Key events
Chris Woakes on his winter plans
As you get older, the more Test cricket you play, you pick up new skills, have more experience to fall back on and [are] a little bit wiser. That might be a good thing as well that I haven’t [played an away Test] in a little while. It gives you a fresh look on things.
Start delayed
The covers are on and the scene at Old Trafford belongs to November. “My home ground isn’t at its absolutely loveliest this morning…” chuckles Mike Atherton on Sky.
Read Simon Burnton on Captain Pope
The common criticism of Pope’s batting is that he is overly frenetic in the early stages of an innings, but in time settles down. It turns out that he captains in precisely the same way, though it took some time for him to be becalmed.
“Lawrence, always entertaining…”
“With Lawrence resuming this morning, there’s an excellent chance that Aggers will say ‘Lawrence, always entertaining’ in tribute to his old commentary partner’s giggling fit,” writes Oliver Haill. “Here’s hoping that Lawrence (Dan) will emulate his namesake Syd and hit a four over the wicketkeeper’s head too.”
Oliver, do stop it.
Preamble
It’s only gone and started raining in Manchester. Thankfully the forecast is better from around midday, so we should see plenty of cricket. England will resume on 22 for none, a deficit of 214 after an interesting first day at Old Trafford.
Sri Lanka’s last three wickets more than doubled their score, thanks mainly to a startlingly accomplished 76 from the debutant Milan Rathnayeke. He looks a No9 in name and a No7 in nature. His work is far from done, mind. Sri Lanka need Rathnayeke and the two Fernandos, Vishwa and Asitha, to exploit the Manchester clouds and expose England’s longish tail asap. Should be good fun!