Ali Martin’s report is in:
Which means we’re finished here for now. So, on behalf of all the writers, thanks all for your company and comments this Test-match summer – we’ll be back in, er, two days, for the limited-overs autumn. Peace out.
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Also going on:
Ah yeah, Gus Atkinson is being rested for the limited-overs gear against Australia; his place goes to Olly Stone.
Ollie Pope is disappointed, saying England shot themselves in the foot on day three, though their quicks bowled well and Nissanka batted well. He does’t think England were complacent, just that sometimes things don’t work and they didn’t score enough runs. They’ve played some really good cricket in this series, they’re a team that wants to keep moving forwards and better themselves; mainly they’ve been clinical but yesterday they just didn’t get things right.
Asked about injured bowlers, he says they’re mainly fine, thanking Woakes and Atkinson for their efforts this summer. He didn’t user Bashir much because he felt pace offered the best route to wickets and, defending a low total, you have to make decisions. Ultimately, England have won five Tests from six and won two series so he’s pretty happy with that, and also happy he scored runs personally after a few low scores and much chatter; he’s also loved being captain.
Dananjaya de Silva, the Sri Lanka captain, says they’ve had a tough time but this win is one of the greatest moments of his life. He wanted Nissanka in the team from the start but you can only pick 11 and once he got in he showed himself to be the best Sri Lankan batter right now. He hopes the win sparks something and a win in England gives him hope they do likewise elsewhere.
Brendon McCullum picks Kamindu Mendis as Sri Lanka’s payer of the series. He thinks the team did really well, especially the seamers and asked if his first-dig knock was important, he says that he just wanted to enjoy himself in the middle.
He made some small changes to bat in England – though the most important thing is to enjoy the game – moving towards the off-side when attacked fro around the wicket, and finally, asked if he’d like to bat higher he of course says he’ll do whatever the team needs him to do.
Joe Root is, of course, named player of the summer and of the series – the second award is decided by Sanath Jayasuriya. He says that as a batter and senior player you pride yourself on contributing; he loves how this team are finding new ways to interpret the game and the new faces who’ve come in and done well.
Asked if he’s currently at his absolute peak, he avoids the question but repeats that he loves playing in this team, the way they go about things makes them stand out, and they need to respond to challenges when conditions change as they did in this match.
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Pathum Nissanka is, of course, named player of the match. He says conditions were difficult this morning but he had a positive mindset and wanted to play his normal game; asked why he didn’t play in the first Test, he says that he doesn’t know. I’ll bet.
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As if I arranged it, Sky use Kulashaker’s Hush to show some some highlights, which is to say the musical rot was fully set-in by 1996.
“Only fair to report that they’ve announced a 50% refund at The Oval,” advises Gary Naylor.
Let’s hope lessons have been learnt from what we’ve seen this summer.
So what do we think of England, looking back at their summer? It felt like they tempered Bazball a bit, looking to bat a little more sensibly and play circumstances and conditions are well as Testvangelism. But there’s still a sense that without Root, there’s not enough ballast or, in other words, given Duckett, Crawley and Brook are what they are, Pope needs to try and break the cycle of feast or fast and score more consistently.
Nissanka’s 127 came off just 124 balls – a tremendous effort given the pressure of the chase, and remarkable that there was never a sense of rush or slogging, despite how quickly the runs came. He wasn’t picked for OT, remember, coming into the side for lord’s having been out of Test cricket for just over two years despite having shown his potential with one ton and five fifties in 15 Test innings. Let’s hope the selectors have learnt a lesson it took England over a decade so to do.
“I cannot recall you bemoaning the retirement of Broad and Anderson when England won the first five Tests this summer,” notes John Jones. “They are going to get beaten here not because of the failings in the bowling attack but because of the profligacy of the batsmen and the disrespect they showed, not just the opposition., but to the game of Test cricket. Well done to Sri Lanka.”
With the tennis, the Olympics and Paralympics, I’ve done barely any cricket this summer, so not surprised I’ve not said that. But though I agree with what you say about England’s attitude through parts of this match, I don’t think it’s controversial to say that, when you lose 1308 Test wickets in a few months, there’ll be times you feel that even if there also times you don’t. And let’s not forget, the absence of Mark Wood is probably as significant a factor in the result here as anything else we’ve discussed.
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Sri Lanka beat England by eight wickets to lose the three-match Test series 2-1!
41st over: Sri Lanka 219-2 (Nissanka 127, Mathews 32) Cut away, cut away for four! Nissanka finishes the match and what an innings he’s played – one that could define his career, not in terms of it being the best thing he does, but in that it might facilitate his permanent presence in the side. That’s Sri Lanka’s fourth Test-match win in England in 21 attempts, and they’ve properly earned it. Other tourists have, with the series gone, folded, but they fought hard even when under the pump on day one, and they might just’ve found a star in the process. Well expletive played them and him.
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40th over: Sri Lanka 214-2 (Nissanka 123, Mathews 31) Hull can’t be that badly injured because he returns to the attack, Nissanka fencing one behind square on the leg-side, then Mathews pulls one more to deep midwicket. In comms, Sanga suggests that the hero of the day, who’s been in and out of the squad, needs to be given a run – you need to invest in your most talented players and back them. The problem, he says, is a lack of vision, and of course that was the case with England in the nineties: players who might’ve been good enough came in and out as selectors searched for something that worked when sometimes, doing nothing is the best approach. And, as I type, Nissakana flogs four through cover; the end is imminent. Sri Lanka need five runs to win.
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39th over: Sri Lanka 208-2 (Nissanka 118, Mathews 30) In comms they think Bashir, who replaces Atkinson, ought to have bowled more this innings, but I can see why he hasn’t – England had so few runs to play with this morning that once he was milked after coming on, Pope just didn’t feel able to stick with him. He concedes two singles, then Mathews sweeps his final delivery for four and this’ll be over very soon. Sri Lanka need 11 runs to win.
38th over: Sri Lanka 202-2 (Nissanka 117, Mathews 25) Four singles and Stokes brungs leg-slip in to encourage the hook … so ever the generous guest, Nissanaka obliges him, carting six over deep backward square. Sri Lanka need 17 runs to win.
“It’s over,” reckomns Simon McMahon. “But your Radiohead reference in the 30th over got me thinking. Have Sri Lanka, The Tourist(s), got Lucky, have they become a Fitter, Happier side after the first two Tests, or has the Karma Police caught up with England who have been a real Let Down at the Oval. Cue the Exit Music (for a Test, and possibly my OBO career..?)”
Tangentially, I was thinking last evening that 1997, when OK Computer came out, was the final year of proper nineties music. I might, of course, be wrong, but the way I remember it is that pretty much everything good that was said was said by that summer and things were already going downhill.
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37th over: Sri Lanka 199-2 (Nissanka 109, Mathews 23) I said it earlier but I’ll say it again: this is probably the first time the absence of Branderson has really hurt England. You could argue that the absence of Wood and Stokes is the real problem but neither of those can be relied upon to be fit to bowl, so allowing both to depart at the same time feels like an oversight, at least today. Two single from the over, and Sri Lanka need 27 runs to win.
36th over: Sri Lanka 190-2 (Nissanka 108, Mathews 22) Sri Lanka want this over now and, with lunch due at 1.15, they might stop out till 1.30 if it’s close. Nissanka hooks a monstrous six over deep backward square and a wide follows, then a ramp to deep third and the demon Bashir is coming in. He dives forward … and this time, he can’t get fingers under ball quickly enough. They run one, a further single comes next, and Sri Lanka have done a fantastic job of getting this done. Sri Lanka need 29 runs to win.
“As someone who has to negotiate ticket prices as part of my job (not in cricket),” begins Will Vignoles, “I’m going to strap my corporate shill hat on and say that while the ticket prices are high for Test cricket, it’s probably not just simple greed that keeps them high. Granted, the Oval regularly has Test cricket and Surrey are hardly poor, but for many counties Test cricket will probably be the only big payday they get through the gate in a summer, and so prices need to be at a certain level to contribute to keeping things going for the rest of the season. Add in things like costs for infrastructure, staffing, insurance etc and it becomes a more complicated picture, even before you think that some grounds will be paying for big recent redevelopments (e.g. Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, Lord’s etc). However, I do think that the ECB and the counties have got complacent about Test cricket’s appeal and have been caught on the hop a bit by the poor sales for this series - hopefully it will have given them a bit of a wake up call that there should be more accessible options in the 2027 summer.”
Yup, as discussed below, the counties need to cash-in because they need to, not just because they love money. It is, though, a vicious circle: the Big Three deny the rest proper series, so when they come there’s less interest and the matches often aren’t close, so next time they come and partially as a consequence, soimilar happens again.
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Pathum Nissanka raises a fantastic century!
35th over: Sri Lanka 181-2 (Nissanka 101, Mathews 21) Atkinson returns to the attack and Nissanka, perhaps losing concentration or perhaps wanting his hundred sorted, gets forward and shows the full face to one that passes it. On another day, that catches the edge, but to give him his dues I can’t recall many if any other false shots, a point he underlines with a well-timed shove through cover for three. That raises a fantastic century and there are no histrionics, just a kiss of the bat and pose that says yeah, that’s me, what about it, before the helmet is replaced because there’s work to do and he wants to be there at the end. And Mathews wants this match finished, flinging hands at one that avoids the fielders when dropping into the on -side; they run two. Sri Lanka need 38 runs to win.
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34th over: Sri Lanka 176-2 (Nissanka 98, Mathews 19) In a sense this feels like a glimpse of the future. Though England have, on the face of things, managed the transition from Branderson to Nobranderson fairly well, it doesn’t feel a stretch to say that with those two in tandem, this would not be going as it is – if nothing else, runs would be coming more slowly. And, with India visiting next summer, the winter seasoning England’s inexperienced attack will get becomes extremely important because though they’ll be back in home conditions for that test, they’ll find it harder to score big runs and harder to ru through compliant opposition. Anyroad, a leg-bye, a two through backward point and two singles means the score keeps moving and Nissanka is on the cusp of a crucial ton. Sri Lanka need 43 runs to win.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 172-2 (Nissanka 95, Mathews 19) Nissanka rises onto his toes to flow Woakes to cover for two; that takes him into the nineties and what a ton this’d be; what a knock this already is. I’d go as far as to say this match is now over, no attempt at a commentator’s curse and, as I type, a short, wide one from Woakes – two things he could never himself be – is clattered to the point fence for a four which takes the runs required below 50. Sri Lanka need 48 runs to win.
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32nd over: Sri Lanka 166-2 (Nissanka 89, Mathews 19) Decent from Stone, who finds a bit of movement off the seam from a full length, nipping in to Nissanka, but he edges into the pad then gets off strike with a single to square leg. And just as the over looks to be a crucial one stemming the flow of runs, Mathews edges low between slips and gully for four. Sri Lanka need 53 runs to win.
31st over: Sri Lanka 161-2 (Nissanka 88, Mathews 15) Not quite a final roll of the dice, but Joe Root flips the bails, which always works, and Woakes returns for perhaps the final spell of a summer in which he’s flogged himself with excellence and alacrity. I guess Pope can’t afford for Sri Lanka to milk Bashir, nor for him to buy a wicket or two – perhaps because they were silly in stopping out last evening, letting Sri Lanka get the chase off to a decent start against spin, when it probably made more sense to bowl a quick, come off for bad light, and go again this morning. Anyroad, a single is quickly followed by four byes, then four leg byes, and this match is now escaping England at quite a rate. Sri Lanka need 58 runs to win.
"He's a tall man!"
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 9, 2024
WHAT A CATCH FROM SHOAIB BASHIR! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/WggP6zUI5w
30th over: Sri Lanka 152-2 (Nissanka 87, Mathews 15) We said earlier this morning that Hull was taking a fitness test and his speeds being down reflect that; he’s quickly removed from the attack, Stone returning at his end. And another solid over for the tourists follows, featuring two twos, a single and neither alarms nor surprises. The partnership is 44 runs from 10.3 overs and at drinks, Sri Lanka need 67 runs to win.
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29th over: Sri Lanka 147-2 (Nissanka 82, Mathews 15) Pope introduces Bashir into the attack and Mathews takes one to cover then, offered one that sits up, Nisskana doesn’t miss out, hauling it around the corner for four. The scoring has speeded up in recent overs and here comes another boundary, Mathews down on one knee to slog-sweep high to deep backward square. Sri Lanka need 72 runs to win.
28th over: Sri Lanka 137-2 (Nissanka 77, Mathews 10) Hull’s pace is down from an average 82.6 mph in the first innings to an average 80.3 now, as Nissanka turns to square leg and Nathan Barwell, England’s sub fielder, runs and hurls, forcing Mathews into a full-length dive as the ball zips over the top. You can, I’m sure, guess what happens next, but just in case, of course Athers notes that we’re big fans of sub-fielding contributions in this country, given RT Ponting sat next to him. Otherwise, two singles follow, then Nissanaka gets right up on his tippy-toes to cut hard for four, in the process making this a really good over for the tourists. Sri Lanka need 82 runs to win.
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27th over: Sri Lanka 129-2 (Nissanka 70, Mathews 9) England are, Ricky explains, looking to drag Nissanka across and nip the ball back into him, while taking it away from Mathews; the former nudges a single to cover, then the latter turns one slanting across him into the on-side for one more. Two more follow when Mathews is again offered a release around the corner, and this is excellent from Sri Lanka, their batting calm and unhurried – for now, at least. Sri Lanka need 90 runs to win.
26th over: Sri Lanka 124-2 (Nissanka 68, Mathews 6) Boyd Rankin Josh Hull now replaces Atkinson and Nissanka angles his third delivery down to backward point, the only run from the over. England need another wicket to get the tension going, because for now, Sri Lanka look pretty comfortable. Sri Lanka need 95 runs to win.
“My favourite Moeen innings was his not out 108 at Headingly,” agrees Philip May. “Lucky to see it live. I was sitting near the famous Sri Lankan cheerleader. He told me that was financially supported by Sri Lankan donors to travel round the world cheering them on. I have never read this, but he sat beside an even older man, who appeared partially blind or blind and, most of the time, he told the cheerleader what to chant.”
This sounds like a good job. How does one apply?
25th over: Sri Lanka 123-2 (Nissanka 67, Mathews 6) Ricky Pointing is in commentary, a development I consider news in and of itself because of how good he is at it; Olly Stone replaces Woakes in the England attack. Nissanka clips his first ball around the corner for two and a single follows when he jams down to keep out a delivery zoning in towards middle stump. Sri Lanka need 96 runs to win.
“Not just the prices,” says Nick Terdre. “I was there yesterday, sitting in block 5 of the JM Finn stand. It was a great day’s play, but I have to say marred somewhat by the way Surrey have crammed in the seats so that you can hardly move without knocking into your neighbour, and awkwardly grabbing your plastic mug of beer and other bits and pieces every time someone wants to get by. It’s like sitting on a crowded tube all day long, and I can only put it down to a desire to crowbar in as many punters as possible to maximise takings. It’s a miserable attitude. On the plus side, there was no unrefundable £1 deposit for the beer mugs as charged in Surrey games this season.”
My mate’s lad rinsed himself £140 collecting and returning empties at Lord’s the other day, but yup, the snooker at Ally Pally is like that too – or at least was the last time I went, knees under chin and no scope to adjustment. I can’t lie, for those of us unable to sit still, restricted movement can be kind of liberating, but it’s unlikely whoever made the call to pack em in had me in mind. Or did they?!
24th over: Sri Lanka 120-2 (Nissanka 64, Mathews 6) Atkinson will fancy a full over at Mathews, but looking at their attack, they do lack a word I’d best not use in family newspaper but is defined as “one that is formidable” by the Merriam-Webster dictionary; the kind of person able to refocus a match and make it all about them. Meantime, though, and though it’s not especially threatening, it’s the first maiden of the morning and Sri Lanka need 99 runs to win.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 120-2 (Nissanka 64, Mathews 6) Thinking back to that Bashir catch, I love it when you see athletes who aren’t obviously athletic remind you that they are, in fact, of an entirely different breed to you and me. The obvious comparator, at least in my mind, is Peter Crouch scoring an overhead kick, but back to the action, after a single to Mathews, Nissanka cuts four through point, and he still looks pretty comfy out there … ahahahaha! Of course, as I type, he has a yahoo and one that’s full but wide, missing everything. Sri Lanka need 99 wins to win.
22nd over: Sri Lanka 115-2 (Nissanka 60, Mathews 5) Atkinson’s getting up a bit of pace now, Nissanka knocking around the corner for a single. Against Mathews, Nass notes that he’ll be looking for away-movement and, on cue, he shapes one in that’s easily twizzled through midwicket for three and I wonder if it might help for him to go around the wicket. Sri Lanka need 104 runs to win.
21st over: Sri Lanka 111-2 (Nissanka 59, Mathews 2) I dunno, I don’t think Mathews is a Test number three. Othet hand, I do think he’s someone who’s loved putting England to the sword over the years, which makes him the perfect person to come in at this stage. Last time Sri Lanka won here, he was crucial – and, while we’re here, my favourite Moeen knock is the 108 not out rearguard at Headingley, the least Moeen knock imaginable – but as I type, he calls Nissanka through for KP-style Red Bull single, and with another direct hit, he’s gone. But the shy misses, he survives, and his side are one nearer their target – though, in comms, Kumar is distinctly unimpressed, calling the running “unacceptable”. A further single follows, and Sri Lanka need 108 runs to win.
20th over: Sri Lanka 109-2 (Nissanka 58, Mathews 1) I can’t think of many brilliant Atkinson spells this summer, but he appears to have a knack for taking wickets. Sri Lanka need 110 runs to win.
“With the complaints about the price to watch what may be a couple of hours play today:,” begins Andrew Milligan, “last week everyone was moaning about dynamic pricing when prices went up for Oasis tickets, so is the concept a good or a bad thing?”
Like many things, it depends, but the key difference I’d say is that Oasis are not a public institution that needs protecting and preserving for future generations.
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WHAT A GRAB SHOAIB BASHIR! WICKET! Mendis c Bashir b Atkinson 39 (Sri Lanka 108-2)
Might that be a turning point? Atkinson again strays leg-side, this time with a bouncer, and Mendis enthusiastically helps the delivery around the corner via hook. But on the fine leg boundary, Bashir leaps left, full-length, and holds a ripper in the gloaming.
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19th over: Sri Lanka 106-1 (Nissanka 57, Mendis 38) Mendis drops and runs, Atkinson shies and breaks the stumps ... but when we take a look we see Nissanka is well in though he was lax. Next, an attempted turn around the corner … was there an edge? There was not, rather a flick off the thigh, but Woakes is into this now, rapping the pad with one that’s just about going down, then a single and a three make this a pretty decent over for the Lankans. Sri Lanka need 113 runs to win.
“According to the ticket terms and conditions,” offers Mojo Wellington, “if no more than 30 overs are bowled, a 50% refund would be issued. Existing ticket holders could easily be compensated if today’s ticket prices were reduced. In reality, spectators will be sitting there hoping the Sri Lankans knock off the runs quickly, or England somehow blow them away so they can get some money back. Meanwhile, cricket fans have been kept away on the fourth day of a Test for two weeks running because of the greed of two wealthy Test-match grounds.”
I wonder how much is greed and how much is necessity, but yes, it should not be like this.
18th over: Sri Lanka 101-1 (Nissanka 56, Mendis 34) Nissanka raises Sri Lanka’s hundred with a shove into the leg-side, Atkinson hitting just back of a length And he’s around there for most of the over; I’d expect Woakes to be a little fuller, attacking the stumps. Sri Lanka need 118 runs to win.
“Come on Sri Lanka!” cries Ben Bernards. “Do it for our tired, our poor, our huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of cricket’s teeming shore. Stuff it up one of The Big Self-Serving 3!”
17th over: Sri Lanka 99-1 (Nissanka 54, Mendis 34) It’s Woakes from the other end and, as you’d expect, he’s on the money immediately. Nissanka narrowly avoids a leading edge, then softens hands just in time to guide the next delivery into the ground so it bounces in front of slip. A single into the on-side follows, and neither side will mind this start too much. Sri Lanka need 120 to win.
16th over: Sri Lanka 98-1 (Nissanka 53, Mendis 34) Atkinson’s loosener to Mendis is leg-side but he escapes with a dot, then again when he offers a short, wide one. The pitch is breaking up a bit … for all the difference it makes when a drivable delivery, the last of the over, is driven to the fence at long off. Sri Lanka need 121 runs to win.
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Righto, Gus Atkinson has the ball and we’re ready. England need nine wickets, Sri Lanka need 125 runs.
Oof madone dept: *RA Smyth advises me there’s a new Sopranos doc on Sky and it’s glorious.
“You don ‘t need a two-stretch at law school to learn that £75-£85 for a few hours cricket on a miserable Monday is daylight robbery,” writes Showbizguru. “My seat to watch the Aussies in the T20 at Cardiff on Friday is £43.50. The greed is palpable.”
And why is that series even happening?
On Sky, they’re talking about England’s selection process. For mine, now that you ask, I remember Sachin Tendulkar making his India debut aged 17, and the accordant handwringing about how that kind of thing could never happen in England. The way I see it, there are now three routes to selection: excellence in county cricket, excellence in potential or a bit of both, and what’s important is the right kind of profile and the right kind of mentality. It seems to be working, as far as I can see.
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“Re Gary’s mention of the bargain ticket prices available today,” writes Zach Nolan. “I’m a cricket fan, with the day off work, I live five minutes from the Oval, and yet even I’ve decided to stay at home and listen to TMS instead. Maybe there’s a commercial masterplan that we’re not supposed to understand, but it sometimes feels like they actively don’t want people to buy tickets. See you next summer!”
I guess the idea is that those who’ve paid full price would complain. But frankly, if they’re adults they should understand the difference between buying something in advance and walking up on the day to get what’s available, never mind trying to protect something that we all love.
Josh Hull and Gus Atkinson are, says Nass, taking fitness tests. If either or both aren’t at it this morning, that’s a massive boost for Sri Lanka – though, as it goes, my sense is that if England are to do this, it’ll be Chris Woakes and Olly Stone doing umch of the work.
Email! "“Fancy a seat at the Test today?” wonders Gary Naylor. “Should be a decent couple of hours or so? A walk-up at the ticket office is £75 for the alcohol-free stand and, if you want a drink (at £7.95 a pint), £85. Why not bring a friend?”
Goodness me. I actually did a day like this once that was one of the worst days of my life, because I knew I was starting a two-stretch at law school the one after. I didn’t cost that, though – on which point, why is it dearer to sit somewhere you’re more likely to spend even more?
On Sky, Nass is interviewing the excellent Jamie Smith who, asked about England’s use of reviews under Ollie Pope, notes that they’ve got three so deploy them speculatively. And he’s right, I think: if you’re missing calls that would’ve been overturned, either if you went upstairs but didn’t, or burned your opportunities so couldn’t, that’s a problem. But if not, not.
Sri Lanka should win from here. But it’s a grimy day in London – yes, there are other kinds – but an English attack in English conditions, stung by the prospect of defeat, probably won’t make it easy. The absence of Mark Wood is a problem for the hosts, but theirs is still a decent attack and each member of it will fancy themselves as today’s hero. A few early maidens or a few early wickets and this’ll get very nervy.
Preamble
It’s not been the greatest summer for humanity’s greatest invention. One of the reasons we compete at stuff is because we don’t know what’s going to happen, but that hasn’t really been the case in the two serieseseseses England have played and, though they may be a decent outfit, they’re not so decent they should be dispensing consecutive whitewashes.
As such, it’s important – and necessary - that Sri Lanka see out this win, not because it will redress the crippling inequalities and inequities that define this thing of ours in the way they define every other thing of ours. But it’d be something, at least, evidence that application and intensity are required to achieve results rather than the team with the most sizeable exchequer just winning.
It’s called Test cricket because it’s meant to best testing – something else we just don’t say often enough! – so eyes down for the finish this summer might not deserve, but most definitely needs. Come on the Lankans!
Play: 11am BST, 11am local
