England v Sri Lanka 1st Test - 5 Talking Points

The summer started off with a thumping win over for England after they registered a wonderful victory by an innings and 80 runs over the visitors Sri Lanka in the first Test at Headingley. It was at the same venue where the hosts lost a narrow game and gave away the series to the visitors. However, the scenario two years later was very contrasting as James Anderson’s terrific 10-wicket haul completely floored the Lankans. The English side, batting first posted a decent 298 runs on day one with the help of solid knocks from Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow. The total seemed to be more than enough for the hosts to win the game as the English bowling attack led by James Anderson knocked over the Lankans with their superb piece of swing bowling.

1. Alastair Cook’s wait to join 10,000 club:

It was anticipated that the first Test at Headingley would witness English skipper, Alastair Cook, break into the elite 10,000 run club. He needed just 36 runs to accomplished the record and become the youngest batsman to do so. There was a lot of excitement as he walked in to bat after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field. Cook began well and looked set to breach the mark before he became Dasun Shanaka’s maiden scalp. The debutant, who was brought in as a change bowler in the 21st over, managed to lure Cook for a big drive and get a nick off his bat which went safely into the gloves of wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal. He walked back after making 16 off 52 balls, 20 runs short of the special milestone.

How did Twitter react to the 1st Test? – Twitter Reactions: England rout Sri Lanka in the first Test

2. Alex Hales – The Test cricketer:

Alex Hales, primarily considered a T20 specialist, is slowly turning into a wholesome batsman. One does not expect from a batsman, who has a 60 balls century to his name, to play the waiting game while at the crease. But, Hales (86) showed an amazing amount of patience during his 206 balls stay at the crease on day one. He watched the ball closely, waited for the right balls to score runs and left many behind to the wicketkeeper. After a steady start, wickets began to fall around him as Lankan pacers began finding edges off the bat in short successions. But, he showed discipline and steadied the ship with Jonny Bairstow. The duo put on a 141-run stand for the 6th wicket. He looked well set for his maiden Test century. But, his time in the middle was cut short by Rangana Herath in the 73rd over after his natural instinct to attack took over and resulted in his departure.

3. Yorkshire man stands tall:

Jonny Bairstow, the Yorkshire man, continued his supreme form and cracked his 2nd Test century to help his team reach a respectable total in the first innings. Bairstow came at No.7 after the fall of some quick wickets. The home side, after losing Cook on 49 went on to lose a cluster of wickets and were reeling at 83/5 when the in-form wicketkeeper-batsman joined Alex Hales in the middle. He played a sort of counterattacking innings and kept the run rate pretty healthy. Together with Hales, he piled on 141 runs for the 6th wicket and took England to a stable position in the game. Soon he lost Hales and then two more partners but continued to have an impact on the visitors and reached his second Test ton in the 78th over. Bairstow eventually ended up making 140 before falling to Chameera just an over before the end of the day one.

How did the match pan out? – Eng v SL, 1st Test Review: Anderson’s ten stumps Sri Lanka twice in two days

4. Jimmy destroys the visitors:

Thanks to Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow’s fantastic knock, England managed a decent total of 298 on the scoreboard. James Anderson started things off for the visitors but it was his partner Stuart Broad who drew first blood, taking the wicket of the opener Dimuth Karunaratne in the 4th over of the 2nd innings. Anderson did not wait long to take his first after he forced Kaushal Silva nick one behind to the wicketkeeper in the very next over.

Both the English pacers went on a wicket taking spree and dismantled the opposition’s batting order completely. They shared 9 wickets between them with senior pro Jimmy (5/16) finishing with a fifer while Broad (4/21) had to be satisfied with a four-wicket haul. Ben Stokes was the only other wicket-taker in the first innings. The story in the second inning was also the same. After being asked to follow-on, the Lankans started off cautiously but were later sent off tracks by the English bowlers once again led by Anderson. He (5/29) snapped yet another fifer and had Steve Finn (3/26) as his partner in crime this time.

5. Poor batting performances a huge concern:

Going by the way the Lankans batted in the match. It appears that they will certainly find it very difficult facing the guile of English swing bowlers. It was a meek surrender by the visitors who were bowed out for 91 and 119 respectively. After restricting the home side for 298, they fancied a chance to gain some lead. However, they were completely rolled over by James Anderson & co. and were blown away completely. Promising names like Lahiru Thirimanne, Chandimal, and Silva looked very feeble. The only respite came from skipper Angelo Mathew, and Kusal Mendis. Mathews (34) stood fought it out for a reasonable amount time in the middle while Mendis (53), who was dismissed for a duck, replied with an impressive half-century.