Bopara has a side strain and can't bowl, apparently. Is he worth playing as a batsman only? Genuinely undecided on that question, but I'm leaning more towards no than yes.

If you don't play Bopara as a batsman only, then your options are to either play Bell and pray he discovers which end of the bat to hold somewhere in the next week or to go with Patel at five, Prior at six and an extra bowler.

Given the inherent conservatism of the selectors I'd be surprised to see two changes to the top 6 from the Pakistan series, despite Bell's loss of form. What worries me is that we seem to be considering Bopara even though he's sufficiently hampered by injury to be unable to bowl. If he was an established player of proven Test quality it might be more understandable, but he isn't, and surely there's a risk he may not be capable of giving 100% physically while batting and fielding in debilitating heat and humidity? I get the feeling Patel is finally beginning to make the right impression with Flower and will be the best bet.

If we do go with Patel at 5 and Prior at 6 the extra bowler has to be Bresnan, otherwise the tail is just too weak. We can't have five bowlers if three of them are Anderson, Panesar & Finn.

You're right, a fifth bowler would need to be either Bresnan or Patel, meaning that Broad and Swann continue at 8 and 9 (players like Anderson, Panesar, Finn and Tremlett will only ever be competing for 2 places in the team, even when we only play 4 bowlers).

Just depends on whether they want an extra seamer or spinner. I think they will need to get an extra bowler in though. The fact that Bopara can't bowl could be a blessing, because I think we'll need more than just a handful of overs a day from a 5th bowler.

Sri Lanka 113-4 at drinks

Two wickets off absolutely hideous shots and a bonus run-out at the non-strikers end - bonus wickets really. England must learn quickly that this is classic Sri Lankan attritional Test cricket. Patience and occupancy of the crease is key.

He's a bit good this Mahela Jayawardene chap. I predict a long, productive future in the game for the young man.

At this stage I'm a bit worried that only one bloke has made a score as high as 30. Have Sri Lanka's batsmen collectively wasted an opportunity to make a decent score, or is it a case of one outstanding player compiling a likely matchwinning innings in tricky batting conditions?

I'd go the latter.....Our catching has been abysmal - Monty is just an embarrassment.

Our batsman are going to have show the mettle that was sadly lacking just a few weeks ago in the Pakistan series.

England off to a shocking start, plus a rlgreat catch by Bracewell to dismiss Graeme Smithrl

Stop.


Effin'.


Sweeping.

193 all out. Six wickets for Rangana Herath. This bloke had a brief spell as Surrey's overseas player in 2009 and looked totally innocuous. Over the past decade we've had Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha gracing our colours, all of them brilliant masters of their craft. Herath was more in the Gareth Batty bracket, but without the useful batting and fielding contributions.

Dilshan out early, but it's effectively 129/1

Jayawardene knock the difference, Bell the only player from either team to get past 30

Bowled him! Swanny in his first over, AGAIN. 8/2, lead of 133. Here comes Mahela, batting for the second time today.

Take Mahela and Bell out of the first innings and it's 138 v 140.