It's England v Mahela again....

Strauss' determination to defend when the opposition are 30/3 astounds me. For all the batting frailties, there have also been a few too many occaisions when we've let opponents off the hook when fielding.

Absolutely. New batsman, spinners on.... Stick someone right under his nose, not offer an easy one to get off strike.

Ah, Bresnan. If he's available, he has to play.

Mahela > England. Again.

Very, very even. If everyone's left the sweep shot in Galle, that is...

If Sri Lanka kick on to post something like 300, I can't see England making enough runs to win the game even with the strengthened batting line-up.

England will need to score 400 to avoid a 4th innings run chase above 150. Isn't going to happen.

Just 2 more needed to avoid the follow-on! Happy days indeed

Uh-oh. They've started sweeping...

Both openers through to 50

Quote: DAR130 "After the shambles of England there's good news for everybody as Lancashire has started the season with a win against MCC Innit. Good performance as well, albeit with a bit of sloppy batting first time around. The behaviour of the pink ball may have something to do with that, mind, apparently it does quite a lot early on and then dies. There was a hell of a breeze at pitch level as well - mind you there was a hell of a breeze around the ground full stop at times. I wasn't too impressed with the visibility of the pink ball as it got older. Early on it stood out very visibly, as it got older you couldn't see it at all, neither in daylight nor under lights. Goes quite soft as well according to some of the Lancs lads. Didn't think this version of it was the huge success everyone's making it out to be... Talking of the England shambles in the last test, the night we came away from the ground after their defeat we ended up with a Sri Lankan taxi driver. He was happy if nothing else! Anyway, if anyone's interested, there's a few snaps from the trip here: www.flickr.com/photos/8580799@N0 ... 730621713/ Now hoping Cook and Strauss can keep this current stand going.

Quote: DAR130 "After the shambles of England there's good news for everybody as Lancashire has started the season with a win against MCC Innit. Good performance as well, albeit with a bit of sloppy batting first time around. The behaviour of the pink ball may have something to do with that, mind, apparently it does quite a lot early on and then dies. There was a hell of a breeze at pitch level as well - mind you there was a hell of a breeze around the ground full stop at times. I wasn't too impressed with the visibility of the pink ball as it got older. Early on it stood out very visibly, as it got older you couldn't see it at all, neither in daylight nor under lights. Goes quite soft as well according to some of the Lancs lads. Didn't think this version of it was the huge success everyone's making it out to be... Talking of the England shambles in the last test, the night we came away from the ground after their defeat we ended up with a Sri Lankan taxi driver. He was happy if nothing else! Anyway, if anyone's interested, there's a few snaps from the trip here: www.flickr.com/photos/8580799@N0 ... 730621713/ Now hoping Cook and Strauss can keep this current stand going.

Strauss gone (cutting not sweeping) for 60. 123/1

If England can get 100 lead they might be in business, this pitch is gonna deteriorate quickly.

Clearly something on Pietersen's mind. He's gone berko since Trott got out.


Happy County Championship Day to everyone as well. And a pox on anyone who says anything about "get back where we belong" in relation to Yorkshire. We've no right to be in any division other than where we are and there's only one group of people that can do anything about it.

Great ton from Pietersen.

Eng Lead by 77 at Tea.