Key events
Chris Woakes has the ball in his hand. Play!
Here’s the TMS overseas link. You know who to thank.
Game considers game
In case you missed this yesterday
Simon Burnton on Big Ange
At times he conjured memories of his great innings at Headingley a decade ago, before he fell for 65 to a combination of Chris Woakes and a changed and swinging ball. England will be grateful that similarities with that 2014 match did not get any more pronounced: on that occasion Sri Lanka scored 257 in the first innings and England made 365 in reply – an almost identical script to this game – before Mathews struck 160 to set up a comeback victory. Sri Lanka continue to dream of a similar outcome in 2024.
Ali Martin’s day three report
Weather forecast
As for the weather, it’s over to the Ian McCaskill des nos jours. It looks like play will start on time.
Preamble
Morning one, morning all. We start with bad news, and for once I’m not talking about the Manchester weather. I’m sorry to report that the world is going to hell in a handcart Mark Wood will not bowl today because of a thigh muscle injury. Chances are that’s him for the summer, never mind the game.
It’s such a shame, because he has been throwing flames with remarkable consistency. But in the medium term it might not actually bethe worst thing: it will make England review their use of Wood (I’m not sure they’ve done too much wrong in this game on that front) and it will probably give them a chance to have another look at Olly Stone.
Every cloud and all that. We reserve the right to revise this opinion if, in Wood’s absence, Sri Lanka build substantially on their overnight lead of 82 and pull of a victory for the ages.
