The Googly

Steve Harmison is a big scaredey-pants

Steve bolting after a "spider in his kitbag" revelation

We all know that Steve Harmison is a bot of a delicate soul, and according to Allan Donald the big fella was in a terrible way last summer.

"He needed to feel appreciated." the big South African said, "I've never seen a cricketer as low as he was. He came off the field in the Test at Old Trafford and told me he was scared. It was so sad."

Has Steve always been like this?  Perhaps Troy Cooley was his cuddler-in-chief as well as his coach and that is why he has been so genuinely terrible since the Aussie went home.  All I know is that if he is still feeling like this at this stage of his development then it is something that cannot be fixed and this along with his loss of pace could the final nail in his career

Close call for England Under-19s

Two days ago, this Googly correspondent was singing the praises of young Billy Godleman after his match-winning performance against Sri Lanka in England Under-19s warm-up match for the pre-World Cup Triangular competition. I was fairly sure that Billy would be the stand-out player when the tournament proper got underway, but not to be today.

England's juniors scraped a win over Pakistan (who yesterday beat Sri Lanka fairly comprehensively by 83 runs) by a narrow margin of just 16 runs.

And the bulk of these came courtesy of the bat of Sussex's 19-year-old Ben Brown. Ben is mostly categorised as a wicketkeeper and has only one First-class match to his name: last summer when he scored 46 against Sri Lanka A. Today he came to the rescue as the top order failed to fire and only Dan Redfern and Chris Woakes made double figures. Ben hit a stonking 93 not out off 105 balls, with nine fours and a six.

Far too early in his career to claim him as the next keeper/batsman, but not a bad start. England's total was 213 and after Pakistan's performance yesterday, one might have given them the edge but Tom Westley's (pictured) removal of top order bat Umair Mir was vital and 17-year-old Liam Dawson's three for 47 along with James Harris's removals of opener Ahmed Shehzad and tail-ender Adil Raza secured the victory for England.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

A good beginning

A week or so ago, I wrote that we at The Googly would be keeping a close eye on the performances and progress of England Under-19s as they prepare in Sri Lanka for their assault on the junior World Cup. Well, so far so good.

In their first warm-up match since arriving in Sri Lanka, the young England boys have taken on the Sri Lankans in Colombo today and notched up a satisfying win. Unsurprisingly for the time of year, Sri Lanka batting second, found themselves in a Duckworth-Lewis situation, but with our own young Googly pick Billy Godleman having top-scored with 123 they were always chasing a tough target of 318. Our bowling pick Tom Westley made sure they would have it hard taking three wickets for 27. Sri Lanka ended up 12 runs short.

Let's hope this is a display of real talent and not another blip of success on England's less-than-spectacular result sheet.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

My Cricket Year: mimitig

Player of the Year: Mahela Jayawardene (pictured right with definitely not PotY Michael Vaughan), not only captained Sri Lanka brilliantly in the recent Test series but was also nominated for the ICC awards as Captain of the Year. He lost out to Ricky Ponting, but he's my favourite (as Brucie would say).

Champagne Moment: cheating a bit but I have two. The first being Paul Collingwood raising the Commonwealth Bank Series Trophy after an absolutely horrendous tour downunder for the England team, and the second being Somerset's promotion to Division One. They (both teams) earned it.

Worst Moment: in the larger picture, it can't be anything other than Bob Woolmer's death. Domestically, the realisation that Fred Flintoff's best days are over was pretty tough.

One to watch in 2008: Glamorgan's James Harris proved that not only can teenage dreams come true, but that there is life in Glamorgan post Simon Jones. Harris hit the headlines when he took 13 wickets against Gloucestershire at Bristol - in just his second game for the first XI. He's been in Chennai with the Academy and is due to fly out to Sri Lanka with England Under 19s next month. Not bad for a boy who hasn't done his A-Levels yet.

If I could change one thing about the game in 2008: no more Malcolm Speed at the ICC, and not replaced by another lawyer.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

40% fine for Michael Vaughan

So that's it. England dragged out a weather-affected draw at Galle and it's Michael's fault for a slow over rate? Yes, no, you can all have your voice. Me: I don't think we we were that bad overall. There were some sub-standard performances - Matt Prior has to go away for a very big think. The top order did not bang out the required runs, though Ali Cook has laid down a real marker for his inclusion in a Test side.

The problem was that England were over-played and yet under prepared for this Sub-continent Test Series and their opponents were keener for the win.

Many of our players gave their hearts and souls to this series - Ryan Sidebottom as one example. We went as an unexperienced One-day side and against all odds, won. Then a few weeks later as a Test side, we just couldn't re-ignite the fire. Damn - for a supporter - that is really hard to understand.

But, the thing is, England may seem to be losing everywhere - slipping back to 5th in the rankings - but we have been here before. We have been in worse places and we will get back.

Captain MPV has caught the opprobrium today of the authorities - and there's no question that Sri Lanka deserved the series win but fining Michael for slow overs on a badly prepared pitch is, honestly, a bit of a nonsense.

[Image: Getty] [mimtig]

Performance of the Day - Andy Bull

Today we are continuing with post-modern irony. There's nothing else we can do really as followers of England cricket. Thanks to the rain - monsoonal conditions were described - Cookie and Belly held up hopes for a draw after Vaughanie had been dismissed in the 19th over. Caught Jayawardene, bowled Weledegara. In the words of today's PotD chap - it was another crapulous shot from the England captain. And a soft dismissal just when he should have been demonstrating to the rest of the top order how to bat out 5 or so sessions.

I am losing the will to live in this match - we've lost, why not just lose honorably? So today's Performance goes to a journalist who has stuck with this series through thick and thin - early mornings and hangovers not withstanding. Day after day we have been able to wake up and log on to Guardian Unlimited's very own diamond - Andy Bull and today, with play faltering, Andy treated us to a rant worthy of the Good Doctor Mark Kermode.

We've got to go through it all tomorrow - Andy won't be holding our hands as the baton has been passed to young Sam Collins but hopefully we'll all log on again and if we don't, you can always relive the rant here:

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/englandinsrilanka200708/story/0,,2231008,00.html

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Performance of the Day - Paul Collingwood

I've just heard a report on Sports News that England teams are dominating. Obviously this does not refer to cricket. England suffered their worst collapse in five years this morning and without wishing to detract from the superb performances of Chaminda Vaas and UWMBCA Welegedara, this had more to do with the tourists' utter ineptness than anything else. It wasn't just the soft dismissals, but the two comedy run-outs - Ian Bell and Monty Panesar - that proved England can be World Champions at being rubbish.

We do live in a cynical age and it is in this spirit of post-modern irony that I award the PotD to Paul Collingwood rather than to Mahela Jayawardene - who batted like a god again today, Chaminda or young Welegedara. All of whom deserve it for their fine cricket. No Colly gets it, not for being England's top-scorer with 29 (one of only three England batsmen to get into double figures, or four if you count extras), but for his extraordinary post-match interview. He recognises that England are "in a slump" but worryingly he thinks they are "heading in the right direction".

AAARGH! Someone buy me a new sofa NOW! Mine is not big enough to hide behind.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Has anything improved under Peter Moores?

At the time of his appointment some voices suggested that Peter Moores was England cricket's very own Steve McClaren: a backroom boy who seemed to lack the necessary experience, gravitas and charm to succeed in the biggest job.  Steve has now been sacked after an abject period in charge, but how is it looking for Peter?  Not too good frankly, with the honourable exceptions of Ian Bell, Ryan Sidebottom and the one-day team.  Let's take a more detailed look after the jump; this analysis is excluding the series against the woeful Windies.

BATTING
Strauss is gone, but if the top order continue with their chronic case of "averagitis" then it won't be long before he makes his return.  A lot of the batsmen look in good nick (until they get out, obviously), so it would suggest that the issue is more mental than technical; but the bottom line is that we are struggling for big scores.  The current slump the KP's form has highlighted just how reliant we have become on him. 

Verdict: Worse since Duncan

BOWLING
The current attack looks about as likely to take 20 wickets in a match as an American industrialist to agree a carbon target.  The loss of Flintoff is huge, but the way his fitness looks, we need to assume he is not coming back and treat any return as a bonus.

Monty is obviously struggling with an issue that seems more than a slump in form - he has lost his control of flight; Jimmy Anderson, after a brief improvement, is back to playing target practice with the slip cordon; and in the current test, we have had to rely on Ravi Bopara to take some wickets. 

Verdict: Worse since Duncan.

FIELDING
Awful.  For some reason our two best fielders, Colly and Bell, are now in the slips and are dropping catches;  6' 3" Alastair Cook resembles an arthritic giraffe at short leg; Matt Prior is as inconsistent as ever and still will not shut up.  Fielding is the easiest area of cricket to get right - the skills are basic, and provided you have the right people in the right positions on the field who are concentrating on the job, then you have nothing to worry about.  Moores seems unable to nail any of these things.

Verdict: Worse since Duncan

So there you have it, a general decline in all areas.  Winning in Sri Lanka is never easy, but another series loss in NZ plus a poor start to the summer and Peter may be joining Steve at the job centre.  [Image: Getty]

Video: Third Test, Galle, day two highlights

Watch as Sri Lanka make only two results possible in this very dull Test match.

Blood, sweat and tears for England in Galle today

At the end of day one of the third Test in Sri Lanka, England had only taken four wickets (for the price of 147 runs), but Steve Harmison looked threatening for the first time in many a long month. So much so, in fact, that The Guardian's own Mike Selvey headlined his Wednesday piece "Harmison rediscovers his blood and thunder". Now if that wasn't the sort of hope to summon your correspondent from the arms of Morpheus in the small hours this morning, what would be?

Sadly, the early rising was not hugely rewarded. The first session brought back the worst memories of following England on their ritual winter humiliations while we at home seek desperately to fend off the sub-zero temperatures with cashmere and alpaca. Sloppy fielding from such as Alastair Cook made me wish I was still having a nightmare. Poor Matthew Hoggard was clearly still suffering from his back injury and must feel even worse after becoming another victim of Daryl Harper's random umpiring.

Matt Prior had a pretty shocking day and Ryan Sidebottom - who actually bowled really well - was left steaming when Prior let a really good chance to get Tillakaratne Dilshan escape with bad glovesmanship. Still at least Ryan had yesterday's scalp of Michael Vandort for comfort - though I doubt that helped his mood today. Cook slightly made up for earlier errors by effecting a neat run-out of Dilshan in the last over before tea. Ravi Bopara seemed to be taking advantage of this break-through nicking the wicket of keeper Prassana Jayawardene straight after.

However the main man, Mahela Jayawardene had different plans, and after a sublime innings that almost makes one forget that one is a fan of the other team, coasted serenely to 149 not-out at the close of play. He really is the most delightful of cricketers and it is a privilege to be of this generation and enjoy his masterful stroke-making. Since taking on the captaincy he has gone from strength to strength and I understand his Test average has gone from 50+ to 60+. Marvellous. If only our own England captain could learn by the example that is being set before him.

Tomorrow we rejoin the fray with England needing to take four quick wickets in the first session to even have a chance of not being humiliated. 384 for six at the end of day two must look pretty comfortable for the Lankans.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

A good beginning

A week or so ago, I wrote that we at The Googly would be keeping a close eye on the performances and progress of England Under-19s as they prepare in Sri Lanka for their assault on the junior World Cup. Well, so far so good.

In their first warm-up match since arriving in Sri Lanka, the young England boys have taken on the Sri Lankans in Colombo today and notched up a satisfying win. Unsurprisingly for the time of year, Sri Lanka batting second, found themselves in a Duckworth-Lewis situation, but with our own young Googly pick Billy Godleman having top-scored with 123 they were always chasing a tough target of 318. Our bowling pick Tom Westley made sure they would have it hard taking three wickets for 27. Sri Lanka ended up 12 runs short.

Let's hope this is a display of real talent and not another blip of success on England's less-than-spectacular result sheet.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

My Cricket Year: mimitig

Player of the Year: Mahela Jayawardene (pictured right with definitely not PotY Michael Vaughan), not only captained Sri Lanka brilliantly in the recent Test series but was also nominated for the ICC awards as Captain of the Year. He lost out to Ricky Ponting, but he's my favourite (as Brucie would say).

Champagne Moment: cheating a bit but I have two. The first being Paul Collingwood raising the Commonwealth Bank Series Trophy after an absolutely horrendous tour downunder for the England team, and the second being Somerset's promotion to Division One. They (both teams) earned it.

Worst Moment: in the larger picture, it can't be anything other than Bob Woolmer's death. Domestically, the realisation that Fred Flintoff's best days are over was pretty tough.

One to watch in 2008: Glamorgan's James Harris proved that not only can teenage dreams come true, but that there is life in Glamorgan post Simon Jones. Harris hit the headlines when he took 13 wickets against Gloucestershire at Bristol - in just his second game for the first XI. He's been in Chennai with the Academy and is due to fly out to Sri Lanka with England Under 19s next month. Not bad for a boy who hasn't done his A-Levels yet.

If I could change one thing about the game in 2008: no more Malcolm Speed at the ICC, and not replaced by another lawyer.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

40% fine for Michael Vaughan

So that's it. England dragged out a weather-affected draw at Galle and it's Michael's fault for a slow over rate? Yes, no, you can all have your voice. Me: I don't think we we were that bad overall. There were some sub-standard performances - Matt Prior has to go away for a very big think. The top order did not bang out the required runs, though Ali Cook has laid down a real marker for his inclusion in a Test side.

The problem was that England were over-played and yet under prepared for this Sub-continent Test Series and their opponents were keener for the win.

Many of our players gave their hearts and souls to this series - Ryan Sidebottom as one example. We went as an unexperienced One-day side and against all odds, won. Then a few weeks later as a Test side, we just couldn't re-ignite the fire. Damn - for a supporter - that is really hard to understand.

But, the thing is, England may seem to be losing everywhere - slipping back to 5th in the rankings - but we have been here before. We have been in worse places and we will get back.

Captain MPV has caught the opprobrium today of the authorities - and there's no question that Sri Lanka deserved the series win but fining Michael for slow overs on a badly prepared pitch is, honestly, a bit of a nonsense.

[Image: Getty] [mimtig]

Performance of the Day - Andy Bull

Today we are continuing with post-modern irony. There's nothing else we can do really as followers of England cricket. Thanks to the rain - monsoonal conditions were described - Cookie and Belly held up hopes for a draw after Vaughanie had been dismissed in the 19th over. Caught Jayawardene, bowled Weledegara. In the words of today's PotD chap - it was another crapulous shot from the England captain. And a soft dismissal just when he should have been demonstrating to the rest of the top order how to bat out 5 or so sessions.

I am losing the will to live in this match - we've lost, why not just lose honorably? So today's Performance goes to a journalist who has stuck with this series through thick and thin - early mornings and hangovers not withstanding. Day after day we have been able to wake up and log on to Guardian Unlimited's very own diamond - Andy Bull and today, with play faltering, Andy treated us to a rant worthy of the Good Doctor Mark Kermode.

We've got to go through it all tomorrow - Andy won't be holding our hands as the baton has been passed to young Sam Collins but hopefully we'll all log on again and if we don't, you can always relive the rant here:

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/englandinsrilanka200708/story/0,,2231008,00.html

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Performance of the Day - Paul Collingwood

I've just heard a report on Sports News that England teams are dominating. Obviously this does not refer to cricket. England suffered their worst collapse in five years this morning and without wishing to detract from the superb performances of Chaminda Vaas and UWMBCA Welegedara, this had more to do with the tourists' utter ineptness than anything else. It wasn't just the soft dismissals, but the two comedy run-outs - Ian Bell and Monty Panesar - that proved England can be World Champions at being rubbish.

We do live in a cynical age and it is in this spirit of post-modern irony that I award the PotD to Paul Collingwood rather than to Mahela Jayawardene - who batted like a god again today, Chaminda or young Welegedara. All of whom deserve it for their fine cricket. No Colly gets it, not for being England's top-scorer with 29 (one of only three England batsmen to get into double figures, or four if you count extras), but for his extraordinary post-match interview. He recognises that England are "in a slump" but worryingly he thinks they are "heading in the right direction".

AAARGH! Someone buy me a new sofa NOW! Mine is not big enough to hide behind.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

Has anything improved under Peter Moores?

At the time of his appointment some voices suggested that Peter Moores was England cricket's very own Steve McClaren: a backroom boy who seemed to lack the necessary experience, gravitas and charm to succeed in the biggest job.  Steve has now been sacked after an abject period in charge, but how is it looking for Peter?  Not too good frankly, with the honourable exceptions of Ian Bell, Ryan Sidebottom and the one-day team.  Let's take a more detailed look after the jump; this analysis is excluding the series against the woeful Windies.

BATTING
Strauss is gone, but if the top order continue with their chronic case of "averagitis" then it won't be long before he makes his return.  A lot of the batsmen look in good nick (until they get out, obviously), so it would suggest that the issue is more mental than technical; but the bottom line is that we are struggling for big scores.  The current slump the KP's form has highlighted just how reliant we have become on him. 

Verdict: Worse since Duncan

BOWLING
The current attack looks about as likely to take 20 wickets in a match as an American industrialist to agree a carbon target.  The loss of Flintoff is huge, but the way his fitness looks, we need to assume he is not coming back and treat any return as a bonus.

Monty is obviously struggling with an issue that seems more than a slump in form - he has lost his control of flight; Jimmy Anderson, after a brief improvement, is back to playing target practice with the slip cordon; and in the current test, we have had to rely on Ravi Bopara to take some wickets. 

Verdict: Worse since Duncan.

FIELDING
Awful.  For some reason our two best fielders, Colly and Bell, are now in the slips and are dropping catches;  6' 3" Alastair Cook resembles an arthritic giraffe at short leg; Matt Prior is as inconsistent as ever and still will not shut up.  Fielding is the easiest area of cricket to get right - the skills are basic, and provided you have the right people in the right positions on the field who are concentrating on the job, then you have nothing to worry about.  Moores seems unable to nail any of these things.

Verdict: Worse since Duncan

So there you have it, a general decline in all areas.  Winning in Sri Lanka is never easy, but another series loss in NZ plus a poor start to the summer and Peter may be joining Steve at the job centre.  [Image: Getty]

Video: Third Test, Galle, day two highlights

Watch as Sri Lanka make only two results possible in this very dull Test match.

Blood, sweat and tears for England in Galle today

At the end of day one of the third Test in Sri Lanka, England had only taken four wickets (for the price of 147 runs), but Steve Harmison looked threatening for the first time in many a long month. So much so, in fact, that The Guardian's own Mike Selvey headlined his Wednesday piece "Harmison rediscovers his blood and thunder". Now if that wasn't the sort of hope to summon your correspondent from the arms of Morpheus in the small hours this morning, what would be?

Sadly, the early rising was not hugely rewarded. The first session brought back the worst memories of following England on their ritual winter humiliations while we at home seek desperately to fend off the sub-zero temperatures with cashmere and alpaca. Sloppy fielding from such as Alastair Cook made me wish I was still having a nightmare. Poor Matthew Hoggard was clearly still suffering from his back injury and must feel even worse after becoming another victim of Daryl Harper's random umpiring.

Matt Prior had a pretty shocking day and Ryan Sidebottom - who actually bowled really well - was left steaming when Prior let a really good chance to get Tillakaratne Dilshan escape with bad glovesmanship. Still at least Ryan had yesterday's scalp of Michael Vandort for comfort - though I doubt that helped his mood today. Cook slightly made up for earlier errors by effecting a neat run-out of Dilshan in the last over before tea. Ravi Bopara seemed to be taking advantage of this break-through nicking the wicket of keeper Prassana Jayawardene straight after.

However the main man, Mahela Jayawardene had different plans, and after a sublime innings that almost makes one forget that one is a fan of the other team, coasted serenely to 149 not-out at the close of play. He really is the most delightful of cricketers and it is a privilege to be of this generation and enjoy his masterful stroke-making. Since taking on the captaincy he has gone from strength to strength and I understand his Test average has gone from 50+ to 60+. Marvellous. If only our own England captain could learn by the example that is being set before him.

Tomorrow we rejoin the fray with England needing to take four quick wickets in the first session to even have a chance of not being humiliated. 384 for six at the end of day two must look pretty comfortable for the Lankans.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

VOTE! Who will win the Third Test?

[Image: Getty]

England vs Sri Lanka - The Best of the Bets Part III

As our picture (taken three days ago) shows, anything, or nothing, could happen at Galle over the next five days. Whilst a consensus has grown that it is a good thing for Test cricket to return to Galle just three years after the death and destruction wrought by the tsunami. In that spirit, players, the press and fans appear to agree that the under-prepared outer and facilities should be dealt with. Nevertheless, The Trumpet contends that a Test match requires a pitch to be of a functionally minimum standard. This is the final Test of a hard fought series, the outcome of which is still in doubt. If the pitch isn't ready, the series should be declared complete and the players should play some T20 cricket to entertain the fans and show their solidarity with people who lost a lot more than a Test Match. But a Test should not be played for the sake of it.

In the light of all that, the Trumpet is loathe to make any suggestions for gambles, but he updates on past recommendations over the jump.   

The Trumpet tipped a drawn series which was available at 4/1 (for 1-1) which, given that everyone wants to play and Galle's pitch looks like it will produce a result, is still looking quite good value. I tipped Ryan Sidebottom as England's top bowler at 9/2 - he has impressed, but all that hard work has produced just 4 wickets to date. Finally on the fixed odds, I tipped Michael Vandort at 15/2 for the top Lankan batsman: with 195 runs so far, he's given a decent run for your money, but he's still well off the pace set by the Lankan big guns, Sangakkara and Jayawardene.

On the spreads, Sportingindex offered England's series ton ups at 80 - 95, which the Trumpet saw as a useful buy. After England's extraordinary collective failure to turn any one of ten fifties into a ton, this market represents a loss most unlikely to be recovered at Galle. I blame the umpires (well, a bit).  The England tail's perceived weakness led me to suggest a big sell on that market available at 190 - 210. Helped by Jimmy Anderson's nightwatchman stint pushing the unexpectedly solid Matt Prior down to 8 in the First Test, England's 8 to 11 have garnered 150 runs so far, but might not get many more. A small win beckons! Finally, The Trumpet recommended a buy on Alastair Cook's total runs market quoted at 195 - 210. After a disastrous start, Cook has 147 runs to date - if he can get his head down and avoid another umpiring howler, the bet might just pay out.

Perhaps we should just hope for some decent Test match cricket and wish the long-suffering people of Galle a happy five days as they continue to re-build their lives.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Video: Those dodgy Second Test catches

Couple of controversial ones from England's first innings in Colombo.  A few people got themselves a bit upset about these decisions, particularly the Pietersen one, but our friends over at King Cricket summed it up beautifully: "the main problem was that Kevin Pietersen edged a ball to second slip. As a batsman, if you edge the ball to second slip, there’s a fair chance you’re going to be out."  Good point, well made.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Kevin Pietersen leads the way about the Galle test

It is impossible forget the devastating natural events of Boxing Day 2004. My own personal experience of it was getting up at 6:30am with my pre-school kids, turning on BBC1 and witnessing the juxtaposition of the images on the screen with those of my children tearing into their multitude of new possessions.  It was a wake up call in more ways than one.

Cricket returns to Galle this week, three years after the ravaging that this island took left this area in a desperate state, and much has been written of what this Test match means to those in the city.   Many column inches have been devoted to the recent weather and the state of the ground, so I won't go over it  again.  Instead, I'll let KP do the talking, who has once again shown a maturity that many who like to bash him as simply an arrogant, self-centred show pony often refuse to see (I'm talking to you, Michael Henderson).

"We're not going to talk badly about the ground, we're not going to talk negatively about anything that's gone on, because of the simple fact of the catastrophe that happened three years back. We know how much this country loves its cricket, and these people here I'm sure cannot wait to watch some cricket being played on that ground that was underwater. It's a huge thing for us, and we can enjoy the experience. We'll do everything we can to get the game underway."

Well said Kev.

Simon Hughes meets the Barmy Army and gets semi-naked with Monty and Sidebottom

England vs Sri Lanka, Second Test, day five highlights

"Highlights" as the match stutters and splutters to a teeth-scrapingly dull draw.

England eke out a draw in weather-affected Second Test

The weather undoubtedly helped England slog to a draw in the final day of the second Test in Colombo, but for the first time this tour, I can't help agreeing with captain Michael Vaughan that there are positives to draw today.

After Mahela Jayawardene called his boys in yesterday, declaring on 548 for nine, Vaughan and Alastair Cook negotiated the final overs of the day safely and returned to the crease this morning with 54 runs on the board and all of England's wickets intact. They made a speedy and confident start and Vaughan had pushed on to 61 when he was undone by Dilhara Fernando - caught and bowled, and he trudged off knowing he was the source of his own undoing. Cook and Bell plugged on until lunch - with a brief rain-break - but Cook was gone to the first ball after they resumed.

This brought Kevin Pietersen out to join Bell and they were fine until young Ian hoisted a ball from Muralitharan straight to Michael Vandort and thereby failed again to convert a fine half-century to something England really needed. His record really is not good on that front - in 14 Tests since last November, he has made his fifties in 11 but only converted one.

As skies darkened and rain clouds massed, KP and Paul Collingwood dug in, with KP the more flamboyant and Colly the dogged one - so no change there. At tea, England had a 53 run lead, and looked capable of batting out the final session but this was not required as the rain swept in and play was abandonned for the day and the match declared drawn.

The most encouraging thing to take away from this match is that Steve Harmison proved himself match-fit, bowling 41.5 overs and although wickets did not fall before him (he took three), they also failed to fall for the Sri Lankan fasts. Whether or not he will succomb to the "homesickness" that has so troubled him on earlier tours of the Sub-continent, it is probably too early to say, but in yesterday's post-match interview, I saw a man in a very positive frame of mind, determined to retain his place in the Test side and eager to get on to the next challenge. Ryan Sidebottom was also a reason to be encouraged - his three wickets came at an economy of 2.77 - only slightly higher than Harmy's of 2.65 and Stuart Broad's 2.63 - who took his first Test wicket (Vaas) and like Sidebottom bowled 36 overs.

Monty Panesar seems to have attracted a lot of criticism with pundits wondering if his Test game has been damaged by One-day exposure, but actually he only did badly in comparison with Murali. Going for 151 in the course of 50 overs and with two wickets is not a hugely bad position to be in and he didn't have the greatest of fortune regarding his fielders. Prior missed a stumping off a Monty ball and someone else, Cook or Bell, I think, missed a decent chance of a catch.

Sri Lanka's toiling in the field today suggests to me that England's problems lie not so much with the bowling attack but with the failure of the top order to convert decent 50s to big hundreds.  Vaughan's 87 in the first innings - although beautifully played - does not stack up against M Jayawardene's 195 and so it goes on down the order. Cook, Bell, Pietersen and Collingwood must make their first innings stints really count and give the bowlers something massive to defend.

The weather, and Mahela's late declaration in the first innings combined to give England a get-out-of-jail-free card in Colombo. It won't happen again and going into Galle 1-0 down in the series gives the coach and selectors a lot to chew over for the next few days. Shah in for Bopara might not be a bad bet.

[Image: Getty] [mimitig]

England vs Sri Lanka, Second Test, day four highlights

England vs Sri Lanka, Second Test, day three highlights

Toil, trouble but very little bubble for England today

After a day like today I was gobsmacked to hear Peter Moores saying this evening that "the lads are pretty buoyant" and he wasn't talking about the Sri Lankans. I couldn't feel less buoyant about England's chances if someone had fastened a ten ton lead anchor to my foot.

For an England supporter there were very few moments to celebrate today, though for a cricket fan, nothing could have been finer than cheering on the silky smooth progression of Mahela Jayawardene to his unbeaten 167. He now has more than 7000 Test runs and is Sri Lanka's leading run-scorer. He's broken Goochie's record for the most number of runs scored at any one Test Ground and I think that means he has made eight centuries here and 20 in all - though I stand to be corrected.

I really don't know what to say about England's performance today. That Kevin Pietersen bowled 12 overs, and at one time was on with Monty shows the toothlessness of the England bowling attack on such a slow wicket. Not enough pressure was put on the batsmen, maiden overs were scarce and Michael Vaughan changed the field more often than the Spice Girls change their costumes. If there was one shining light, or perhaps more aptly, vaguely bright light, it was Ryan Sidebottom, who again bowled his heart out and is becoming the new Hoggard (not that we want a new one - we'd rather have the old one mended). He finally winkled out the obdurate Michael Vandort to give some hope.

But it was very little to be happy about on a day when the man formerly known as "Grievous Bodily Harmison" worked hard but was mostly Harmless. Admittedly he did get rid of Silva as the final session drew to its close but there's not a lot to be optimistic about either for the rest of this match or the next.

It's not that the bowling was BAD per se, it just lacked teeth and cunning, both of which are needed, in spades, when playing a team like Sri Lanka at home.

Tomorrow we will (some of us) be setting our alarm clocks for 4.30 am and tuning in to see whether Sri Lanka will turn their close of play lead of 28 runs into something absolutely unbeatable, or whether the "buoyant" England team will snarl and snap, get loads of wickets very quickly and then put on a mind-bogglingly high opening partnership.

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England win the toss in Colombo

Despite the fine start by captain Michael Vaughan - reaching his half-century in just 75 balls, that could well be all that England win here in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately after Vaughan was caught in the 39th over (an extraordinary dismissal as the ball lodged between Jehan Mubarak's thighs and he had to fall on his back to retrieve the ball without it touching the ground) the momentum went out of the batting.

At tea England were 167-1 with Bell having only scored 15 but having stayed at the crease to face 62 balls and do a blocking job which was not what was needed. Somehow it was no surprise to see him go straight after the break. Pietersen went soon after to a controversial decision - Chamara Silva juggled the ball at slip and as it rebounded Kumar Sangakkara snaffled the catch. The debate was not about Sangakkara's part but whether or not the ball was grounded before Silva got to it but speculation is meaningless: KP was given out by Australian umpire Daryl Harper. Twenty-two overs later Bopara was clean-bowled for a duck by Lasith Malinga moments after Cook had been given lbw to the same bowler (by the same umpire) in another controversial dismissal - prompting one commentator to make a mocking reference to the "Elite" Panel of international umpires - I couldn't possibly comment.

When bad light stopped play in the 87th over, Collingwood had battled to 49 off 76 balls (including seven fours) and Matt Prior had survived Murali and the new ball to score 10 runs.

Despite the scintillating innings by Vaughan, the by-now-inevitable batting collapse means that this is quite likely the end for England in this match and therefore series. Even if Colly and Matt Prior can scrap and scrape their way to a total of 400 tomorrow, it's doubtful with the current form of Jayawardene and Sangakkara that this will enough for the first innings.

258 for five: it has to be seen as Sri Lanka's day and I sincerely hope that my pessimism is misplaced and that England can fight back tomorrow with bat and ball. Perhaps when MPV and the boys mull over the day's events, they can focus on the fact that Michael and Alastair's first wicket stand of 133 in 39 overs is a record for England against Sri Lanka, and not worry and fret over the dodgy decisions that went against them. They can leave that to us.

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Video: First Test, Sri Lanka beat England

Highlights of the final day, as England crumple like a young secretary's resistance at an office Christmas party.

England's selection dilemma - the radical solution

Every man, woman, dog and child are having a go at who should be in Sunday's side for England, so why not throw our hats into the ring here at The Googly? Other blogs are full of discussion and I have had my tuppence to say on a few threads already. Before reading Selvey's column earlier today I was calling for Tremlett to be whizzed over from Chennai to join the boys, and give Steve Harmison a real warning that this IS his last chance saloon.

To see my full selection go over the jump and feel free to criticise and bring other ideas to the party.

Now I'll go radical on the top order. Send for Mark Ramprakash! And while I am proving to the world (well, those few readers of this column) that I am completely bonkers, let's get Andrew Strauss in to open. Let's face it, Cook has been found out by the seamers and we are really in a position with nothing to lose. OK, Strauss had a very poor county season but he has played well on the Sub-continent and so why not?

Ramps, Strauss, Bell, Collingwood, Bopara, Broad, Prior, Tremlett, Sidebottom, Panesar, Pietersen. Though not necessarily in that order! KP can't bat as early as we'd like because of the injury but obviously not as low as in my list.

Paul Collingwood to captain the side - I feel Michael Vaughan has not done enough with the bat to warrant his inclusion and his captaincy was not so wonderful last time out that he should get the nod. He's not fit enough to bowl and so why should he be there? I've brought Andrew Strauss in because he has a decent record on the Sub-continent and I've just been reading his autobiography which makes very interesting reading about playing these pitches. Just because he's been out-of-form for the entire county season doesn't mean he couldn't turn it on now. It could be exactly the challenge he needs and again, we've nothing to lose so let's go mad!

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England vs Sri Lanka: To spin or not to spin?

After losing in Kandy, England are now up against it to save the series when the Second Test kicks off in Colombo on Sunday.  And, if things weren't bad enough, Matthew Hoggard has managed to get a dose of back-knack and will play no part in the match; leaving a selection dilemma at the door of Peter Moores.  Does bring in Harmison as a straight swap?  Or does he bring in Graeme Swann?  Or does he tinker even further and bring in both Harmison and Swann?

Colombo demands that two spinners play: it is a hot, dry graveyard for pace (with all that hair insulating his head, I frankly fear for Ryan Sidebottom's health), so Swann must play in place of Hoggard.

Swann not only brings in a spinning option that proved its effectiveness in the recent one-day series, he also brings in batting savvy at number eight that, contrary to the rest of the tail, at least knows which way up to hold the blade.   This gives England a bowling attack of Sideshow, Anderson/Harmison, Monty, Swann; with Bopara, Collingwood and Vaughan taking the rest of the overs. 

A selection that gives greater variety in bowling and strengthens the batting line-up?  That'll do for me, but will it do for you?  What are your thoughts?

Performance of the day - Sanath Jayasuriya

By all rights PotD today should probably go to Mahela Jayawardene for his decision in the evening session to toss the ball, not to a fast bowler, but to the at the time wicketless Muttiah Muralitharan.

But it doesn't.

My choice is a more emotionally-led one, although Sanath Jayasuriya's dismissal of Ravi Bopara could possibly have been match-winning. But it's not for that wicket today that he gets the award. It's because this is the last chance he has in the Test arena to get the prize and I'm soft that way.

Sanath has been a jewel in the Sri Lanka side since his debut against New Zealand in 1991. He has played 110 Tests (making 6973 runs) and added a further 12207 international runs in 403 One-day matches. 307 One-day wickets and 98 Test wickets stand testament to his importance to Sri Lanka in the bowling attack.

He took over the captaincy of Sri Lanka in 1999 and it is widely acknowledged that his consensual style (a contrast to the dictatorial approach of his predecessor Arjuna Ranatunga) created a happy and unified team. His warmth was much appreciated during the time he graced these shores playing for both the MCC and Somerset.

Last year's retirement from International cricket didn't last long and Sanath was back in England for the One-day series last summer. This time, however, it is unlikely that he will rescind his decision, certainly for Tests and so I thought it appropriate to celebrate him today.

Runner-up number three today has to be Ian Bell for coming so close to shepherding the tail home and for playing the most mature innings of his career.

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Defeat for England in Kandy

It was no real surprise to me to return home this afternoon and discover that England had failed to drag a draw from the jaws of defeat. I had managed to sustain a smidgin of blind optimism after Ian Bell and Matt Prior had survived the afternoon session intact, but with the new ball due after the 80th over, in my heart I knew we would lose. It was just another day of England doing to us what they do best: tempt us with false hope before condemning us to the reality of yet another loss in the Sub-continent. If memory serves me right, since victory in Colombo in 2001, we have only won three times in 13 attempts, and two of those wins were against Bangladesh. It's hardly a record to inspire hope, especially in the situation we found ourselves in today.

So a few facts: we started off either needing to score 350 runs to win, or bat out the day for a draw both of which looked unlikely at close of play yesterday. We failed to do either and Sri Lanka won by 88 runs - which in all honesty they deserved.

Predictably the morning began badly. Vaughan went in the 10th over for a mere five. Jimmy Anderson hung around for a bit but all too soon he was gone - and in this instance we really needed a nightwatchman who could stick around. Ian Bell was joined at the crease by the man known by some as The Ego and broken hand notwithstanding, I allowed myself a glimmer of hope. Surely KP could pull out a blinder and Bell could support him. No. Dilhara Fernando delivered an absolutely unplayable ground-level ball and Kevin was gone. Collingwood did nothing to dispel the gloom and it was up to Ian in partnership first with Bopara and then Matt Prior to offer resistance and that glimmer of hope.

Sadly it went Sri Lanka's way after tea. Bell and Prior dispatched with the new ball and the bowlers just couldn't hold on for what would not have been much more than 15 minutes to get the draw. As has so often been the case, Murali was the trump card for the Lankans and while I was surprised not to see Vaas be the demon with the new ball, Murali was exceptional in the final session despite the slowness of the pitch.

I can't see England doing anything but lose this series now and I was, quite frankly, astonished to hear Michael Vaughan in the post-match interview saying that the side can "take a lot of positives from this defeat".

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A bad day at the office for England

Before I launch into what may well become a rant about England's hopeless, hapless and lacklustre display this morning, I must proffer warm congratulations to Kumar Sangakkara for today's fine 152 to add to his also fine 92 in the first innings. However I am an England supporter and most of my thoughts after close of play today are to do with how ghastly they were rather than concentrating on the strengths of the opposition. In fact, England were so woeful that it is hard to judge the opposition - they were barely tested.

It's hard to recall, even after just a few hours, at exactly what moment I realised that getting up at 4.30 am this morning had not been a good idea. Things didn't actually start too badly. Matthew Hoggard wasn't bowling badly and his second over was a maiden, but it went rapidly downhill from there. By the time I'd brewed up a jug of strong coffee I was wondering whether the caffeine would be better employed energising the England team.

Both Test Match Special and Guardian Unlimited's Over-by-over coverage described the start as a dream for Sri Lanka and this was the tone for all three sessions. At lunch their lead was 199 after a wonderful partnership between Sangakkara and his captain Mahela Jayawardene who had made 65 by the time Hoggard dispatched him in the 86th over.

After lunch, although Kumar did hover in the nervous nineties for four overs, when he made his century (his fourth in six innings and completing the full set against all Test nations) the writing was well and truly on the wall for England. Taking 10 wickets was not going to happen and all England could hang on for was a late declaration by Sri Lanka and the hope that they wouldn't have to bat today.

Eventually as the light was fading Mahela declared on 442 for 8. England need 350 to win, or to bat out the day to draw - both options hurt by the dismissal of opener Alastair Cook for four in the first over. Michael Vaughan and nightwatchman Jimmy Anderson had to negotiate four more overs before being offered the light - which unsurprisingly Michael took.

It rather says it all that sports news this afternoon, after celebrating Sangakkara's achievement is focussing on the swarm of bees that invaded the pitch in the final session causing every player to hurl himself to the ground until the insects departed. England have a daunting task ahead of them tomorrow, made more difficult by the worries over Kevin Pietersen's broken digit - which may be worse than was first thought, and over Hoggard's back injury - which may well keep him out of the next Test at Colombo.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention that as I was taking a quick power-nap during the afternoon session, I dreamed that my Boy Bell dropped a sitter and deprived Sangakarra of his century. Imagine my horror when I woke and found it was true. Even I am finding it hard to have warm feelings for the Boy right now and I dread to think how Ryan Sidebottom feels.

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Video: Murali breaks the Test wickets record

Cricket Snapshot: England's last hope

The only batsman England have left in Kandy pushes one through the off-side.  How long can the woeful England tail hang around for him?  [Image: Getty]

What a difference a doosra makes

Murali has been weaving his magic again, with only the inclement weather falling on the Asgiriya Stadium calling halt to his inevitable march to the Test wickets record in this England innings. 

But, while the little magician has always been an outstanding bowler, his record since mastering the doosra in 2001 is nothing short of miraculous, even by his standards.  This additional string to his already well tuned bow has hastened his pace to the record, follow the jump to see the numbers

Murali's figures:

                 Matches  W    Best    Av       5w  10w
pre 2001         62     317   9/65   25.62   24    5
post 2001        53    387   9/51  21.77    36    15

An incredible reduction in his average has gone hand in hand with an huge jump in ten-fers and wickets; all achieved in 9 fewer matches.  What a difference a doosra makes.

I wonder how far Monty is off perfecting his? 
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How can England win from here?

There are lots of reasons why it isn't easy to win Test matches in Sri Lanka (him on the right is the biggest), but it can be done, as England showed in the Spring of 2001.

With the First Test finely balanced after two days play, it pays to look back to that series and the routes used by England to deliver the wins in this most inhospitable of places for visiting a team.

One down going into the Second Test (at Kandy), England's last four wickets produced 64 runs to drive England to a lead of 90. England's bowlers then took over to reduce the Lankans to six down before the deficit was wiped out and from there even England couldn't lose. In the deciding Test, England's last four wickets added 72 runs to squeeze out a tiny first innings lead, before 16 wickets fell for just 155 runs and England had a famous series win.

That history suggests that England's desperately weak tail needs to add at least 60 runs tomorrow, whip the pads off and shoot out at least two of Jayasuriya, Sangakkara and Jayawardene before the Lankans move into the black. A gigantic ask against Murali, but there isn't much of a threat from the other end, so if Colly can take most of Murali and the tail get forward to the seamers, a single figure lead becomes 10, then 20 and who knows? 

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Final preparations for England in Kandy

Less than 48 hours after reading that Darren Lehmann, president of the Australian Cricketers' Association, stated that due to the political situation in Pakistan "if there's any risk at all the tour [in 2008] might not go ahead", I have been heartened today to both read reports and hear statements from England in Sri Lanka that this series will carry on regardless of yesterday's bomb attacks that left 17 dead in Colombo.

I'm not quite sure why Kevin Pietersen was put forward as the spokesman for the England team -  maybe simply because he was schedulled for an interview with Aggers anyway - but actually he spoke movingly and eloquently. After any tragedy, let alone one that has had the consequences of the Colombo bombs, quoting sportspeople can seem trite but Kevin's words were apt. He said how the bombings had been a shock to the team and that obviously their security people would assess the situation but then said: "our hearts do go out for those innocent people, Sri Lankans, who were killed yesterday". It was quite clear how seriously he took the situation.

I was moved, and so reader, please forgive me for writing about this rather than how for the umpteenth time I heard the news today that "Harmy is coming up nicely in the nets". If I were given a pound for every pre-match report that suggested that Steve was on the point of regaining his Grievous Bodily Harmison form of 2005, I'd be in Kandy watching, not writing about it!

On other team matters, I did find it more than a tad amusing this afternoon to read Matt Prior's blog on the BBC where after rabbiting on about the Premiership he lurches into his television preferences and says "I'm going to look like a right badger". This talking about his fondness for US show Prison Break, not a fondness for watching video replays of Paul Nixon!

Hum.

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