First 3 Days At Colombo

Were one down in the series, Sri Lanka win the toss, and choose to bat, sensible choice, it's hot, and momentum is on their side after winning the first test in this Just Retirement series. God knows why it is called the Just Retirement series, maybe the ICC are trying to send Strauss a message, who knows...

Day one, time for Sri Lanka's top three to redeem themselves after collapsing in the two innings' in the first test, they get to 21-0, it's not an awful start, the two openers don't look great, but at least they haven't lost two wickets in two balls like they did in the first test.

Oh wait, Dilshan and Sangakkara are both caught by Prior and Strauss respectively, Sangakkara goes for his second golden duck in this series, which lets face it, is terrible, but credit to Jimmy, he is the one that got them out, so if your reading Jimmy, take a bow.

But then Jayawardene strolled into the middle, cool, calm and collected. His team needed him to steady the ship, and my god didn't he did it fantastically well, a couple of people got out at the other end, but nobody cares about that, it was the Jayawardene show, good defence, hit the bad balls, and he played a lot of elegant strokes. He rolled past the 100 mark to hit his 31st century in tests with ease, before eventually getting out for 105. He walked off to a booming standing ovation from the crowd. Angelo Matthews and Samaraweera also deserve a mention, with tidy knocks of 57and 54. Sri Lanka finished all out for 275 after the tail didn’t wag at the start of day two.

Swann and Anderson were the pick of the bowlers, taken 7 wickets between them.

Then, a few minutes later, Strauss and Cook wander out into the middle, a lot of English fans are thinking all the hard work done by the bowlers could be undone by our useless batsmen because most of them are out of touch, but not me, in my last post I mentioned how everyone should get behind Strauss and the boys because the media had been on their backs constantly over if Strauss should be removed as captain because of his batting.

Strauss had obviously read my post and thought that he didn’t want to make me look like a fool, and so he pulled his finger out.

It started average, Strauss got a lucky break, but he soldiered on, and so did Cook and the 50 opening partnership was up. What a relief, England fans everywhere breathed a huge sigh of relief that we hadn’t cocked it up again!

And then a 100 partnership!!! It was marvellous, it hadn’t been as pretty as Strauss and Cook can be when they are in top nick, but it was scrappy, and they slowly grew in confidence.

But then Dilshan strikes, well he doesn’t really strike as in he bowled a unplayable ball, he bowls a short ball outside wide of off-stump for Strauss to pound away through point, but no, Strauss edges it behind to Jayawardene who thankfully takes the simple catch.

122-1.

And then Trott and Cook plod along for a bit, but when Cook got out at the start of day 3 and Pietersen came in is when an innings of pure class came on show in Colombo.

KP had a close shave when the ball flew over short leg, a missed opportunity for Sri Lanka, KP carried on regardless, a slower ball from Prasad which KP hits back over Prasad flies through his hands, a tough chance, a very tough chance, chin up Prasad.

He never looked back, Dilshan made a drama over KP changing his hands before he had bowled the ball (What a knob Dilshan) Dilshan was clearly in the wrong in my view, Pietersen has played the switch shot for many years and the ICC approve it, he only knows why he made a massive drama about it.

And the ball after KP was given a informal warning after the affair, he played a reserve sweep to bring up his 100, a slap in the face to Dilshan! A pretty decent celebration aswell! Pumping his fist in the air as he removes his helmet and laps up the applause, and I bet there was a bit of cursing under his breath to Dilshan aswell...



KP Celebrates his 21st Test Century

 He went on to make 151, of just 162 balls! His sweep looked second to none, hit 6 sixes! A remarkable amount in the test format of the game. So well done KP, you’ve done your self proud, he has been in dodgy form in test cricket in the winter and he has overcome this bad form to put England into a very commanding position in the match.

Samit Patel hit a slow 29 to plod England along, and the tail didn’t have much resistance to the likes of Herath, who got six wickets, it wasn’t an amazing bowling performance by Herath, but he was still the pick of the bowlers (Which wasn’t hard) and he got the job of getting wickets, if it wasn’t for him England could have gone on to get at least 500.

England were all out for 460. A lead of 185 runs.

If we don’t go on to level this two match series I will personally fly over to Sri Lanka and slap each England player round the face.

Cheers