**Official** Sri Lanka in England and Ireland 2016

[Groundking]

Compton fails here I'd drop him. 7 tests in a row doing very little is enough for an aging player.

Borthwick in at 3.

Yeah he needs a big score here IMO, but I just don't see him managing it.

 

[Howe_zat]

Jesus, top of 14C today.............fmd you have to feel a little sympathy for the Lankans.

Pfft. They didn't have their boiler break in January.

 

[91Jmay]

I hope all this sympathy remains when our players are sweating to death on bunsen burners in India in the winter.

 

[King Pietersen]

Cya Compton.

 

[91Jmay]

Compton just not good enough. Bad shot selection, builds pressure on his partners.

Bye, bye Nick.

 

[Gnske]

Denis would have hit that for 6.

 

[Howe_zat]

The Other KP: "Since Cook's 260 against Pakistan, his average is 28 compared to Hales 28 and Compton 27. Why is no one commenting on Cook's form?" It might have something to do with the 260 against Pakistan.

^ cricket fans

 

[Howe_zat]

30 overs in a morning session!

 

[91Jmay]

To be fair, Cook's form has been poor and does need addressing but yeah clearly his place isn't remotely under threat.

 

[StephenZA]

Well Cook is still class... and there is not even an assured partner for him, so can`t see him being replaced anytime soon.

 

[91Jmay]

Solid enough session. Get to 300-350 and that will feel like 600 to the Sri Lankans. Pitch is doing a little bit, but not bad for batting.

 

[ImpatientLime]

has there ever been as much fuss over such a nothing career as nick comptons?

fella isn't remotely test class.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Solid enough session. Get to 300-350 and that will feel like 600 to the Sri Lankans. Pitch is doing a little bit, but not bad for batting.

Yeah a repeat will do after lunch and given their batting woes last week we will be in a strong position.

 

[91Jmay]

Big spin there for Herath, as I said get this to day 4/5 and could be advantage Sri Lanka/a big test for Moeen.

 

[Scaly piscine]

This pitch will look totally different when one of our seamers clicks. The pace makes it tough for spinners because batsmen can generally play it off the pitch, there's no real margin on length.

 

[Groundking]

Terrific stuff from these two so far, hopefully they can continue, and Hales manages to reach the ton this time.

 

[Stace]

We've got enough might as well declare now.

 

[91Jmay]

Deep point/cover is such a terrible field position at 120/2 (roughly when he went out). Mathews is astoundingly negative.

Thing is, it isn't keeping the runs down, just meaning Root has bigger gaps to hit so he can milk 2s.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Rooooooooooooooooooot.

Got to take those chances SL. Hope Hales gets his ton. 2 impressive knocks in tricky conditions this summer so far.

 

[Stace]

Stunning catch.