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Australia set down Ashes marker… but should England be worried?

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Awesome Aussies set down Ashes marker… but should England be worried

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UPDATED:

11:32 GMT, 28 December 2012

There's no getting round the fact: the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at Melbourne was not so much a game of cricket as a demolition job.

Australia won inside three days by an innings and 201 runs, while Kumar Sangakkara had his left hand broken by Mitchell Johnson and two other Sri Lankans stayed in the pavilion, absent hurt.

With back-to-back Ashes series lying in wait in 2013, this result was what you might reasonably call a statement of intent.

Star man: Mitchell Johnson (centre) was in fine form as Australia hammered Sri Lanka in the second Test

Star man: Mitchell Johnson (centre) was in fine form as Australia hammered Sri Lanka in the second Test

But how concerned should England be After all, the Sri Lankans have always been poor in Australia: this was their 10th defeat there in 12 Tests, four of them by an innings.

And Australian pitches could not be further removed from the slow heart-breakers routinely found in Sri Lanka.

Alastair Cook may also comfort himself with the thought that, more than anything, the MCG appears to have hosted the rebirth of Johnson, who returned match figures of 6 for 89 and hit an unbeaten 92.

If anything was designed to dispel the post-Christmas blues in soggy England, it is the thought that Johnson – a figure of fun during the 2010-11 Ashes – will be taking the field at Trent Bridge on July 10. The Barmy Army will be exercising their vocal chords.

Take that: Johnson punished the Sri Lankans with the bat as well as the ball in Melbourne

Take that: Johnson punished the Sri Lankans with the bat as well as the ball in Melbourne

The success on Test debut of Sydneysider Jackson Bird may be more significant, for Australia are compiling a stock of apparently interchangeable seam bowlers – the must-have accessory for any team aspiring to regular success in the fixture-heavy modern era.

Their problem, though, is fitness: everyone keeps breaking down.

As things stand, it is fairly pointless trying to predict which of their seamers will play at Nottingham. As for their batting, Michael Clarke remains in the form of his life, with Mike Hussey not far behind.

England's best hope here is that the law of averages kicks in, as it has done for every batsman in Test history bar Don Bradman.

Solid start: Jackson Bird can be happy with his Test debut for Australia

Solid start: Jackson Bird can be happy with his Test debut for Australia

And, although there were half-centuries at Melbourne for David Warner and Shane Watson, England will also be quietly confident about getting the better of Australia's top four.

Warner and Phil Hughes, who is being rehabilitated at No 3, may be too keen to play their shots to prosper regularly in English conditions, while Ed Cowan looks no better than steady, and Watson is yet to demonstrate he has the capacity for big hundreds required at No 4.

Having said all that, Australia are now 2-0 up with one to play against a team England beat only 1-0 at home in 2011, then lost to at Galle earlier this year.

And yet a better gauge of where the two Ashes sides are will be Australia's four-Test series in India, starting in February.

England are still luxuriating in their 2-1 win. The pressure will be on Clarke's side to match them.

Australia rip apart Sri Lanka in Boxing Day Test in Melbourne

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Aussies run riot on Boxing Day to rip apart Sri Lanka in Melbourne opener

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UPDATED:

09:01 GMT, 26 December 2012

A brilliant display of pace bowling allowed Australia to assume control of their second Test with Sri Lanka on its opening day in Melbourne.

Having been asked to bowl first in the traditional Boxing Day encounter, Michael Clarke's men skittled their visitors for just 156 midway through the afternoon session, before closing up just six runs shy of that total for the loss of three wickets.

Festive fun: Mitchell Johnson celebrates taking the wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan

Festive fun: Mitchell Johnson celebrates taking the wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan

In the swing of things: Matthew Wade and Mitchell Johnson mark the dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara

In the swing of things: Matthew Wade and Mitchell Johnson mark the dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara

A reinvigorated Mitchell Johnson was the standout performer in the Baggy Green, with the often-maligned quick taking a four for 63 that was ably supported by two each from Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon and debutant Jackson Bird.

David Warner then smashed a 46-ball 62 to get Australia up and running in their pursuit of a first innings lead, something that now looks a certainty, despite Sri Lanka taking three wickets before the bails were flicked.

Had their own score been a better one that would have been respectable but, with such a failure on the board, they already look up against it, but only have themselves to blame.

The Australia pace attack got a bit of movement out of the pitch during the first session, but Sri Lanka were let down by a series of poor shots and Kumar Sangakkara was the only batsman to look comfortable.

Day to remember: Aussie fans enjoyed the action on a balmy day in Melbourne

Day to remember: Aussie fans enjoyed the action on a balmy day in Melbourne

Day to remember: Aussie fans enjoyed the action on a balmy day in Melbourne

That was until Wade combined with Johnson to pull off a brilliant catch with the veteran on 58.
Sangakkara had not played a false shot all day, but was tempted into hooking a short Johnson delivery that bounced higher than expected and could only collect the top edge.

The ball flew straight over Wade's head, but the wicketkeeper kept his eyes on the ball and sprinted over 30 metres towards the sightscreen, before producing a dive to pull off a tremendous catch that dismissed the man who became the 11th in history to register 10,000 Test runs earlier in his innings.

Sangakkara's patience at the crease and ability to punish anything loose was the only highlight of a poor batting performance from the tourists as questionable shot selection led to many of his team-mates' demise.

Bird (two for 32) had his first Test victim with the 22nd delivery of the morning when Dimuth Karunaratne (five) came forward to a ball on a good length, but was only able to edge one through to Wade behind the stumps.

The usually reliable Tillakaratne Dilshan (11) was guilty of the worst shot of the day as he attempted to hit a booming straight drive off Johnson, only to inside edge it onto his off stump to reduce Sri Lanka to 19 for two.

Siddle (two for 30) made it 37 for three shortly after when Mahela Jayawardene (three) nicked one through to Wade, before Sangakkara combined with Thilan Samaraweera to take the score through to 79 for three at lunch.

Gone: Phillip Hughes is run out by Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara

Gone: Phillip Hughes is run out by Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara

Bird, who had bowled intelligently during his first stint in the morning, had his second wicket with the third ball after lunch when Samaraweera (10) lofted a short one and Angelo Matthews (15) came and went moments later as the wickets continued to tumble around Sangakkara.

A Prasanna Jayawardene (24) cameo gave Sri Lanka some hope, but when he got a ripper from Johnson and Dhammika Prasad fell the very next ball for a duck, the tourists were 134 for seven and in all sorts of trouble.

Lyon (two for 23) came in to clean up the tail with ease and Australia – with captain Michael Clarke having passed a fitness test before the start of play – set about making hay.

Warner and Ed Cowan raced out to 95 before the former found the hands of Prasad at mid-wicket off the bowling of Andrews, with Phil Hughes then doing little to enhance his credentials as a number three by getting caught out of his ground by Dilshan when on 10.

Another wicket followed when Cowan nicked Prasad to Mahela Jayawardene at second slip, and Australia looked to be reeling when Shane Watson edged the same man to Prasanna Jayawardene, only to see a one-handed attempt at a catch go to ground.

The reprieve stopped the slide and Watson (13no) and Clarke (20no) saw things through to the finish.

Sight for sore eyes: A view of the Melbourne Cricket Ground on day one of the second Test

Sight for sore eyes: A view of the Melbourne Cricket Ground on day one of the second Test

World Twenty20 2012: Nasser Hussain – England must not slog or bust against Sri Lanka

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This is not a game for slog or bust… England expects

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UPDATED:

21:00 GMT, 30 September 2012

Where New Zealand were very orthodox, Sri Lanka will be the opposite with the ball.

Lasith Malinga will bowl everything at England except length while Ajantha Mendis is a devilishly difficult proposition in his home conditions, particularly against batsmen who haven’t faced him much before.

England must not rely on slog or bust. It’s so hard when you are not sure which way the ball is turning.

Dangerman: Malinga is a threat to England's batsmen

Dangerman: Malinga is a threat to England's batsmen

Test at the top

England can take encouragement from the fact that Sri Lanka are a top-heavy team with the bat.

Tillekeratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are a fantastic top three. But if England can make early breakthroughs, particularly through the excellent Steven Finn, they have a brittle middle order.

The drop off to Jeevan Mendis is huge.

Top performers: Jayawardene (left) and Sangakkara (right)

Top performers: Jayawardene (left) and Sangakkara (right)

Be prepared

England have played in front of small, quiet crowds up to now but that is about to change.

Pallekele will be a real cauldron and England must not be overwhelmed by the intensity of the occasion.

Come through this and it would stand them in good stead for the semi-finals.

World Twenty20 2012: AB de Villiers steers South Africa to victory over Sri Lanka in seven-over encounter

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De Villiers steers South Africa to victory over Sri Lanka in seven-over encounter

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UPDATED:

14:55 GMT, 22 September 2012

South Africa thrashed World Twenty20 hosts Sri Lanka in Hambantota after a rain delay reduced their Group C showdown to a seven-overs-a-side match.

Captain AB de Villiers crunched 30 from 13 balls in South Africa's 78 for four and Sri Lanka never threatened to go close to that imposing total, limping instead to 46 for five.

Fortunately, given it would have been a cruel way to go out, today's match only determined which of the two teams would finish top of the group, not which would go through to the Super Eight stage. Both were already assured of advancing, after wins over Zimbabwe.

On the front foot: AB de Villiers lashes out in Hambantota

On the front foot: AB de Villiers lashes out in Hambantota

South Africa v Sri Lanka

Click here for a full scorecard

South Africa lost Richard Levi to the
fourth ball of the innings, to a brilliant diving catch by Dilshan
Munaweera off the bowling of Nuwan Kulasekara, before Hashim Amla
clubbed three boundaries over the infield to make a swift 16.

Amla was stumped by Kumar Sangakkara off Rangana Herath, and that brought De Villiers to the batting strip.

Angelo Matthews briefly clamped the
brakes on with a tidy fourth over, but Herath then began to take
punishment as De Villiers seized the initiative.

Stumped: Hashim Amla is dismissed by Kumar Sangakkara

Stumped: Hashim Amla is dismissed by Kumar Sangakkara

A swept four from the first ball of the fifth over by the skipper was followed by a vicious punch over the ropes for six.

De Villiers fell when Jeevas Mendis
showed safe hands at mid-off to give Lasith Malinga a wicket, having
been taken for 14 runs in the preceding five deliveries by the same
batsman.

On 65 for three going into the final
over, South Africa lost Faf du Plessis but JP Duminy played a clever
scoop shot to the boundary from the fifth ball before drilling a
straight six to end the innings.

Tillakaratne Dilshan fell in the first over of Sri Lanka's reply, brilliantly run out by wicketkeeper De Villiers.

Falling down: Tillakaratne Dilshan is run out by De Villiers

Collision course: Tillakaratne Dilshan is run out by De Villiers

Collision course: Tillakaratne Dilshan is run out by De Villiers

Mahela Jayawardene had struggled to
get the ball away so it was perhaps to Sri Lanka's advantage that he was
dismissed for four at the end of the second over.

Yet at eight for two, the home side already looked to be batting in a lost cause.

They rode their luck when Albie Morkel dropped a steepler to hand Sangakkara a life.

The same batsman was soon on his way though, top-edging an attempted pull shot to De Villiers.
Perera and Dilshan Munaweera perished when hitting out in the closing two overs, Sri Lanka's hopes long over.

Alastair Cook nominated for ICC Player of the Year Award

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England opener Cook nominated for ICC player award for second successive year

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UPDATED:

12:35 GMT, 13 August 2012

Alastair Cook is nominated as one of the nine candidates for the LG International Cricket Council player of the year award, for a second successive year.

Cook last year won the Test cricketer category, and his England team-mate Jonathan Trott took the overall award, following their exploits in the historic 2010/11 Ashes success.

Opener Cook is joined in the 2012 list by his team-mate Stuart Broad, Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal, South Africa's Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander, Australia captain Michael Clarke, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, India's Virat Kohli and West Indies' Stafanie Taylor – the first woman to be nominated for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.

Eyes on the prize: Cook has been impressive with the bat once again this year

Eyes on the prize: Cook has been impressive with the bat once again this year

The awards will be presented at the ninth annual ceremony, before the start of the ICC World Twenty20, in Colombo on September 15.

Cook, and his rivals, will be judged on performances between August 4 last year and August 6 this year – a period which began with his career-best 294 as England went to the top of the ICC world Test rankings with a series-clinching victory over India at Edgbaston.

Further England interest in next month's awards includes seamer Broad, wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Cook for Test cricketer of the year, fast bowler Steven Finn and Cook again – nominated in the one-day international player category – and Ravi Bopara and Alex Hales, for their respective bowling at The Oval and batting at Trent Bridge, as Twenty20 performance of the year.

Broad appeal: The England paceman has been nominated for best test player

Broad appeal: The England paceman has been nominated for best test player

Lydia Greenway and Sarah Taylor will be up against the Windies' Taylor for the women's cricketer of the year awards – and Irishmen dominate the ICC affiliate and associate category, with six of the 10 nominees.

England fast bowler James Anderson was named earlier this month as one of the five candidates for the people's choice award.

Kumar Sangakkara makes Wisden history

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Sangakkara makes history as Sri Lankan is nominated for two Wisden awards

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UPDATED:

08:47 GMT, 11 April 2012

Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara has become the first man to be named simultaneously as Wisden's leading cricketer in the world and one of its five cricketers of the year.

The elegant left-hander compiled 2,267 international runs in the three formats last year – no other player broke 2,000 – with five centuries and 13 fifties, and uniquely reached four figures in both Tests and one-day internationals for the third time.

A century in probably his last Test on English soil at Hampshire helped ensure he was named as one of the cricketers of the year, the award conferred by the publication's editor – a mantle taken on this year by Sportsmail's Lawrence Booth – on the individuals who have most shaped the English cricketing summer, and which a player can win only once.

Making history: Sangakkara (left)

Making history: Sangakkara (left)

'I had always wanted a Test hundred at Lord's but, if that was not to be, then anywhere in England,' Sangakkara tells David Hopps in the Almanack, published on Thursday.

'The Rose Bowl felt as if it might be my last opportunity.'

Sangakkara also won praise for his delivery of the MCC's Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture, reproduced in part in Wisden, in which he confronted the level of government interference in his country's cricket.

'Writing that speech became a deeply personal experience,' he adds.

'I knew there were ways it could be misinterpreted, but it was a story I felt I needed to tell.'

Elegant: Sangakkara on his way to a century at the Rose Bowl last summer

Elegant: Sangakkara on his way to a century at the Rose Bowl last summer

Joining the 34-year-old as cricketers of the year are fellow veterans Glen
Chapple, Lancashire's title-winning captain and talisman, and
Worcestershire seamer Alan Richardson, the leading wicket-taker in
Division One of last season's LV= County Championship with 73.

England pair Alastair Cook, with 927 Test runs at an average of 84 in addition to his return to the one-day international side as captain, and Tim Bresnan – who took 21 Test wickets at 19, scored 189 runs at 63 and finished the summer with a 100 per ceny winning record from 10 Tests – complete the quintet.

Richardson said: 'To be recognised along world-class cricketers such as Alastair Cook, Tim Bresnan, Glen Chapple and Kumar Sangakkara is a real honour.'

Elsewhere in the Almanack, Booth uses his first editor's notes to address a wide spread of topics, most notably the global shifting of focus towards Twenty20 cricket and the role of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in the governance of the world game.

Nominated: Glen Chapple (right)

Nominated: Glen Chapple (right)

Describing T20 as 'a Pandora's Box masquerading as a panacea', Booth adds: 'Outside England, the Test match increasingly resembles the quiet zone of world cricket's gravy train: respected in theory, ignored in practice.

'The real damage is being done by the prevalence of the two-match series. For any series not involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, three Tests must be the minimum.'

On the BCCI's power, Booth – the youngest Wisden editor in 72 years – writes: 'India have ended up with a special gift: the clout to shape an entire sport. But too often their game appears driven by the self-interest of the few.

'Other countries run the game along self-serving lines too … but none wields the BCCI's power, nor shares their responsibility.'

Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 2012: 149th Edition, published April 12, 2012 by John Wisden & Co.

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

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

Stay up to date with all the action on
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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 joe.ridge@dailymail.co.uk or Tweet to @JoeRidge87

Sri Lanka v England: Essentials

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

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

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

Third Umpire: R Tucker (Aus).

Match Referee: J Srinath (Ind).

First innings: Sri Lanka 275, England 460.

Click here for a full scorecard

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98th over: Sri Lanka 227-6 (M Jayawardene 59, Mathews 8)

They scamper a quick single with a prod into the off side. Mahela adds one of his own. Edge! But it's wide of Cook. Mathews has ridden his luck this morning. Good from Swann again.

97th over: Sri Lanka 225-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 7)

Anderson continues to Mathews. Edge! It falls well short of second slip. He gets a thick down to third man for one.

96th over: Sri Lanka 224-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 6)

Mathews nudges a single into the off side. Brilliant bowling from Swann who is beating Jayawardene both sides of the bat. He survives though.

WICKET! Jayawardene is reviewing it… This could be huge! It looks like there's an inside edge on Anderson's inswinger… IT'S OVERTURNED! Right decision and a rare mistake by the umpires, the first successful review of the match.

95th over: Sri Lanka 223-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 5)

Jaffa! Anderson squares Mathews up and just beats his edge with one that moves away. Mathews drives a single to extra cover.

94th over: Sri Lanka 222-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 4)

Mathews pushes a single to cover. A couple of half-hearted appeals as Jayawardene offers no shot outside off.

93rd over: Sri Lanka 221-6 (M Jayawardene 58, Mathews 3)

Anderson to bowl the second over of the day. He as outstanding without success last night. Jayawardene edges on to his pads and picks up a couple down to fine leg.

92nd over: Sri Lanka 219-6 (M Jayawardene 56, Mathews 3)

Strauss gives the ball to Swann for the first over of the day. A bold statement of intent. Jayawardene is on strike. Close! He beats the edge with the first ball of the day. One swept to fine leg. Drop! Mathews fends to Cook at short leg but he can't grab it low down. Great start!

5.28am: Right then, here we go. The first two wickets are key for England. If they can get them in the first session, they should win. Remember to email or tweet your thoughts by clicking on the links above.

5.26am: That being said, Jayawardene is well on his way to a third century of the series, and his partner Angelo Mathews showed with with 57 in the first innings. After that comes Prasanna Jayawardene, who scored a ton against England in Cardiff last summer. Rangana Herath at 10 has also shown he's capable of slogging a few, so the job is far from done and the hosts will still fancy their chances of a draw. Mind you, the way England's fifth innings have gone this summer they may fancy their chances with a lead of 120!

5.23am: The draw was the looking like the favourite result after Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera put on 90 for the fifth wicket. But Swann's removal of the latter, quickly followed by the wicket of the nightwatchman Suraj Randiv, has left the hosts in peril.

5.16am: As far as the match situation goes, England are firmly in the driving seat, thanks largely to two wickets late last night from Graeme Swann. Sri Lanka are leading by just 33 runs with only four wickets remaining, so they are effectively 33-6.

In control: Jayawardene brought up his half century in the evening session on day three

In control: Jayawardene brought up his half century in the evening session on day three

5.12am: Before play gets under way, make sure you read our experts' verdicts…

Paul Newman's report on day four is here.

Top Spin at the Test is here.

Tillekeratne Dilshan tells Lawrence Booth he didn't edge the ball he was given out to on day four here.

And our experts give their views on the ongoing DRS debate here.

5.07am:
Anyway, I'm not going to start ranting at the ICC as I'd be opening
several cans of worms. Instead I'm looking forward to what promises to
be a dramatic day of cricket on what is an increasing rarity: a fifth
day. Incredibly, you have to go back five matches since we saw a Test
involving England last five days – the fifth Test against India at the
Oval in September.

5.03am: What
a travesty it is that this series only lasts two matches, it feels like
we're just getting started! Personally I think it should be a
regulation that every Test series lasts at least three matches.

5.00am: Good morning everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of the fifth and final day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England in Colombo.

What a finish: Swann took two wickets in his final over on day three

What a finish: Swann took two wickets in his final over on day three

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

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

Stay up to date with all the action on
day four 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 joe.ridge@dailymail.co.uk or Tweet to @JoeRidge87

Sri Lanka v England: Essentials

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

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

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

Third Umpire: R Tucker (Aus).

Match Referee: J Srinath (Ind).

First innings: Sri Lanka 275, England 460.

Click here for a full scorecard

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WICKET! Thirimanne c Strauss b Anderson 11

8th over: Sri Lanka 22-0 (Prasad 6, Thirimanne 11)

Swann gets an early bowl, replacing Finn. Can he strike in his first over as he so often does Chance! Prior misses the stumping as Thirimanne comes down the track and gets beaten. That was a pretty easy chance for Prior. Appeal! Not out. And they decide against the review… wisely. The ball was missing off, but another poor leave from the opener, who got out leaving off Anderson in the first innings. Great start from Swann. Maiden.

7th over: Sri Lanka 22-0 (Prasad 6, Thirimanne 11)

Anderson into his fourth over. Close! Thirimanne nearly chops on attempting the cut. Three added as Strauss cuts off the drive at the cover boundary.

6th over: Sri Lanka 19-0 (Prasad 6, Thirimanne 8)

Finn to Thirimanne, around the wicket. He adds a single after a good stop from Pietersen at mid on. Prasad sees off the rest.

5th over: Sri Lanka 18-0 (Prasad 6, Thirimanne 7)

Anderson to continue his spell. Oof! Jimmy gets one to rear up and nip back and it just beats Prasad's edge. Swing and a miss again from Prasad, if he's going he's going out swinging… Close! He prods one up in the air that falls between the bowler and Bresnan at cover. Maiden.

4th over: Sri Lanka 18-0 (Prasad 6, Thirimanne 7)

Thirimanne tucks Finn off his hips for a single down to fine leg. Three more singles in the offing. Nothing to alarm the batsmen from this pitch yet.

3rd over: Sri Lanka 14-0 (Prasad 4, Thirimanne 5)

Anderson to bowl the second over of the day. Appeal! Not out. That was probably going down leg, and they won't want to waste on appeal on the nightwatchman – leg bye added. Thirimanne tucks a single to midwicket. Shot! Prasad shows he's no slouch with the bat with well-timed off drive for four.

2nd over: Sri Lanka 8-0 (Prasad 0, Thirimanne 4)

Steven Finn to bowl the second over of the innings and the first of the day. Thirimanne is on strike. Shot! He drives behind square on the back foot for the first boundary of the day.

5.28am: England's attack have been outstanding throughout the winter, now they have their chance for glory after their batsmen finally laid a decent platform. The players are out in the middle. Here we go…

5.25am: First task for England is to remove the nightwatchman Prasad. Sri Lanka will need a big knock or two from the likes of Jayawardene and Sangakkara if they are to save the match and win the series, which would see England knocked off their perch as the world's No 1 Test side.

5.20am: England's seamers will have been buoyed some very uneven bounce extracted by Lakmal and Prasad yesterday. And if Swann looked good on days one and two here, then he'll be relishing the prospect of turning it on this deteriorating track.

Hunting as a pack: England appeal for the wicket of Prasad late on day three

Hunting as a pack: England appeal for the wicket of Prasad late on day three

5.15am: Here's your essential reading for today before we get under way at 5.30am…

Paul Newman's report on day three is here.

Pietersen tells Lawrence Booth England have turned the corner with the bat here.

Lawrence writes on the switch-hit controversy here.

And his final installment for today is Top Spin at the Test, here.

5.10am: Kevin Pietersen's exceptional innings of 151 yesterday has left England with two whole days to sew this one up, and Andrew Strauss has a five-man attack of Anderson, Finn, Bresnan, Swann and Patel with which to try and do so.

5.05am: Today could well be the final day of the series. England will certainly be hoping so. They lead by 181 runs with the hosts just one over into their second innings.

5.00am: Good morning everyone and welcome to the fourth day of the second and final Test between Sri Lanka and England in Colombo.

Ton-derful: Pietersen hails his magnificent century

Ton-derful: Pietersen hails his magnificent century

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

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

Stay up to date with all the action on
day three 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 joe.ridge@dailymail.co.uk or Tweet to @JoeRidge87

Sri Lanka v England: Essentials

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

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

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

Third Umpire: R Tucker (Aus).

Match Referee: J Srinath (Ind).

First innings: Sri Lanka 275.

Click here for a full scorecard

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77th over: England 187-1 (Cook 83, Trott 39)

Herath goes too straight to Trott and he's able to flick two runs to midwicket. One more added to cover, England ticking along nicely here.

76th over: England 184-1 (Cook 83, Trott 36)

Randiv to Cook, who pushes a single to wide of mid off. Shot! Trott picks up on a wide one from Randiv and plays the reverse sweep expertly. Randiv comes round the wicket… and bowls a shocking leg stump full toss that Trott only manages to add one from to fine leg.

75th over: England 178-1 (Cook 82, Trott 31)

Herath continues… Trott picks up two through midwicket.

74th over: England 176-1 (Cook 82, Trott 29)

The off-spinner Randiv comes in to replace Prasad. Trott picks up a single. Randiv gets one to turn sharply away from Cook but beats his outside edge. Just one from the over… a good first half hour from England.

73rd over: England 175-1 (Cook 82, Trott 28)

Herath continues his opening spell. Cook can't quite find the gaps for the single, but there's not enough turn from the portly spinner to worry him. Maiden.

72nd over: England 175-1 (Cook 82, Trott 28)

Prasad comes around the wicket to Cook to bring lbw into the equation, perhaps in response to that one that kept low in his last over. Cook pushes a single to cover. Four… Prasad's off cutter gets a thin edge from Trott's bat. The ball falls well short of Prasanna Jayawardene though and the bounce beats him to allow the ball to run away to the boundary. That brings up the 50 partnership.

71st over: England 170-1 (Cook 81, Trott 24)

Jayawardene has the field up to Trott to stop him accumulating the singles as he so loves to do. Trott clips a leg side delivery from Herath through midwicket for three. Cook adds one more to square leg.

70th over: England 166-1 (Cook 80, Trott 21)

Prasad into his second over of the day. This time he has Cook on strike. Signs of wear and tear in the pitch as one completely dies on Cook, luckily it was well outside off though. Cook pushes two through the covers to move into the 80s.

69th over: England 164-1 (Cook 78, Trott 21)

Herath continues to Cook. The opener works a single to midwicket. Two leg byes fine as Trott attempts to sweep one outside leg stump.

68th over: England 161-1 (Cook 77, Trott 21)

Dhammika Prasad to bowl his medium-fast seamers. Trott punches through the covers off the back foot two score the first two runs of the day. Wide called as a Prasad bouncer flies high over Trott. Four! Trott guides one past gully for the first boundary of the day.

Accumulating: Alastair Cook works the ball into the leg side

Accumulating: Alastair Cook works the ball into the leg side

67th over: England 154-1 (Cook 77, Trott 15)

Sri Lanka will open up with the left-arm spin of Rangana Herath. The new ball is 14 overs away. It's a maiden to start up with.

5.28am: Nearly time to get play started on yet another scorching day in Sri Lanka. Fans will be thinking of what total England can get, preserving their world No 1 status, putting some gloss on a poor winter, etc etc. But rest assured, all England will be thinking about is winning this session, the rest then will start to take care of itself.

5.15am: To ensure victory England will want plenty of time to defend and unassailable lead. They'll be hoping the steady progress continues throughout the first two sessions then, if wickets are still intact, expect them to kick on as the day wears on.

Vital runs: Strauss scored 61 on day two

Vital runs: Strauss scored 61 on day two

5.10am: Here's some reading for you all to get stuck into before we get under way at 5.30am…

Paul Newman's report on day two is here.

Graeme Swann hits out at the 'witch-hunt' for captain Andrew Strauss here.

And the Top Spin, Lawrence Booth, muses from Colombo here.

5.05am: It may not be one for the neutrals so far but make no bones about it, England need to win this one, and they've gone about it in the right way so far. Don't expect any fireworks from Cook and Trott – England will be hoping their two most consistent batsmen of the last 18 months can do what they do best: dig in and accumulate.

5.00am: Good morning everyone and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of the third day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and England in Colombo…. What a refreshingly boring day of cricket that was yesterday. Just one wicket falling for England at a run rate of less than 2.5 an over… Just what we've been missing!

Cooking with gas: England have built a great platform from which they can dominate the Test

Cooking with gas: England have built a great platform from which they can dominate the Test

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