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Andrew Strauss leads England in Sri Lanka fightback

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Captain Marvel! Strauss silences doubters as England end day two on front foot

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UPDATED:

11:55 GMT, 4 April 2012

Half-centuries from under-pressure captain Andrew Strauss and opener Alastair Cook on day two left England in a strong position to push for victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka.

Having bowled the hosts out for 275 in the morning session – with four wickets falling for the addition of 37 runs – England enjoyed their best batting day of a difficult winter to reach stumps 121 behind on 154 for one.

Although Strauss did not provide the long-awaited hundred he wanted to halt speculation about his future as skipper, his diligent 61 was crucial in building strong foundations for a first Test win of 2012.

Nice one skipper: Andrew Strauss helped put England in a commanding position in Colombo

Nice one skipper: Andrew Strauss helped put England in a commanding position in Colombo

SRI LANKA v ENGLAND

Click here for the full scorecard from Colombo

He battled hard in a first-wicket
stand of 122 with Cook, the pair's first century partnership in nine
innings, with the latter due to resume tomorrow on 77.

Sri Lanka began the day on 238 for six, with England hoping to make light work of the tail.

Although the second new ball was just
nine overs old, James Anderson and Steven Finn drew blanks as Angelo
Mathews, 41no overnight, nudged his way to an eighth Test fifty.

Swann was needed to get the ball
rolling, drawing Suraj Randiv into a rash shot down the ground, where he
was well held by the back-pedalling Kevin Pietersen.

It took Swann four more balls to remove Mathews, who popped a simple catch to Strauss at short mid-wicket to fall for 57.

Back to his best: Strauss silenced his doubters with a series of classy shots all round the ground

Back to his best: Strauss silenced his doubters with a series of classy shots all round the ground

No 9 Dhammika Prasad made 12
not out but England were ruthless in seeing off the last two men, Tim
Bresnan benefiting from Rangana Herath's wild hack and Swann turning one
sharply into Suranga Lakmal's stumps.

Swann finished with four for 75 and had handed England the momentum.

Strauss and Cook were left with an
unwanted four-over stint before lunch and emerged unscathed, just.
Strauss got off the mark after three balls, sending a low thick edge
through the cordon for four, and had a nerve-shredding moment just
before the break when an attempted cut almost ricocheted into his
stumps.

Got him: Strauss eventually fell for 61 to the bowling of Tillakaratne Dilshan

Got him: Strauss eventually fell for 61 to the bowling of Tillakaratne Dilshan

England were positive at the start of
the afternoon session, both batsmen finding the ropes inside seven
deliveries, and working hard for singles.

It took just eight overs for left-arm spinner Herath, man of the match in Galle, to be introduced.

England's tactics were much better
against him this time, with the much-debated sweep shot put into storage
and both batsmen playing safer shots with the turn.
Yet Herath still posed some hard questions.

Right on: But not before Alastair Cook had also reached 50. He remained unbeaten at the close

Right on: But not before Alastair Cook had also reached 50. He remained unbeaten at the close

Cook, on 20, turned him to short-leg
where Lahiru Thirimanne almost took a wonderful low catch only for the
ball to squirm loose.

Strauss had 23 when he was beaten by Herath, nicking one just short of Mahela Jayawardene at slip.

Cook nudged for two to bring up the
50 partnership in the 21st over and collected his third boundary to long
leg when Herath dropped short.

Fitting in: Jonathan Trott came to the crease late on, but look comfortable in the heat

Fitting in: Jonathan Trott came to the crease late on, but look comfortable in the heat

Herath was turning the ball towards a
seven-strong leg-side field, with four close catchers, but Strauss and
Cook were keeping their heads.

Lakmal returned for a second spell, with Strauss welcoming the additional pace by nudging the first ball off his hip for two.

The England captain joined Cook in passing 40 with a neat three off Lakmal in the last over before tea.

Job done: Earlier England had taken less than one session to dismiss Sri Lanka's tail

Job done: Earlier England had taken less than one session to dismiss Sri Lanka's tail

It was not until the 39th over of the
innings that Strauss unveiled the sweep and, even more surprisingly, it
was caused no dramas.

Cook was also becoming more confident, reverse sweeping Herath to third man for four.

Both openers reached their half-centuries in the space of a couple of minutes, Strauss in 105 balls and Cook taking 164.

In a spin: Graeme Swann took three of the final four wickets to leave the hosts on 275

In a spin: Graeme Swann took three of the final four wickets to leave the hosts on 275

Prasad saw Strauss and Cook collect
fours to the vacant third-man area in the same over but when Sri Lankan
heads began to drop, Tillakaratne Dilshan struck.

Having edged the off-spinner short of
slip two balls earlier, Strauss went to cut a ball too full for the
shot and was smartly caught by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Cook continued to compile watchfully
for the remainder of the day, with new man Jonathan Trott (15no)
offering typically cool-headed support at the other end.

Tim's not dim: The recalled Tim Bresnan took the other wicket, that of Thilan Samaraweera

Tim's not dim: The recalled Tim Bresnan took the other wicket, that of Thilan Samaraweera

Sri Lanka v England: Second Test, day two, Colombo, live

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LIVE: Sri Lanka v England – follow the action on day two of the second Test in Colombo

Stay up to date with all the action on
day two of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England with Sportsmail's
unrivalled team. We'll deliver over-by-over coverage as the action
unfolds at the P Sara Oval in Colombo while our brilliant team of
writers will update with their insights from the ground. Email your thoughts to tom.bellwood@dailymail.co.uk or tweet to @TomBellwood

Sri Lanka v England: Essentials

England: A Strauss (c), A Cook, J Trott, K Pietersen, I Bell, M Prior (wk), S Patel, T Bresnan, G Swann, J Anderson, S Finn.

Sri Lanka: M
Jayawardene (c), A Mathews, T Samaraweera, T Dilshan, R Herath, P
Jayawardene (wkt), S Randiv, S Lakmal, D Prasad, K Sangakkara, L
Thirimanne.

Umpires: A Rauf (Pak), B Oxenford (Aus).

Third Umpire: R Tucker (Aus).

Match Referee: J Srinath (Ind).

Click here for full scorecard

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100th over: Sri Lanka 257-6 (Mathews 53, Randiv 12)

Ah, here we go. Time for a bowling change. Graeme Swann joins the attack. Silly point, forward short leg and slip in place. Encouraging signs as Swann guiles one in, Randiv goes on the drive but fails to lay the spin and inside edges back down the track but wide of the bowler. There's a decent lbw shout which looked promising but struck Randiv just outside the line.

99th over: Sri Lanka 256-6 (Mathews 53, Randiv 11)

The – relatively still hard – ball is doing nowt for the seamers. Time for a bowling change soon, Mr Strauss, please. Maiden.

98th over: Sri Lanka 256-6 (Mathews 53, Randiv 11)

Well, in these early exchanges you have to say it's advantage Sri Lanka. The England quicks have varied line and length stuff with shorter variations to try and unrest Mathews and Randiv. But to no avail. The scorecard is ticking over and England need wickets. Two runs from the final over from a steer down to third man.

97th over: Sri Lanka 254-6 (Mathews 53, Randiv 9)

Boom! Now that's an impressive way to bring up your half-century. The Sri Lanka vice-captain pulls the ball hard through midwicket for four runs.

96th over: Sri Lanka 248-6 (Mathews 47 Randiv 9)

Hello! What's this Some uneven bounce causes Mathews all kinds of problems as the ball spits up off the deck, hits his bat, pads and rattles away onto the off side. 'Randiv is a competent batsman', Nick Knight tells us, 'He has a first-class hundred', as if to forewarn us if he hangs around to torment England for a time. Just the single from the over.

95th over: Sri Lanka 247-6 (Mathews 46 Randiv 9)

Two slips in place for Anderson who is briefly immersed in a chat with umpire Bruce Oxenford over his follow-through strides. Another maiden, England are starting to turn the screw here.

94th over: Sri Lanka 247-6 (Mathews 46 Randiv 9)

The Barmy Army serenade Steven Flinn (As he will be known from here on in) with a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday to You. Forget the singing, let's hope he can deliver the best of presents: a couple of wickets. Finn to Mathews: six dots, that's a maiden.

93rd over: Sri Lanka 247-6 (Mathews 46 Randiv 9)

A word on the pitch: Sky have stuck their cameras in close to reveal a myriad if cracks which will only deteriorate at a rate of knots as the sun continues to beat down on the track over the coming days. It could become a nightmare for England batting, let alone batting last. second Rabndiv angles a couple past the man at slips and there's a play-and-miss in there to keep Anderson interested.

92nd over: Sri Lanka 243-6 (Mathews 45 Randiv 6)

Two slips and short leg in place for birthday boy Steven Finn (23 today, no less). The huge scoreboard displays a congratulatory message reads: 'Happy Birthday Steven FLINN'. Brilliant! Mathews rocks back on his heels as Finn delivers some dross: short, wide and sent packing to the boundary via point in a flash.

91st over: Sri Lanka 238-6 (Mathews 41 Randiv 5)

Aaaaah, there it is! The strains of Jerusalem ring down from the stands as Billy the Trumpet leads the massed choir and James Anderson is handed the ball to begin England's attack. Maiden over gets us off and running for the day.

5.27: Players and officials on their way out. No sound of the Barmy Army singing Jerusalem just yet, but I'm sure it can't be far away. Live cricket is imminent. Tidy.

5.25: So, what are we expecting this morning Lower order resistance or more imperious bowling from England's lead attack James Anderson This is 'moving day' for England, they need to force the issue and try and keep the score under 260-275. Anything above that and they're are right behind the eight-ball.

5.20: And if you've finished that, I can tell you there was DRS controversy yesterday and some more excellent bowling from James Anderson.

5.15: While we have a few minutes to kill before the resumption of play, why not have a quick nose of Paul Newman's report here. And here are the thoughts of the Top Spin's Lawrence Booth.

5.05am: Hello one, hello all and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage on day two of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England at the S Para Oval in Colombo. Eyes down for another fascinating day of Test cricket.

Day one in Colombo was a carbon-copy of the opening in Galle: three early wickets for James Anderson, England elated, then it became the Mahela Jayawardene show. The Sri Lanka captain is highly adept at pulling his team from the fire.

His stand was ended on 105 runs and late wickets for the visitors means this game hangs firmly in the balance, even if the hosts have the slight edge as England will not relish batting last on this track.

And so onwards. Early wickets for England will put them firmly in control. But. And it's a big but. Can the jittery nerves with the bat be held in check on the subcontinent The empirical evidence would suggest the visitors' struggles will continue.

Imperious: Mahela Jaywardene once again led his team from a precarious position

Imperious: Mahela Jaywardene once again led his team from a precarious position

Sri Lanka v England: Colombo, second Test, day one, live

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LIVE: Sri Lanka v England – follow the action on day one of the second Test in Colombo

Stay up to date with all the action on
day one of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England with Sportsmail's
unrivalled team. We'll deliver over-by-over coverage as the action
unfolds in Colombo while our brilliant team of
writers will update with their insights from the ground. Email your thoughts to tom.bellwood@dailymail.co.uk or tweet to @TomBellwood

Sri Lanka v England: Essentials

England: Strauss (c), Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Prior (wk), Patel, Bresnan, Swann, Anderson, Finn.

Sri Lanka: M Jayawardene (c), A Mathews, T Samaraweera, T Dilshan, R Herath, P Jayawardene (wkt), S Randiv, S Lakmal, D Prasad, K Sangakkara, L Thirimanne.

Umpires: A Rauf (Pak), B Oxenford (Aus).

Third Umpire: R Tucker (Aus).

Match Referee: J Srinath (Ind).

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.

Full scorecard will appear here

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6th over: Sri Lanka 21-2 (Thirimanne 7, M Jayawardene 0)

England's decision to select Tim Bresnan – who hasn't even bowled a ball yet – already looks vindicated given how much movement there is across this track. Finn continues, a series of dots and that's a maiden.

5th over: Sri Lanka 21-2 (Thirimanne 7)

Life's never boring with Dilshan about, is it England's ploy to try and tempt Dilshan outside off stump produces two stunning cover drives. Then England strike. And hard. Double blow provides England a real boost.

WICKET! Kumar Sangakarra c Strauss b Anderson 0

Have a look at that! Anderson pitches it on middle, the ball jags away a touch and zooms through to Strauss who makes a right hash of the catch, but just grabs it at the second bit. Second golden duck of the series for Sangakarra!

WICKET! Tillakaratne Dilshan c Prior b Anderson 14

Full and straight from Anderson, Dilshan feels for it just outside his off stump and only edges through to Prior. Early breakthrough England wanted.

4th over: Sri Lanka 13-0 (Thirimanne 7 Dilshan 6)

Lovely morning in Colombo, weather reports say it shouldn't be as hot as the four sweltering days in Galle. And there's even talk of some showers dotting around the ground later on this afternoon. Officially this ground holds 15,000 spectators and once again it is England fans who have taken the majority of the tickets. Finn pitches up it up full, Thirimanne's eyes light up and he thrashes it back down the ground, past mid-off for four more.

3rd over: Sri Lanka 9-0 (Thirimanne 3 Dilshan 6)

There really does look like there's plenty in this track to encourage the England bowlers early on: puffs of dust coming off the wicket, movement off the seam. A result wicket if you will. I like it. Big lbw appeal as Dilshan is trapped trying to lean across to midwicket, England decide against the review. And there follows a mighty impressive straight punch back down the ground for four.

2nd over: Sri Lanka 3-0 (Thirimanne 3 Dilshan 0)

Steven Finn has been waiting patiently in the wings for some time now – since last June, to be precise – but has his opportunity now to impress. He starts a little full, drags it back a touch, there's a misfield at mid-off which allows a couple of runs then a juicy outside edge bounces just short of the man at second slip. Good start.

1st over: Sri Lanka 1-0 (Thirimanne 1 Dilshan 0)

The start of a Test. Possible my favourite time. James Anderson has the new cherry, England fans singing Jerusalem. What more could you want Anderson gets some movement off the seam, encouraging signs early on. Chance for England to make early gains.

Coining it: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat

Coining it: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat

5.27: Right, players and officials are making their way out on to this famous old ground – where Sri lanka played their first Test against England, no less. Huge Barmy Army following again, action is imminent. Excellent!

5.21: To sweep or not to sweep That really is the question for the England batsmen. Nasser Hussain has all the answers here.

5.15: Right, we've got a few minutes before the start of play, time to have a read of Paul Newman's match preview and details of Andrew Strauss's press conference which was abruptly cut short.

5.10am: BREAKING NEWS: Sri Lanka have won the toss and Mahela Jayawardene says he will have a bat. Two changes for England: Stuart Broad misses out with a calf injury and is replaced by Steven Finn and Monty Panesar is replaced by Tim Bresnan.

As for Sri Lanka, Angelo Mathews is in for Dinesh Chandimal. Chanaka Welegedara is out injured and is replaced by Dhammika Prasad.

5am: Morning all and welcome along to Sportsmail's coverage on day one of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England from the P Sara Oval in Colombo.

To summarise: England's winter of discontent continued in Galle where a first-innings capitulation laid the foundations for a fourth straight Test defeat on the subcontinent. Not the form of a team with desires on remaining No 1 in the world.

News of the toss and teams on the way in a moment and all the action as it happens from 5.30am.

Winter warmer: England have five days to register a win on the subcontinent

Winter warmer: England have five days to register a win on the subcontinent

Andrew Strauss is still the man to lead England: – Nasser Hussain

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I was a dead man walking… Strauss is far from that

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UPDATED:

21:42 GMT, 30 March 2012

Andrew Strauss has not reached the point where he should consider his future but he will know when he goes out to bat in the second Test in Colombo next week that something has changed.

It has changed because he has now been asked in a press conference for the first time whether he has taken England as far as he can and once that sort of thought is in the public domain there will perhaps be a sense in Strauss’s mind that the vultures are circling.

He will be wondering, maybe subconsciously, whether people are questioning his leadership.

Reckless: Strauss hits straight to Dilshan at short mid-wicket

Reckless: Strauss hits straight to Dilshan at short mid-wicket

To me, any suggestion Strauss should retire if things do not go well in the second Test is premature.

There is no question the captain retains the full support of both his team and the powers that be at the ECB and that is exactly how it should be right now.

People have short memories. It was not much longer than a year ago that Strauss was leading England to the Ashes in Australia and it was only at the end of last summer that he spearheaded a 4-0 whitewash of India to take his side to the top of the world.

Think back to where England were when Strauss and Andy Flower took over at the start of 2009 in the aftermath of the Kevin Pietersen-Peter Moores affair and you remember how far they have come in a relatively short space of time.

End of the road: Nasser Hussain knew it was time to quit as captain in 2003

End of the road: Nasser Hussain knew it was time to quit as captain in 2003

Yes, they have lost four Tests this winter and questions have to be asked of England’s batting, but that does not mean the time is right to sack a captain who has achieved so much. We just have a tendency to always think that change will be for the better.

We know that Strauss will not be pushed should this series against Sri Lanka end in defeat but is there any possibility that he will jump, as I did and as other captains have done

The answer again, I believe, is no. Strauss does not look as if he has reached the stage where his brain is scrambled and he is starting to question whether he really is the best man to lead England.

My case was very different. For a start I was a worrier but I think Strauss is a very secure sort of character.

Struggling for form: Strauss has not been in good knick with the bat for a while

Struggling for form: Strauss has not been in good knick with the bat for a while

I was completely frazzled by the time I handed over to Michael Vaughan and, in truth, after the emotional upheaval of the Zimbabwe World Cup affair, I was a dead man walking.

Strauss is far from that.

But there is no question that Strauss needs runs. He only has one Test hundred in his last 48 innings and the captain needs to deliver as a batsman for his own peace of mind as a leader.

The bottom line for him and the bulk of the England batsmen is that they still do not play spin well on slow-turning pitches. Simple as that.

An unhappy time: Strauss came in and picked up the pieces after the Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores fall out

An unhappy time: Strauss came in and picked up the pieces after the Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores fall out

Flower tried to protect them after the Pakistan series by saying that he was to blame for not providing enough preparation but England cannot say that now after losing the first Test in Galle.

Strauss’s problems are heightened because he has given up one-day cricket and was not able to bat himself back into form in the 50-over game as Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen did in the UAE.

He has had just four Tests this winter and, as he is a touch player, he has not been able to get into the rhythm of batting. Ian Bell’s the same.

England are not the only side who struggle in alien conditions — think Sri Lanka and India in England last summer — but that does not mean that these batsmen cannot get it right next week and in that all-important series in India next winter.

Another disappointment: Strauss walks off after being dismissed in the second innings

Another disappointment: Strauss walks off after being dismissed in the second innings

Strauss should remember that he once scored two centuries in a Test in Chennai and Cook should remember that he scored a hundred on Test debut in Nagpur.

Above all, they should follow the example of Jonathan Trott, who showed them in Galle that batting in subcontinental conditions is not all about block, block, slog. They have to get their tempo right above everything else.

I don’t see a long queue of young openers who would be able to play the pace of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Co as well as Strauss when South Africa come to England this summer.

Carry on captain: Hussain sees no reason why Strauss won't still be captain for the back to back Ashes series in 2013

Carry on captain: Hussain sees no reason why Strauss won't still be captain for the back to back Ashes series in 2013

I believe the captain will and should be in charge for that series. And there is every chance he will do enough to still be captain for the back-to-back Ashes series next year.

For the moment, though, there is no place for him and the other batsmen to hide. They are not playing on spitting cobra pitches. They are not playing against Murali — they are playing against a spinner in Rangana Herath who you would not fear if he came up against you in a county match.

They have to wake up and realise that they are good enough to get their heads down and score runs in Colombo.

Led by their captain.

Sri Lanka v England, first Test, day three, Galle

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LIVE: Sri Lanka v England – follow the action on day three of the first Test in Galle

Stay up to date with all the action on
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unrivalled team. We'll deliver over-by-over coverage as the action
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writers will update with their insights from the ground.
Email your thoughts to tom.bellwood@dailymail.co.uk or tweet to @TomBellwood

Sri Lanka v England: Essentials

England: Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wkt), Samit Patel, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (c), Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene (wkt), Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Chanaka Welegedera, Suranga Lakmal.

Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan), Rod Tucker (Australia). TV: Bruce Oxenford (Australia). Referee: Javagal Srinath (India).

1st innings: Sri Lanka 318, England 193

Click here for a full scorecard

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40th over: Sri Lanka 95-5 (Chandimal 19, Randiv 12)

Another air-tight over from Anderson. Only the single from it as Randiv dabs to the off side. England bowling well in this early vignette, but need the breakthrough to come soon.

39th over: Sri Lanka 95-5 (Chandimal 19, Randiv 11)

Much talk of what will be a manageable total for England to chase. Interestingly, Sri Lanka scored 253 in their fourth innings on this pitch against Australia last year. Hope yet Swann dips one short, outside off, bottom edge from Randiv cannons off Prior's gloves and runs away. Half a chance.

38th over: Sri Lanka 92-5 (Chandimal 19, Randiv 8)

Dot, dot, dot, dot, dot, dot. That's a maiden for Jimmy Anderson.

37th over: Sri Lanka 92-5 (Chandimal 19, Randiv 8)

Just going to throw this out there: England's highest run-chase (in the last ten years) has been 294 against New Zealand in Manchester. Sri Lanka's lead is now 217 with five wickets in hand. Harumph. Swann continues to guile them in, there's drift then turn and really encouraging signs for the spinner. If only the batsmen had given him a bit more to work with. Just one from the over.

36th over: Sri Lanka 91-5 (Chandimal 18, Randiv 8)

(Oh Jimmy, Jimmy. Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy) Anderson joins Swann in the attack, just the one slip in place in these early stages. A touch coy from Andrew Strauss Consensus is England really have to force Sri Lanka's hands if they are to force themselves back into this Test. Stunning cut through point from Randiv as Anderson sends one down wide of off stump. Four runs!

35th over: Sri Lanka 87-5 (Chandimal 18, Randiv 4)

Slip, short leg and a silly point inserted for Graeme Swann who gets the proceedings under way. Encouraging signs for Swann who generates some turn out of the rough. The Barmy Army are in fine voice early on. They serenade the England players with a hearty version of Jerusalem and we batten down the hatches for another rollercoaster day of Test action.

5.28: Another glorious day in Galle, England will certainly be hoping to make further gains before the searing midday heat arrives. The players are making their way out now. Time for the action.

5.25: What do you think will, be an attainable score for England Anything around 250 and you'd hope the visitors can take a 1-0 lead. Easy enough, right

5.20: So, danger man Mahela Jayawardene has gone. The man who stitched the hosts' first-innings together has gone for just five after scoring 180 earlier in the Test. But with the lead already 209, can England's batsmen hold it together when the run chase begins I fear my confidence – like theirs – is on the wane.

5.15: Sportsmail's team in Sri Lanka have passed judgment on the action on day two. You can read Paul Newman's report on day one here. And Lawrence Booth's thoughts here.

5.10am: Morning everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage on day three of the first Test between Sri Lanka and England in Galle. Another day of high drama at this famous old ground yesterday as the Andrew Strauss's side were skittled for a paltry 193, leaving them staring a heavy defeat down the barrel. But late gains from England's bowlers – yet again – have put this game back in the balance although Sri Lanka remain favourites from this position. Fascinating stuff.


Bowled: Thirimanne loses his off stump

Bowled: Thirimanne loses his off stump

Sri Lanka v England, first Test, day two, Galle

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writers will update with their insights from the ground. Email your thoughts to joe.ridge@dailymail.co.uk or tweet to @joeridge87

Sri Lanka v England: Essentials

England: Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wkt), Samit Patel, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (c), Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene (wkt), Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Chanaka Welegedera, Suranga Lakmal.

Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan), Rod Tucker (Australia). TV: Bruce Oxenford (Australia). Referee: Javagal Srinath (India).

1st innings: Sri Lanka 318, England 193

Click here for a full scorecard

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21st over: Sri Lanka 43-4 (Samaraweera 16, Chandimal 0)

Swann to continue this fine spell of spin bowling. Just one run from the over. A lot resting on the shoulders of the experienced Samaraweera now.

20th over: Sri Lanka 42-4 (Samaraweera 15, Chandimal 0)

Chandimal the new man in for Sri Lanka. He started brightly in the first innings but got out playing a daft shot to Patel. One from Panesar's over.

WICKET! Sangakkara c Anderson b Swann 14

Another crucial wicket from Swann, just as this pair were starting to up the run rate and look settled. He gets the ball to angle away from the left-hander and Anderson takes the catch at gully. England's glimmer of hope is getting brighter.

19th over: Sri Lanka 41-3 (Sangakkara 14, Samaraweera 14)

These two are starting to up the tempo and milk the spinners now.

18th over: Sri Lanka 36-3 (Sangakkara 10, Samaraweera 13)

A couple more singles in the offing for these two experienced batsmen off the bowling of Panesar… Four! Sangakkara sweeps hard and square and the ball races to the fence.

17th over: Sri Lanka 30-3 (Sangakkara 5, Samaraweera 12)

Single for Samaraweera to mid on. Sangakkara takes one for himself. This partnership building slowly, very slowly in fact, but surely.

16th over: Sri Lanka 28-3 (Sangakkara 4, Samaraweera 11)

Close! Samaraweera nearly chops one on from Monty. Just one from the over.

15th over: Sri Lanka 27-3 (Sangakkara 4, Samaraweera 10)

Edge! But it's wide of Anderson at slip. Sangakkara pushes a single into the off side. Swann has really got the bit between his teeth today.

14th over: Sri Lanka 25-3 (Sangakkara 3, Samaraweera 9)

Samaraweera breaks the run drought by flicking a single to midwicket. One more single added from Panesar's over.

13th over: Sri Lanka 23-3 (Sangakkara 2, Samaraweera 8)

Swann continuing… Another maiden. Pressure building.

12th over: Sri Lanka 23-3 (Sangakkara 2, Samaraweera 8)

Both batsmen don their caps as Panesar is brought into the attack. Good start. Maiden.

11th over: Sri Lanka 23-3 (Sangakkara 2, Samaraweera 8)

Swann to continue what has been a devastating spell. Sangakkara is on strike… Close! He just gets his bat down on one playing off the back foot – they scamper a single. Samaraweera advances and knocks one to mid on.

Key wicket: Jayawardene edges behind to Anderson

Key wicket: Jayawardene edges behind to Anderson

10th over: Sri Lanka 21-3 (Sangakkara 1, Samaraweera 7)

Broad has been struggling a bit with his injured ankle but he will continue. Samaraweera flicks two off his pads to square leg. Shot! Samaraweera leans into a cover drive that races away for four.

9th over: Sri Lanka 15-3 (Sangakkara 1, Samaraweera 1)

Samaraweera the new man in. It was a brilliant sharp catch by Anderson for Mahela's wicket by the way… Samaraweera is off the mark with a single, taking 22 balls less then he did to do so in the first innings.

WICKET! Jayawardene c Anderson b Swann 5

Huge wicket! Swann is back with a bang… he nicks Jayawardene's edge and suddenly England have the wind in their sails.

8th over: Sri Lanka 14-2 (Sangakkara 1, Jayawardene 5)

Jayawardene works Broad for a single. He looks to have picked up where he left off.

Got him! Swann and co celebrate the wicket of Jayawardene

Got him! Swann and co celebrate the wicket of Jayawardene

7th over: Sri Lanka 12-2 (Sangakkara 1, Jayawardene 4)

Lots of turn for Swann all of sudden… Four! Jayawardene gets off the mark straight away with a guide down to third man.

WICKET! Thirimanne b Swann 6

You beauty! That's more like the Graeme Swann of old, he turns it from middle stump to take the top of the left-handers off stump. Inspired move by Strauss to bring him on so early as he strikes with just his second ball.

6th over: Sri Lanka 8-1 (Thirimanne 6, Sangakkara 1)

Broad into his third over of the innings. Just one from the over.

5th over: Sri Lanka 7-1 (Thirimanne 5, Sangakkara 1)

Chance! Thirimanne was gone with a direct hit there. Patel missed the stumps by whiskers as Sangakkara scrambled his first run. Thirimanne works a single off Anderson into the leg side. Two from the over.

Bowled: Thirimanne loses his off stump

Bowled: Thirimanne loses his off stump

4th over: Sri Lanka 5-1 (Thirimanne 4, Sangakkara 0)

Broad into his second over. What a beauty that was from him to get rid of the dangerous Dilshan. Another maiden for Broad who is bowling with real ferocity. Sangakkara still on a pair.

3rd over: Sri Lanka 5-1 (Thirimanne 4, Sangakkara 0)

Thirimanne works Anderson into the leg side for one… and that's it from the over.

2nd over: Sri Lanka 4-1 (Thirimanne 3, Sangakkara 0)

Sangakkara is the new man in and he's on a king pair… He's off the king pair, but is still on a pair. Wicket maiden.

WICKET! Dilshan b Broad 0

What a jaffa! Broad clatters Dilshan's middle and leg stump with an inswinging full-length delivery. Beautiful bowling.

All over: Panesar's wicket signals the end of England's innings

All over: Panesar's wicket signals the end of England's innings

2nd over: Sri Lanka 4-0 (Thirimanne 3, Dilshan 0)

Broad to share the new ball. /03/27/article-2120507-125A39B8000005DC-781_634x436.jpg” width=”634″ height=”436″ alt=”Teeing off: Panesar hits Herath for four” class=”blkBorder” />

Teeing off: Panesar hits Herath for four

WICKET! Panesar lbw b Randiv 13

The brave 10th wicket stand is over. That looked too high to me but no reviews left.

47th over: England 193-9 (Anderson 23, Panesar 13)

Randiv changes ends and replaces Herath… Monty picks up another single. Anderson works one to midwicket.

46th over: England 191-9 (Anderson 22, Panesar 12)

Randiv is replaced by the left-arm pace of Welegedera. Monty clips him off his pads for a single to midwicket. Signs of reverse swing for Welegedera, which will encourage Anderson. Shot! That will encourage Anderson too! He crashes a four through the covers.

45th over: England 186-9 (Anderson 18, Panesar 11)

Shot! Monty creams Herath over midwicket for another four. He tries to repeat the trick but it's well fielded and just a single this time. Anderson then adds two through the covers. Four! Jimmy times a drive well through the covers and it races away on this rapid outfield. 11 from that over.

Another one bites the dust: Graeme Swann is caught out

Another one bites the dust: Graeme Swann is caught out

44th over: England 175-9 (Anderson 12, Panesar 6)

Anderson sweeps Randiv fine for a single. Monty pushes a single into the off side with a prod that was nearly snared at silly mid off. Anderson then hacks two more into the off side. Four from the over.

43rd over: England 171-9 (Anderson 9, Panesar 5)

Shot Monty! Panesar shows how it's done by belting Herath back over his head for four. He then picks up a single to mid off. Shot! Jimmy joins the party with a reverse sweep for four. They then scamper a single, so Anderson will keep the strike.

42nd over: England 161-9 (Anderson 4, Panesar 0)

Four! Anderson sweeps Randiv powerfully to the square leg boundary.

WICKET! Bell b Herath 52

Bell gets a beauty from Herath. It pitched on middle and took the top of his off stump. Wicket maiden for Herath who now has six wickets.

Gone: Sri Lanka successfully appeal for the wicket of Prior

Gone: Sri Lanka successfully appeal for the wicket of Prior

WICKET! Swann c Dilshan b Randiv 24

Swann's cameo comes to an end as he hits it straight to Dilshan at short extra cover. It wasn't a great ball and it deserved to be punished, he middled it as well… good reactions from Dilshan.

40th over: England 157-7 (Bell 52, Swann 24)

Bell tucks Randiv into the leg side for a single.

39th over: England 156-7 (Bell 51, Swann 24)

Four! Herath offers Swann a bit of width and he crashes him through the covers. Shot! This time Swann sweeps in front of square for another boundary.

38th over: England 148-7 (Bell 51, Swann 16)

Randiv continues his spell and has Bell on strike. Shot! Bell brings up his 50 with a firm sweep to the square leg boundary.

37th over: England 144-7 (Bell 47, Swann 16)

Bell paddles Herath for three runs down to fine leg.

One man stand: Bell salutes his 50

One man stand: Bell salutes his 50

36th over: England 141-7 (Bell 44, Swann 16)

Four! Swann uses his feet well again as he hits Randiv to the extra cover boundary. Four more! Swann glances a wayward one from Randiv fine.

35th over: England 132-7 (Bell 43, Swann 8)

Bell works Herath for one to end a run of dots… Shot! Swann looking very comfortable against spin as he dances down the track and goes the aerial route for a four to midwicket.

34th over: England 127-7 (Bell 42, Swann 4)

Randiv to Bell, who works a single into the off side. Swann looks like something from the 1960s with his cap on.

33rd over: England 126-7 (Bell 41, Swann 4)

Shot! Swann is the new man in and he immediately comes down the track and hits Herath over long on for four.

WICKET! Broad lbw b Herath 28

It's being reviewed… out. The sweep was pre-meditated by Broad there and he got hit in front in a very similar dismissal to that of Strauss. the only issue was whether or not it hit the bat. A cloud of dust makes it impossible to tell on the replay but he probably didn't hit it, and as the umpire gave it in the first place, Bruce Oxenford leaves it with him.

Broad ambition: Stuart Broad's review was unsuccessful

Broad ambition: Stuart Broad's review was unsuccessful

32nd over: England 122-6 (Bell 41, Broad 28)

After conceding 27 runs in two overs, Lakmal is pulled out of the attack. Randiv comes on to bowl his spin, and he has Broad on strike. He paddles for one. Out! No… Bell survives after his sweep hits the grill of Thirimanne's helmet before landing in the keeper's hands. Just to clarify, if the ball hits the helmet, you can't be out… One from the over.

31st over: England 121-6 (Bell 41, Broad 27)

Herath continues to Bell. Another maiden.

30th over: England 121-6 (Bell 41, Broad 27)

Lakmal decides to come around the wicket to Broad after the battering he took in the last over. Four! Broad edges a drive behind square… they all count. Shot! Broad spanks that one square for another boundary. England have avoided the follow-on. That will be drinks.

29th over: England 113-6 (Bell 41, Broad 19)

Those fireworks have livened things up a bit… Herath now to Bell, who is looking solid in defence. Maiden.

Five-fer: Herath took apart England's batting line-up

Five-fer: Herath took apart England's batting line-up

28th over: England 113-6 (Bell 41, Broad 19)

Lakmal comes into the attack in place of fellow seamer Welegedera. Bell pulls a single. Shot! Broad drives on the up through extra cover for four. What a shot! Lakmal goes short to Broad and the big man belts him high into the crowd. Four! Broad gives a long hop the treatment with another pull this time for four to deep midwicket. And another! This time he drives off the back foot through the covers. Great display of counter-attacking from Broad.

27th over: England 94-6 (Bell 40, Broad 1)

This partnership is England's last hope of a decent score. Broad paddles a single first ball to get off the mark. Bell pushes a single off the back foot to point.

WICKET! Patel lbw b Herath 2

Oh dear. Patel gets done by the arm ball from Herath and they don't even consider the review it was that plum.

Counter attack: Bell cuts for four

Counter attack: Bell cuts for four

26th over: England 92-5 (Bell 39, Patel 2)

Patel picks up a single off Welegedara, who has tightened up his line after some wayward bowling to Bell earlier in the session.

25th over: England 91-5 (Bell 39, Patel 1)

Bell is watchful to Herath and allows the spinner a maiden.

24th over: England 91-5 (Bell 39, Patel 1)

Welegedera continues his spell. Bell prods a single to cover. Patel is happy to see off the rest of the over.

23rd over: England 90-5 (Bell 38, Patel 1)

Herath to Patel again. The Notts man gets his first Test run with a push to extra cover. Bell adds one into the off side. Two from the over.

Captain marvel: Jayawardene orders the successful review for Strauss' wicket

Captain marvel: Jayawardene orders the successful review for Strauss' wicket

22nd over: England 88-5 (Bell 37, Patel 0)

Shot! Welegedera gives Bell too much width again and cuts powerfully behind square for his seventh boundary of the innings. Four! Width again and Bell slaps it late behind square – make that eight boundaries.

21st over: England 80-5 (Bell 29, Patel 0)

Herath to Patel. Six dots, that's a maiden.

20th over: England 80-5 (Bell 29, Patel 0)

Welegedera has Bell on strike. Four! Bell drives square after being given a bit of width. Shot! Bell is showing his colleagues how it should be done, an elegant drive through the covers that Mahela would have been proud of.

WICKET! Prior lbw b Herath 7

I said Herath was average and I stand by it. That was just poor from Prior. He went back in his crease and was hit right in front. The only issue was height but the review shows it was hitting the top of middle. England in disarray and make no bones about it, this is not a top class Test attack they're facing.

Six: Bell launches one into the crowd

Six: Bell launches one into the crowd

19th over: England 72-4 (Bell 21, Prior 7)

Herath continues with Prior on strike. Four! Short and wide from the average Herath and Prior cuts to the rope. WICKET! It's being reviewed…

18th over: England 68-4 (Bell 21, Prior 3)

It's Prior and not Patel who comes in at No 6, and he immediately gets off the mark with a drive for three runs.

WICKET! Pietersen b Welegedera 3

Another one bites the dust. KP attempts the drive as Welegedera come around the wicket and gets an inside edge on to his off stump.

17th over: England 65-3 (Pietersen 3, Bell 21)

Herath to bowl the first over after lunch… Four! Herath goes too short and Bell cuts square. Shot! Bell dances down the track and hits Herath back over his head for a two-bounce four.

Big wicket: Welegedera celebrates the scalp of Pietersen

Big wicket: Welegedera celebrates the scalp of Pietersen

LUNCH ON DAY TWO: ENGLAND TRAIL BY 261 RUNS

Sportsmail's Paul Newman in Galle: 'That is a miserable and worrying session for England. To lose two soft wickets to Rangana Herath is inexcusable. He really is an average spinner and the wicket isn't too bad at all yet. Not sure whether Ian Bell's six was a confident shot or betrayed a hint of desperation but he is much better against spin when he knows which way the ball is turning, like here. England simply need Bell and Kevin Pietersen to bat throughout the afternoon session or they will be in trouble. If they concede a first innings lead I am afraid they have lost this match and their chance of winning this mini-series.'

16th over: England 57-3 (Pietersen 3, Bell 13)

This will be the last over before lunch and Welegedera will bowl it to give Lakmal a breather. KP sees him off. That will be lunch. Definitely Sri Lanka's session.

15th over: England 57-3 (Pietersen 3, Bell 13)

Shot! Bell dances down the track to Herath and launches Herath over the long on rope. Four! Another lovely stroke from Bell as he whips Herath through midwicket for four more.

Disarray: Strauss heads back to the pavilion

Disarray: Strauss heads back to the pavilion

14th over: England 47-3 (Pietersen 3, Bell 3)

Lakmal now into the seventh over of a lengthy spell. Good fielding from Randiv at fine leg saves a boundary after a strong pull from KP. Bell gets off the mark with a cover drive for three.

13th over: England 43-3 (Pietersen 2, Bell 0)

The two men in the most desperate need of Test runs for England are now charged with rescuing England's innings.

WICKET! Strauss lbw b Herath 26

Middle stump, half way up… England in deep trouble now. The impact with the pad was so soon after pitching the umpire would have been guessing at the amount of turn, but HawkEye shows it was going straight on.

13th over: England 43-2 (Strauss 26, Pietersen 2)

Pietersen keen to attack Herath here and he picks up a single after a good stop at mid on. Appeal! Not out. Sri Lanka take the review… Out!

Stumped: Trott fails to get back in his ground

Stumped: Trott fails to get back in his ground

12th over: England 42-2 (Strauss 26, Pietersen 1)

Lakmal to continue… Strauss adds a single. KP off the mark with a single to midwicket. Two from that one.

11th over: England 40-2 (Strauss 25, Pietersen 0)

KP to start against left-arm spin then… He survives.

WICKET! Trott st P Jayawardene b Herath 12

I spoke to soon, a bizarre wicket. Herath delivered a stinker of a delivery, Trott completely missed it and Prasanna Jayawardene whipped off the bails. The keeper then ran straight into an outstretched Trott as he celebrated, pole-axing England's No 3 who looked to have bent his neck forward quite badly. He's up though eventually and on his way back to the pavilion.

11th over: England 40-1 (Strauss 25, Trott 12)

Strauss tucks Herath for one to fine leg.

Double whammy: Trott lies in pain after a blow to the head following the fall of his wicket

Double whammy: Trott lies in pain after a blow to the head following the fall of his wicket

10th over: England 39-1 (Strauss 24, Trott 12)

Suranga Lakmal continues his spell… Strauss works a single to square leg. Two more singles added to the score. These two are settling things down nicely after that early wicket.

9th over: England 36-1 (Strauss 22, Trott 12)

Jayawardene decides it's time for some spin and it's the left-armer Herath to bowl. Strauss flicks two down to fine leg. Edge! But it beats the skipper at slip and runs away for three down to third man.

8th over: England 31-1 (Strauss 17, Trott 12)

Lakmal continues his spell… Wide given as Lakmal goes too short and too wide. Strauss punches two through the covers. He repeats the trick off the next ball, though this time picks up three runs. Six from the over.

High hopes: Sri Lanka made a strong start

High hopes: Sri Lanka made a strong start

7th over: England 25-1 (Strauss 12, Trott 12)

Short and wide again from Welegedera put a brilliant diving parry from Dilshan at point prevents the boundary. Shot! Trott ends a run of dots with a powerful clip past mid on for four runs.

6th over: England 20-1 (Strauss 11, Trott 8)

There's some movement in this pitch to encourage Sri Lanka's two seamers. Trott sees Lakmal off that time though. Maiden.

5th over: England 20-1 (Strauss 11, Trott 8)

Four! Short and wide from Welegedera and Strauss cuts a simple boundary.

BREAKING:
South Africa have drawn the third and final test in New Zealand and win
the series 1-0. That means that England will remain as world No 1 if
they win or draw the series.

4th over: England 16-1 (Strauss 7, Trott 8)

Lakmal into his second over. Shot! Anything you can do, says Strauss as he eases Lakmal to the midwicket boundary with perfect timing. A leg bye is added to fine leg.

Strong start: Lakmal celebrates the wicket of Alastair Cook

Strong start: Lakmal celebrates the wicket of Alastair Cook

3rd over: England 11-1 (Strauss 3, Trott 8)

Strauss clips Welegedera through midwicket for three runs to finally get England off the mark… Cue Trott's pre-shot routine… Shot! Trott times a clip beautifully that races away to the midwicket rope. Four! Trott times another perfectly this time through the covers.

2nd over: England 0-1 (Strauss 0, Trott 0)

That brings Trott to the crease. Trott and Strauss scored unbeaten centuries together in one of the warm-up matches. Wicket maiden from Lakmal.

WICKET! Cook lbw b Lakmal 0

No need to review that one! What a start for Sri Lanka. An absolute jaffa from Lakmal as he pitches on off and gets the ball to straighten to the left-armer. HawkEye confirms it was hitting off stump. Not too much wrong with Cook's technique, just a brilliant piece of bowling.

2nd over: England 0-0 (Strauss 0, Cook 0)

Lakmal to share the new ball.

Early breakthrough: Lakmal celebrates

Early breakthrough: Lakmal celebrates

1st over: England 0-0 (Strauss 0, Cook 0)

Welegedera to open the bowling for Sri Lanka. He caused Strauss plenty of problems last summer, I seem to remember him getting the England skipper with the first ball of an innings at some stage in that series… Some swing early on for the left-hander. Maiden.

6.15am: Here come Strauss and Cook. This is the moment we've all been waiting for. Have England learned their lessons from the Pakistan series

Sportsmail's Paul Newman in Galle: 'And so ends a truly great innings from Mahela Jayawardene, even if he was dropped four times, and an excellent bowling performance from Jimmy Anderson. He used to need the ball to swing to be effective but he has so many more weapons now. He will go on and take at least 300 wickets for England now. For now Sri Lanka have scored a lot more than they should have done at 15 for three and 191 for seven. This is a bit worrying for England. They have to bat last on a pitch that will deteriorate. Really need a score of 400 plus now.'

Five-fer: Anderson salutes the crowd

Five-fer: Anderson salutes the crowd

WICKET! M Jayawardene c Prior b Anderson 180

How fitting that the innings ends with Anderson and Jayawardene taking centre stage. Mahela gets an absolute beauty from Jimmy – who picks up his fifth wicket – to end a sensational innings.

96th over: Sri Lanka 318-9 (M Jayawardene 180, Lakmal 0)

Broad has the new man Lakmal on strike… He gets one off the shoulder of the bat but there's no one at silly point. Broad didn't make Lakmal play enough there. Maiden.

95th over: Sri Lanka 318-9 (M Jayawardene 180, Lakmal 0)

Jayawardene looks like he could bat for five days out there at the moment… They take two down to third man. Four! Anderson strays down leg and Mahela helps it on its way.

Imperious knock: Jayawardene scored 180 for Sri Lanka

Imperious knock: Jayawardene scored 180 for Sri Lanka

94th over: Sri Lanka 312-9 (M Jayawardene 174, Lakmal 0)

That was the last ball of the over so Jayawardene is on strike to Broad. They turn down the single to third man. Four! Mahela mistimes a heave over long on but it lands safely and beats the fielders to the rope. Jayawardene keeps the strike with a single.

WICKET! Welegedera b Anderson 19

Gorgeous off-cutting slower ball from Anderson. Welegedera plays all around and says goodbye to his leg stump. Justice for Jimmy after taking an undeserved battering in the first over of the day.

93rd over: Sri Lanka 307-8 (M Jayawardene 169, Welegedera 19)

Welegedera gets off strike with a leading edge to cover. Lots of tinkering from Strauss in the field so far this morning as they try to come up with a plan to get rid of these two. Jayawardene scrambles a single to extra cover.

Five-fer: Anderson picked up the remaining two wickets on day two

Five-fer: Anderson picked up the remaining two wickets on day two

92nd over: Sri Lanka 305-8 (M Jayawardene 168, Welegedera 18)

Stuart Broad to bowl the second over of the day with this new-ish ball. Jayawardene turns down the single to square leg to keep the strike. Strauss is not happy as the field don't automatically come up to save the single after the fourth ball – England can't afford to be dozy again as they were in the evening session yesterday. Good start from Broad. Maiden.

91st over: Sri Lanka 305-8 (M Jayawardene 168, Welegedera 18)

Here we go then. Anderson to bowl the first over of another scorching day… Four! Leg byes down to fine leg via Welegedera's thigh pad. Four! A short ball flies off the shoulder of the bat and over the slips. Four! Poor Jimmy, who has now seen three decent deliveries fly to the boundary, this one deflecting off Welegedera's helmet over the slips. Four! What a start for Sri Lanka! This Welegedera gets bat on ball as he pulls Anderson in front of square. Expensive start – 16 from that over.

Chin music: Sri Lanka score four byes via Welegedera's helmet

Chin music: Sri Lanka score four byes via Welegedera's helmet

5.27am: Right, enough of my waffle… they're nearly ready to go out in Galle. Let's hope the first hour today is as dramatic as it was yesterday.

5.20am: If Sri Lanka could keep the tail wagging for an hour or so then they would really deal a psychological blow. After the start England had yesterday, they really should have had the hosts out for no more than 250. To get them out for under 350 though would be by no means a disaster on this tepid pitch.

5.15am: It will be interesting to see how England respond with the bat later today. Can they prove that the Pakistan whitewash was just a blip Big question marks remain over the form of Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and, in particular, Ian Bell. Samit Patel is down to come in at No 7 but he may be elevated above Matt Prior into the No 6 spot vacated by Eoin Morgan.

Star of the show: Mahela Jayawardene

Star of the show: Mahela Jayawardene

5.10am: England will have to put the disappointment of those two drops yesterday evening by Monty Panesar behind them. The reprieves for Jayawardene saw England heads visibly drop and helped to put some gloss on what would have been a well-below par first innings score for the hosts.

5.05am: Before the start of play at 5.30am GMT, why not catch up on some essential reading by Sportsmail's team of writers… Paul Newman's report on day one is here. Lawrence Booth's look at the day is here. And James Anderson told Lawrence that England have to put Monty's dropped catches behind them here.

5.00am: Good morning everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of the second day of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka at Galle. The match hangs in the balance after yesterday's proceedings after the hosts recovered from a shocking start to close on 289-8 thanks to captain Mahela Jayawardene's brilliant unbeaten 168.

Flying start: Anderson celebrates the wicket of Sangakkara as the Barmy Army watch on

Flying start: Anderson celebrates the wicket of Sangakkara as the Barmy Army watch on

England v Sri Lanka, first Test, day two, Galle

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LIVE: England v Sri Lanka – all the action on day two of the first Test in Galle

Stay up to date with all the action on
day two of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka with Sportsmail's
unrivalled team. We'll deliver over-by-over coverage as the action
unfolds at the Galle International Stadium while our brilliant team of
writers will update with their insights from the ground. Email your thoughts to joe.ridge@dailymail.co.uk or tweet to @joeridge87

England v Sri Lanka: Essentials

England: Andrew Strauss (c), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Matt Prior (wkt), Samit Patel, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty Panesar

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (c), Thilan Samaraweera, Dinesh Chandimal, Prasanna Jayawardene (wkt), Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Chanaka Welegedera, Suranga Lakmal.

Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan), Rod Tucker (Australia). TV: Bruce Oxenford (Australia). Referee: Javagal Srinath (India).

Click here for a full scorecard

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96th over: Sri Lanka 318-9 (M Jayawardene 180, Lakmal 0)

Broad has the new man Lakmal on strike… He gets one off the shoulder of the bat but there's no one at silly point. Broad didn't make Lakmal play enough there. Maiden.

95th over: Sri Lanka 318-9 (M Jayawardene 180, Lakmal 0)

Jayawardene looks like he could bat for five days out there at the moment… They take two down to third man. Four! Anderson strays down leg and Mahela helps it on its way.

94th over: Sri Lanka 312-9 (M Jayawardene 174, Lakmal 0)

That was the last ball of the over so Jayawardene is on strike to Broad. They turn down the single to third man. Four! Mahela mistimes a heave over long on but it lands safely and beats the fielders to the rope. Jayawardene keeps the strike with a single.

WICKET! Welegedera b Anderson 19

Gorgeous off-cutting slower ball from Anderson. Welegedera plays all around and says goodbye to his leg stump. Justice for Jimmy after taking an undeserved battering in the first over of the day.

93rd over: Sri Lanka 307-8 (M Jayawardene 169, Welegedera 19)

Welegedera gets off strike with a leading edge to cover. Lots of tinkering from Strauss in the field so far this morning as they try to come up with a plan to get rid of these two. Jayawardene scrambles a single to extra cover.

92nd over: Sri Lanka 305-8 (M Jayawardene 168, Welegedera 18)

Stuart Broad to bowl the second over of the day with this new-ish ball. Jayawardene turns down the single to square leg to keep the strike. Strauss is not happy as the field don't automatically come up to save the single after the fourth ball – England can't afford to be dozy again as they were in the evening session yesterday. Good start from Broad. Maiden.

91st over: Sri Lanka 305-8 (M Jayawardene 168, Welegedera 18)

Here we go then. Anderson to bowl the first over of another scorching day… Four! Leg byes down to fine leg via Welegedera's thigh pad. Four! A short ball flies off the shoulder of the bat and over the slips. Four! Poor Jimmy, who has now seen three decent deliveries fly to the boundary, this one deflecting off Welegedera's helmet over the slips. Four! What a start for Sri Lanka! This Welegedera gets bat on ball as he pulls Anderson in front of square. Expensive start – 16 from that over.

Chin music: Sri Lanka score four byes via Welegedera's helmet

Chin music: Sri Lanka score four byes via Welegedera's helmet

5.27am: Right, enough of my waffle… they're nearly ready to go out in Galle. Let's hope the first hour today is as dramatic as it was yesterday.

5.20am: If Sri Lanka could keep the tail wagging for an hour or so then they would really deal a psychological blow. After the start England had yesterday, they really should have had the hosts out for no more than 250. To get them out for under 350 though would be by no means a disaster on this tepid pitch.

5.15am: It will be interesting to see how England respond with the bat later today. Can they prove that the Pakistan whitewash was just a blip Big question marks remain over the form of Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and, in particular, Ian Bell. Samit Patel is down to come in at No 7 but he may be elevated above Matt Prior into the No 6 spot vacated by Eoin Morgan.

Star of the show: Mahela Jayawardene

Star of the show: Mahela Jayawardene

5.10am: England will have to put the disappointment of those two drops yesterday evening by Monty Panesar behind them. The reprieves for Jayawardene saw England heads visibly drop and helped to put some gloss on what would have been a well-below par first innings score for the hosts.

5.05am: Before the start of play at 5.30am GMT, why not catch up on some essential reading by Sportsmail's team of writers… Paul Newman's report on day one is here. Lawrence Booth's look at the day is here. And James Anderson told Lawrence that England have to put Monty's dropped catches behind them here.

5.00am: Good morning everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of the second day of the first Test between England and Sri Lanka at Galle. The match hangs in the balance after yesterday's proceedings after the hosts recovered from a shocking start to close on 289-8 thanks to captain Mahela Jayawardene's brilliant unbeaten 168.

Flying start: Anderson celebrates the wicket of Sangakkara as the Barmy Army watch on

Flying start: Anderson celebrates the wicket of Sangakkara as the Barmy Army watch on

James Anderson: England off booze to beat Sri Lanka heat

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We're all off the booze… It can help beat Sri Lanka heat, insists Anderson

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UPDATED:

21:57 GMT, 24 March 2012

James Anderson and his Test teammates
are ready to make what previous generations of England tourists would
have considered the ultimate sacrifice in their attempt to retain the
world No 1 spot in sweltering Sri Lanka – a fortnight on the wagon.

The forecast for the first Test
starting tomorrow in Galle and the second of the two-match series
commencing in Colombo four days after the first finishes is the seasonal
norm for this part of the world – 'Scorchio!' and getting scorchier, a
combination of brain-frying temperatures of 40 degrees-plus and
lung-bursting humidity that makes every waking moment a sweating one.

Icemen cometh: Anderson and his England colleagues need to keep cool

Icemen cometh: Anderson and his
England colleagues need to keep cool

Mindful of the debilitating and potentially dangerous effects of dehydration, leader of the bowling attack Anderson has decided to stay clear of alcohol until the end of the Test action, on April 7 if the contest goes the distance, and he expects most, if not all, of his colleagues to follow suit.

ENGLAND IN SRI LANKA

1st Test March 26-30, Galle

2nd Test April 3-7, Colombo

Probable England team: A Strauss (capt), A Cook, I Trott, K Pietersen, I Bell, R Bopara, M Prior (wkt), S Broad, G Swann, J Anderson, M Panesar.

Live on Sky Sports 1

Anderson said: 'You cannot overstate the importance of being properly hydrated in these conditions. There are not too many big drinkers in this team, so it's not a massive issue for us, but the lads just don't want to do anything that could detract from our performance or could possibly cause us issues on the field.

'So far on this tour, if we've a had a beer a few days out of game then it's been literally two or three. But with the games so close together I won't have a drink now until the end of the second Test. I don't think I'll be the only one … we have a job to do out here.'

Hot stuff: Anderson tries to cool off after session in the nets

Hot stuff: Anderson tries to cool off after session in the nets

A long list of former England stars might find such self-denial hard to swallow, but Anderson and Co are taking deadly seriously the issues of keeping outwardly cool and inwardly hydrated in conditions one former England coach once described as 'very nearly too hot for Europeans to be playing cricket in'.

Anderson said: 'From the moment you walk out of your air-conditioned hotel room you start sweating and you don't stop all day. Even Alastair Cook, never previously known to perspire, had a bead on the other day when he made his 160. He panicked so much he sent for boxfuls of new gloves. If your kids were out in it you'd call them back indoors.'

And those concerns extend beyond straightforward physical well-being.

'There are several potential problems: some of the lads have been getting headaches, we're aware of Graham Thorpe finishing the Colombo Test back in 2001 on a hospital drip.

'There is no doubt that the heat can disrupt your focus and shorten your fuse, and we can't allow that to happen. And, as a bowler, sweating hands means it is very hard to keep the ball dry, especially if we want to get reverse-swing.'

But equally, the 29-year-old who, with 249 Test wickets needs four more to overhaul fellow Lancashire legend Brian Statham to become England's fifth highest Test wicket-taker, believes England are well prepared, with a range of measures to maintain their cool.

'Some of it can be psychological, in that if you go on about how difficult it is going to be, that can also drain you. We have to accept it's going to be hot, accept it's going to be 10 days of tough cricket because we don't want anything to take away from our concentration.

'But two weeks getting acclimatised has helped and there are measures we can and will take to make sure we are as near to peak levels as we can be.

'We'll be weighed first thing in the morning then last thing at night to make sure we are not losing too much; I've been dropping half a kilo a day, which is OK, but Matt Prior shed 4kg last week and that sort of loss could be an issue.

'And I think myself and Stuart Broad will have to bowl shorter spells.'

How to beat the heat: 8 point plan