England V Sri Lanka, 1St Test, Lords

[ChillDoubt]

SL have won the toss and will have a bowl, England name 3 debutants.
Play starts at 11 o'clock.
I know it's officially summer now because I will be listening to TMS shortly.

Come on England, let's start building up a head of steam now i preparation for the convicts next summer!

[jno]

they're playing an Aussie this time? Must have got bored with South Africans.

[ChillDoubt]

Andrew Strauss had the honour of ringing the bell to signal the players to take to the field.
Cooke and Robson(1st Test for him) ready themselves.
Blowers and Tuffers in the commentary box, here we go....

[ChillDoubt]

Cook had a dabble in Sir Geoffrey's "corridor of uncertainty" but no tickle, gasps of 'Ooooh' from the crowd.
The England captain improves and cracks a loose one for 4. That's more like it!
First over negotiated, 7-0.

[ChillDoubt]

Robson off the mark on his home ground, must be a great nerve-settler.

[ChillDoubt]

Blowers regales his co-commentators with a tale of how he recently set himself on fire in the kitchen.
He stops himself mid-story, having spotted his first seagull of the summer.

I simply adore TMS!

As I type, Robson chases a wide one and is gone, caught behind. He'll be kicking himself. 14-1.

[jim360]

A bit of a shame... but I think Robson is worth sticking with as an opener.

[ChillDoubt]

I know nothing of him jim TBH, but reports from the TMS box prior to his brainfade were that he has a good temperament, especially in a crisis.
Hope he can make amends in the second innings.

[ChillDoubt]

Cook gets what Jim Laker used to call 4 'very streaky runs' and is under the pump a little. 18-1, Ballance yet to get off the mark.

[jno]

two wheels fallen off already; looks like Bell will have to do it on his own again.

[ChillDoubt]

Yep, Cook drags one on. Bell and Ballance has a ring to it, hopefully they'll drag us back into contention.
Crucual not to lose another before lunch, long way to go though.
Sir Geoffrey in the TMS box giving out pearls as ever.

[ChillDoubt]

An hour gone and the 50 is up, rather fortuitously with a 4 through the fielders hand.
It's drinks.

[ChillDoubt]

Ballance caught, 76-3. Just needed to hand on another half hour, SL firmly on top now.

[ChillDoubt]

Lunch, 98-3. Bell on 41 has largely saved England from further embarrassment, hope the rest can hang around for him to crack on, he will become vital in this innings one feels.

[ChillDoubt]

Bell goes leg before after review for 56.
England under the cosh a bit now, they could be bowling before close of play today.

[jim360]

Nope -- a strong performance by the middle order and England are 319-5 now, Prior making 60* already on his return and Root eyeing up a century.

[jno]

those two have a point to prove having both been dropped in Oz for underperforming. I am going along on Saturday so am glad it won't be over by then.

[jim360]

100 for Roooooooooooooooooooooooot!

[DTCwordfan]

Now this is a good day - interesting though, draw or England win..........