The formatter threw an exception while trying to deserialize the message: Error in deserializing body of request message for operation 'Translate'. The maximum string content length quota (30720) has been exceeded while reading XML data. This quota may be increased by changing the MaxStringContentLength property on the XmlDictionaryReaderQuotas object used when creating the XML reader. Line 2, position 33017.
The formatter threw an exception while trying to deserialize the message: Error in deserializing body of request message for operation 'Translate'. The maximum string content length quota (30720) has been exceeded while reading XML data. This quota may be increased by changing the MaxStringContentLength property on the XmlDictionaryReaderQuotas object used when creating the XML reader. Line 1, position 33633.
OVER 46: ENG 191/3: Six overs left after this one but play will end at 19.30 irrespective. Will Pietersen make a charge towards three figures?
OVER 45: ENG 188/3: Perera's rest is over and he's back on to the joy of Pietersen whose perfect posture allows him to drive staright out of the textbook and down the ground for four.
OVER 44: ENG 183/3: Little threat from Herath as he's extracting no turn from this flat pitch. Pietersen gives him the charge and the ball bounces out off his bat and to safety, although he's stretching his torso after that exertion. Pietersen 78, Bell 34.
OVER 43: ENG 179/3: Lakmal has made a hash of that in the field and Bell gets a fortuitous boundary. Then Pietersen goes big and whacks Welegedara up and over mid-wicket for another boundary. These two are really cruising along.
OVER 42: ENG 169/3: Here he is, it's Herath, the left-arm spinner (Pietersen's nemesis). There's a delay while protective clothing is sanctioned from the dressing room and when Sri Lanka are ready Bell gets his lap-sweep out. Boom - Pietersen hath no fear as he takes a big stride and crashes Herath through extra cover before he rocks back and has to react swiftly to keep out one that goes straight on.
OVER 41: ENG 164/3: There's a bowling change ... who is it? No, Herath remains consigned to fielding duties and it's Welegedara instead. England are rattling along at four an over, with Bell as fluent as ever and Pietersen on a mission - to score a century, get himself further exposure on the telly, in the headlines and shut up the majority of the written press.
OVER 40: ENG 161/3: Herath, why are you not bowling? Give us a sign, a hand-signal of some sort to tell us why your captain is ignoring you. Perera's tenth over of his spell sees Bell get down on one knee and play the most delicious square-drive for four. Bell ends the over with a single.
OVER 39: ENG 156/3: Soft hands from Bell gains four more to third man before he narrowly misses a cut which has Jayawardene excited behind the stumps. Lakmal meanwhile isn't interested and is left exasperated as Bell runs him down to third man again, this time for three. That's the 150 up. Pietersen makes it an over to forget for Lakmal, punching him through extra cover for four and there's 13 overs left today.
OVER 38: ENG 144/3: Fernando tests his injured limb as Bell pushes one out to him and collects a single before the lumbering fast bowler can cause any strife. The suggestion from the Sky box is that Fernando has been off to blow dry his hair - and it has to be said he does own a magnificent puffy mullet befitting of the 1980s rather than Hampshire 2011. Streaky boundary for Pietersen down to third man which moves him on to 65.
OVER 37: ENG 139/3: Sri Lanka are feeding Bell's pull shot and that's two more. Surprised Herath hasn't been required yet, given Pietersen's liking of their seamers. Super take by Jayawardene who almost needed a step-ladder to reach that Lakmal bouncer. Lakmal has realised that bowling full to Pietersen results in boundaries. Hello, Fernando is back, hobbling but back, just as Pietersen plays a front foot hook for two.
OVER 36: ENG 134/3: You can't keep a great player quiet for long and Pietersen is sending the ball back past Lakmal for four. That's nine on-drives he's played and has connected with all nine.
OVER 35: ENG 130/3: All the aggro over the rain seems but a distant memory and thoughts are turning towards dinner as Bell swivels on his toes to pull Lakmal away for four. I was supposed to play against Bell in a county under-15 match, only for Warwickshire to pull him out at the last minute, deeming him 'too good' for that level of cricket. Too good for county cricket? Apparently so. Fearful of my loopy leg-breaks? Definitely not!
From statman Peter Rowntree: "This innings has taken Ali Cook to just short of the 400 run mark for the three tests, with another 4 Tests to come this summer he is still on target to score 1000 Test Runs over the 7 tests. Assuming he maintains his form and also of course that the weather doesn't continue to destroy the cricket."
OVER 34: ENG 126/3: Indeed, Pietersen is going through a temporary lull, letting Perera enjoy a maiden. Final delivery was close to the edge, Pietersen survives.
OVER 33: ENG 126/3: Fernando's busting out his slower ball with increasing frequency but Pietersen isn't fooled. Bad news for Sri Lanka as Fernando pulls out of delivery at the last moment for a second time in succession and as he walks back to his mark he keeps walking all the way to the pavilion and has left the pitch for treatment. Lakmal is called upon to complete the over. Samaraweera could be following Fernando after being on the receiving end of a full-blooded Bell cut in the gully. No, he's okay, and that's drinks.
OVER 32 ENG 125/3: Now, the wicket may tame Pietersen and see him go into his shell for a while. Another wicket in the next few overs and Sri Lanka can be mighty pleased with their evening's work, having been very much down and out while Cook and Pietersen were motoring along.
OVER 31: ENG 124/3: That wicket was as likely as the covers staying off for more than a few hours, but Cook is gone and Bell is at the crease and off the mark with four down to the vacant third man boundary.
WICKET: Cook c Samaraweera b Fernando 55 England 120/3 Where did that come from? Cook looked so assured and patient but as we saw with Trott earlier on, he is fallable. Fernando throws one out wide and Cook pushes it high to gully where Samaraweera clings on at the second attempt.
OVER 30: ENG 119/2: Cook's wagonwheel displays the majority of runs scored square of the wicket, nothing down the ground, unlike Pietersen who walks into his shots to get himself on the front foot. England are knocking it around with ease. Partnership worth 105 off 139 balls.
OVER 29: ENG 115/2: There it is, 50 for Alastair Cook, the new joint record holder for consecutive half-centuries in Tests for England. That's his sixth in a row and as the claps around the ground die down they then sound out again as Pietersen brings up his 50. Both are in the zone and centuries are there for the taking. Pietersen, predictably, has reached the landmark a whole lot quicker than Cook, who cuts a no-ball from Fernando for a single out to the sweeper. Sri Lanka are leaking runs here and captain Sangakkara has to make a change.
OVER 28: ENG 109/2: Cook moves to 49 as well. England have no problems here and are poised for a decent first innings lead ... famous last words.
OVER 27: ENG 106/2: It's Fernando rather than Herath who is brought into the attack and some buffet bowling sees Cook pull England past the 100-mark. Pietersen will like a piece of this and immediately drives down the ground for three - it would have been four but for a last-ditch dive which saw the fielder, Welegedara, nose-dive into the boundary fence-thingy. He's up and will soldier on. Two more to Pietersen takes him to 49.
Sympathy from the great Shane Warne: "Feel for the sell out crowd at rose bowl today - very frustrating for all... This rain for last 4 days has been a joke - summer ??????"
OVER 26: ENG 94/2: Perera has Cook in a tangle as he plays and misses, but otherwise the medium-pacer has been very ordinary and Cook helps himself to a single. That carry is still there as Jayawardene takes a length delivery above his head.
OVER 25: ENG 93/2: Pietersen is on the drive at every opportunity and has confidence in the pitch as well as himself. Sri Lanka will be thinking about turning to the spin of Herath before long as they fetch another Pietersen boundary ... and another, this time down the ground. High backswing, high follow through, bosh. Pietersen on 44, Cook 39.
OVER 24: ENG 85/2: Two more to Cook who will keep the scoreboard ticking while Pietersen races it along. The ground is bathed in sunshine at long last and Cook welcomes the sight of summer by pulling Perera for four.
OVER 23: ENG 79/2: Cook will take longer to play himself in, as he re-configures the mechanics of his game. A single to leg means he keeps the strike.
OVER 22: ENG 78/2: Pietersen straight into the groove, driving Perera behind square to the boundary. Perera's response is a huge shout for caught behind down the leg-side but replays show it merely flicked the pad. Pietersen is quickly on to a short ball and that's four more through mid-wicket. He looks imperious today.
OVER 21: ENG 70/2: Welegedara re-starts play to the biggest cheer of the day and Pietersen races to the other end for a single and pinches the strike.
17.05: Confirmation from the umpires that tea was taken to stay in keeping with the regulations. Play is now scheduled to start again at 17.20 despite the next cloud burst likely to arrive then, or a drinks break or toilet stop etc etc
17.00: Covers are coming off - how many times have I said that today? This weather is a real tease.
16.55: There's a mop-up job going on. It's slightly raining and I understand that the restlessness in the crowd has led to one chap, dressed as Robin, being escorted from the playing surface.
16.45: Covers are still on and just as well because it's throwing it down. This needs to be one of the last showers of the day or else we could risk a wash out. We've seen approximately 11 minutes of cricket since lunch.
The anger is spreading to the digital world and Satya Ganeis: "I am not paying $20 per month to watch ad after ad after ad and watching grass grow. I want some cricket!"
16.34: There are regulations in place about long final sessions (no more than three hours), but at what price common sense? Mike Atherton says the crowd have moved on from 'frustrated' to 'angry', and the umpires are being greeted by a chorus of boos as they head out to have a look.
16.27: You guessed it! The tea interval is almost over, play is due to resume and the covers are coming back on as it's raining. The crowd have sat there for 20 minutes in the sun, while the players are sat indoors. Utterly ridiculous.
16.25: I predict a riot at the Rose Bowl and the umpires could well be subjected to the remains of the spectators' own teas when they decide their own stomachs are sufficiently full to get this match underway again. Five minutes until the scheduled re-start, that's five minutes for the rain to break Hampshire hearts.
Forget the players and the crowd, suggests Satya Ganeis: "Spare a thought for the poor groundstaff! Busy day in the office for them!" Indeed it has been and they have certainly earned their corn today, but hey, what do they do during the seven or so hours of play?
16.13: The crowd are flabbergasted as the announcement is made over the tannoy, and in true Victor Meldrew-style, I don't believe it! Play is due to re-start at 16.30, in time for the next band of rain to arrive.
16.11: What? No way. The sun is out and an announcement has been made that they are taking tea! Just wait for the crowd to find out.
16.10: This Rose Bowl crowd are ready to burst, such has been the frustration during the past couple of days. There'll be plenty of noise if they disappear off, as planned, for tea at 16.40. Ground staff are 'roping' the outfield to remove the moisture and we SHOULD be starting in a few minutes.
16.06: Here come the umpires for the umpteenth time and loud cheers welcome the signal for the covers to be taken off.
16.05: The crowd are chanting 'off off off off off off off', presumably referring to the covers rather than the ground staff's clothes. Weather prediction is no more rain until 5pm. Come on, get out there and let's get on with it, don't worry about tea, Cookie will have a few jelly beans in his pocket to share out.
16.02: It's stopped raining, the sun is out, Lord make your mind up, you're making us dizzy.
16.00: Blimey, it's pouring. Will they take tea now? Or maybe wait for the sun to come out and then take tea?
15.58: The crowd are slow-clapping as the players are ready, then the clouds mess it all up and the players go off again.
15.41: The skies have cleared considerably and word is tea will be taken at 16.40 - what is the point of creating another stoppage? Surely they should have had a quick bite and then play through to the end of the day. Strange.
15.35: Update from the middle is that play will resume at 16.00.
15.15: Bit of moisture on the pitch will give Sri Lanka a helping hand, as long as they can keep the ball dry when they come back out. It's raining cats, dogs and frogs now, though, and I don't see them re-starting for at least another 15 minutes - and that's if it stops in the next five.
15.10: RAIN 69/2: Menacingly dark, spots of rain and Cook moves on to 32 with a single off his legs. The floodlights can come on but are yet to be utilised - saving on electricity costs perchance given the amount they've forked out for this Test? Now the rain is hammering it down and Cook is sprinting off the pitch, my he's legging it!
OVER 20: ENG 68/2: Pietersen is on the drive for a single off Lakmal and there's a slim chance the cloud might miss the Rose Bowl. Cook isn't missing anything, as he cuts in front of square for four. His judgment has been nigh perfect, with the gloved pull his only blemish so far. Another boom out of the middle of his Gray-Nicolls flies out to the sweeper on the cover boundary.
OVER 19: ENG 62/2: Welegedara completes his over, which sees Pietersen add a single and the monster cloud move closer. 'That's ours', says Bumble.
15.00: We can add a young Donny Osmond to the Cook look-alikes, but is doesn't detract from his batting does it. Anyhow, the players are ready to start, a huge grey cloud is looming and I reckon we'll have an over or two before they go off again.
14.55: Appears to be brighter, the covers are off and we should have some action in a matter of minutes. Just watched an interview with Alastair Cook talking about his Ashes achievements, it reminded me of what a square jaw he has - an Essex team-mate of his once said Cook gets likened to racing driver David Coulthard ... as well as Will from The Inbetweeners!
14.45: The latest shower has passed, play will resume at 15.00.
14.25: We'll adjust to the 24 hour clock as play is interrupted again because of rain. The covers have been called for and the players are slowly making their way off with a mere sprinkling of drops falling. No, now it's getting heavier. I'm afraid this is how it's going to be today ...on, off, on, off, on, off ... and so forth.
I was wrong about Peter Rowntree, he's nowhere near Scandinavia! "I am writing to you from Colombia in South America where I have lived for some years now. But don't mind you associating me with Scandanavia, its a lovely part of he world, especially Denmark and Finland and great people too. The weather has really dominated this test, with extremely difficult batting conditions, a lot of ball movement because rain never far away, and of course the batting sessions have been very short making it difficult for batsmen to play themselves in. But keep up the great commentary."
OVER 18: ENG 61/2: Tea due at 4.10pm. Lakmal is coming around the wicket to Pietersen and he's really in the groove today, timing the pants off a push through mid-on for three. So, Pietersen is out of form, is he? As for Cook, we all know what kind of form he is in as he drives through extra-cover for four.
OVER 17: ENG 54/2: Welegedara opens up to Cook with two slips and a man back on the hook - we've seen a few top edges in this Test with the extra bounce in the wicket. There we are, an edge from Cook, though it's regulation towards second slip and it drops just short.
2.15: Here we go again. Teacakes were passable, probably unworthy of full price, though perfectly worthy of 10p. So, will KP come out all guns blazing or will he take his time and play himself back in? Expect Cook to nudge and nurdle for an hour or so and unless Sri Lanka serve up some real dross.
"KP looks like he has bought his A game to the Rose bowl... Could be a entertaining afternoon.." Michael Vaughan ready for a rumoured 2.15pm start.
"Sorry it's raining. Anybody interested in Radio 3's recommendation for best recording of Wagner's Tristan today? No? ...... don't blame you. Sooo want KP to get a big score." Elaine, good to hear the rain isn't dampening your musical passion, though I think a spot of shopping or a day out might be higher up the agenda than Wagner's Tristan - unless of course the Wagner you refer to is that wally from the last X-Factor?
Peter Rowntree: "Talking of weather forecasts, I looked at the long range weather forecast for the UK early in the year. Not just idle curiosity I have a planned trip to the UK later this year (first time for 7 years). That forecast said: 'Dry spring, wet June, changeable July with some violent thunderstorms and very hot dry August going through to September. So portents not that good for rest of Sri Lanka tour, but certainly look good for second part of Indian Cricket Tour'." I'm unsure where Peter is writing from, so I'll take a guess: I reckon he's....in Scandinavia?? Why? Just a hunch.
1.50: Right, with a delay to come while the covers come back off it's time to try out these teacakes, toasted this morning and purchased from Asda last night for the princely sum of 10p (packet of four). I know, I shouldn't expect a taste sensation for that price but I'll judge them as if they were full price.
1.45: This is like having April in late June, who has messed with our climate? Next we'll be seeing Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Co pegging it for cover as a tornado comes rumbling over the hill behind the Rose Bowl. The sun is now out.
1.40: Darn, bad news, it's hosing it down and the covers are on. Fingers crossed it's a passing shower and the sun will emerge soon.
1.35: Play due to restart in a few minutes and the Sri Lankan bowlers are out limbering up ready for an afternoon of KP and Cook, for that is what I predict it will be. Just waiting on a weather update.
LUNCH: Good timing with a shower about to burst over the ground. England's response lurched briefly towards disaster when Strauss and Trott went in quick succession, however, Cook and Pietersen were comfortable and both are well set for big scores when play begins again. Time for some grub, nothing major after a McDonalds McMuffin brunch. Back shortly.
OVER 16: ENG 54/2: Nasser Hussain is receiving some stick from Sir Ian Botham, who says his nose resembles a surfboard's 'skeg'. Charming. Then he likens him to Hampshire keeper Nic Pothas in the looks department. Herath is on for an over of spin before lunch. Cook nicks a single so KP will have two deliveries to survive ... bash! He advances down the wicket and crashes him through extra-cover for four, and that's lunch. Cook 22 Pietersen 22.
OVER 15: ENG 49/2: Cook joins the party which is livening up, as he feasts on a wide half-volley from Fernando. Fill your boots Alastair. If these two stay together for a while England will have a lead this afternoon. Slower ball from Fernando tricks no-one, especially not Pietersen.
OVER 14: ENG 44/2: Here's Perera, opening at 82mph and replacing Lakmal, who took 1/17 off 6. Pietersen fancies this and his rapidly on to Perera's first full delivery, spanking it at mid-off, who gets a hand but is practically knocked over by the force of the shot and it races away for four. Pietersen 18, Cook 16.
OVER 13: ENG 40/2: Fine assortment of fancy dress in the Rose Bowl crowd today, not too dissimilar to what you find while walking around London each day. Fashion - why bother? Both Cook and Pietersen collect runs off Fernando who is less threatening than his stature suggests. Rain is skirting the ground.
OVER 12: ENG 36/2: Few spots of rain, this could be another unwanted interruption. KP is having a look at the heavens and, as if taking strength from above, he canes Lakmal back down the ground for four and adds another single to deep square. He's in aggressive mood this morning and let's just hope they can stay out there.
OVER 11 ENG 30/2: Fernando is on, bustling in, all rippling pecs and masculinity as he explodes into the crease ... and it's a no ball, how tame! Another no ball. Another no ball? No, his feet are now legal. Calls for a catch down the leg side but HotSpot shows nothing. Pietersen attempts to wallop a short one outside off through mid-wicket but toe-ends it for a single. Clouds gathering around the Rose Bowl.
OVER 10: ENG 26/2: Pietersen is making the most of his time before facing spin and drives slightly uppishly down the ground off Lakmal. That's seven off his first five balls. Cook then pokes forward away from his body and there are a few interested viewers in the Sri Lanka slip cordon, who then pipe up even louder off the next ball as Cook gloves a pull over the keeper's head for a single. That was on him quicker than he expected and evoked memories of those dire Sri Lankan pull shots in their innings.
"I won't be bombarding you with emails regarding Test Matches and Wagner today. Just dropping in to say pleased that Broad has got a wicket, pleased that play is under way, pleased that the sun is shining (at time of writing) and oh dear me, Strauss is the new Pietersen it seems." No discussion with Elaine on opera today then.
OVER 9: ENG 22/2: There's Cook on the pull. Welegedara drops short and Cook latches on to it like a man who has scored about 1,000 runs in his last six innings. Oooo, well fielded, Cook denied another boundary after pushing through mid-on. A double-ton beckons.
OVER 8: ENG 18/2: They're making a pigs-ear of this are England. The new ball isn't doing all that much as Strauss and Trott have largely brought about their own downfalls. Trott's concentration is usually sharper than that. So, Pietersen is in and off the mark with a boundary which clatters into the stumps on its way back past Lakmal but has the legs to reach the long-on fence, rope or whatever that thing is circling the pitch.
WICKET: Trott c P Jayawardene b Lakmal 4 England 14/2 Disaster! Trott drives expansively and gets a thick edge behind. Lakmal's ploy of bowling around the wicket has worked a treat and Trott heads off to join Strauss in the sulking corner of the pavilion.
OVER 7: ENG 14/1: Yes!! There's Cook timing it beautifully off the back foot for four. Cheers from the crowd and the England recovery is underway.
OVER 6: ENG 10/1: Lakmal poses Trott no problems and the England No 3 is quickly working himself into leg-side mode, moving across his stumps and playing to leg when most would play straight or into the off side. Don't complain, it works. When Lakmal, coming around the wicket, does spear one across Trott he leaves it alone.
OVER 5 ENG 9/1: The metronomes are together. Time for the crowd to have a snooze and wake up when England are 200/1 with Cook and Trott both nearing centuries. Trott is due a century - he hasn't scored one since the first Test. He rolls one out into the leg-side and they run three.
OVER 4: ENG 6/1: Lakmal around the wicket to Cook who is right behind it. He's due a failure says the Law of Averages and no sooner had I said it Lakmal strikes him on the pad and there's a big shout ... no, it's hit him outside the line. Maiden.
OVER 3: ENG 6/1: Strauss simply played down the wrong line and could have left it alone. Like Pietersen to left-arm spinners, Strauss has an issue which is gaining a hold on him. Trott is off the mark first ball and Cooks adds another single into the covers.
WICKET: Strauss c Paranavitana b Welegedara 3 England 4/1 Got him! Strauss falls to a left-armer again as he pushes forward and edges a comfortable catch to Paranavitana to slip. The England captain is going through a rough trot....speaking of Trott...
OVER 2: ENG 4/0: Cook, playing in his 66th consecutive Test - a record for England, is off the mark with a cheeky quick single off Lakmal and Strauss replicates.
"What is after the match @DGoughie. You taking me out ! The only way is essex apparently." Freddie Flintoff's mind wanders towards the post-match activity following James Foster's Big Bash tonight.
OVER 1: ENG 2/0: Jeeez, Strauss is almost cleaned out first ball! Welegedara cuts one back through the gate and it somehow misses everything. Strauss has had a hard time against left-armers in his career. He's off the mark with a nicely-timed couple through mid-wicket.
11.42: Here come Strauss and Cook, sun shining, heavy roller has been out, decent pitch, run-fest? Could well be.
SRI LANKA 184 all out: England were expected to wrap the innings up quickly this morning and they have done just that, though few predicted Broad to be the man to do it. His solitary wicket in the innings, he's been coming in for criticism for his lack of penetration, but while England are bowling sides out for under 200 it would be unjust to suggest England's bowling attack requires major attention. Sri Lanka, however, have been shambolic. It's as if we are watching Bangladesh, not the side considered a real force not so long ago. Sure they've lost Murali, Malinga and Jayasuriya, yet this lot have shown no bottle and should be embarrassed by their efforts so far.
WICKET: Welegedara c Morgan b Broad 7 Sri Lanka 184 all out And that's it! Broad has done it, that's why he has opened the bowling this morning - what the hell do I know! Welegedara spoons straight to Morgan at cover and the players make their way indoors ready for England's knock.
OVER 64: SL: 184/9: Tremlett's getting some serious carry through to Prior - this Rose Bowl pitch is a cracker with lift and pace for the bowlers and regular bounce for the batsmen. Fernando goes wild and almost sweeps himself off his feet with a slog, only to miss before lobbing one into the off-side where Cook makes a mess of his dive and they claim a couple.
OVER 63: SL: 182/9: It's Stuart Broad to open from the other end. Why oh why is Anderson not opening? It would be a confidence booster for Broad to snare a wicket, otherwise I see no reason for him to open up. He starts with a no-ball and is quickly up into the high 80s mph. Short ball has Welegedara ducking and he then plays and misses.
OVER 62: SL 181/9: 'A fabulous physical speciman', says David Lloyd of Tremlett. That he is, but Fernando is far from intimidated and slashes a full delivery through point for four to move him on to 37. He's shown more guts than a number of his team-mates higher up the order.
11.20: Here we go, Fernando and Welegedara resume Sri Lanka's innings and it will be Tremlett to open up, keen to make it seven wickets and then back to the pavilion for a rest.
11.10: Murali is in action today. The whirling twirling rubber-man will be at Chelmsford for Essex wicketkeeper James Foster's benefit match known as 'Fozzy's Big Bash'. An Essex XI are taking on an All-Star side featuring Darren Gough and Freddie Flintoff.
11.05: Excellent, the covers are coming back off and play will start in 15 minutes. The sun has peeped its head out and the nasty rain clouds are scuttling off into the distance - we just need it to stay like that now.
11.00: Biggest selling day of this Test so far and what do they get? Rain. David Gower, from his lofty perch in the Sky box, thinks it will pass in ten minutes, so don't lose faith just yet.
"Sri Lankan team opting for the casual look this morning.. Jeans and T shirt to the ground.." Michael Vaughan spots Sri Lanka sauntering in as if expecting a day of inactivity.
10.55: Uh-oh, the covers are on and the umbrellas are going up. It looks like a quick shower but is enough to make spectators scamper off for cover and another trip to the bar (maybe a bit early for that). This Test has been a massive anti-climax so far, but with three days left there is time for a result and hopefully a few spectacular performances.
10.30: Morning all. Yesterday's biblical deluge has cleared and we should have plenty of action today, provided the Rose Bowl dodges the showers. England made the most of the couple of hours play on Friday, Chris Tremlett especially, but Sri Lanka put up a powder-puff fight and, resuming on 177/9, can expect to be in the field pretty sharpish.
Meanwhile, here's some reading to whet your appetite:
Derek Pringle on Chris Tremlett's six wicket haul
Nick Hoult on how Allen Stanford is still haunting England
View the original article here
This post was made using the
Auto Blogging Software from
WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.
Well-intentioned: Hamilton-Brown statement allowed his team to make a go of this Photo: DAILY TELEGRAPH
On the attack: Graeme Swann says he wants to see England's pacemen "bowling bouncers and breaking people's fingers" Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Perfectly round shaped with standard weight. Best quality ball made in official yellow, red, and also assorted colors. Ever lasting bounce. Heavy weigt Tennis Ball for Cricket. Hard Cricket Tennis Balls for Cricket. Got Question ? Please call 678-954-6536 , 678-995-5197 Price includes Standard Preferred Shipping. (No Hidden Cost ,  Allow 1 -3 Business days to ship) Store pickup is available. Please call 678-954-6536 , 678-995-5197 for appointment.