Harry Brook had called on his England players to continue the “high octane” cricket witnessed during their clean sweep in the Twenty20s but this latest victory over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international was more of a slow-burn affair.
Gone was the neck-arching carnage of the previous week and in its place, on a tired end-of-season surface, England were bowled out for 265 in 48.1 overs. Brook top-scored with 67 under a warm September sun, before his bowlers rolled the tourists for 176 to take a 1-0 lead into Thursday’s second match at Headingley.
Harry Brook’s reaction
It wasn’t the easiest of surfaces. We want to be a team who can adapt to conditions and I thought we did that very well today.
We were pretty happy with 265. We knew exactly what we wanted to do with the ball and we delivered that beautifully.
Will Jacks is an outstanding player. He’s been doing this on the franchise circuit for many years.
Kusal Mendis’s reaction
The bowlers did really well but our middle order struggled. It was a very good effort to keep them to 265.
[On the over-rate] We have to be better and bowl our overs on time. In a tight game [you can’t afford to be punished by having an extra fielder inside the circle].
[On the debutant Sachindu Colombage] He bowled really well. I’m very impressed with him.
The player of the match is Will Jacks
It was a really good all-round performance from the team and I was happy with how we ushered the innings at the end.
What we’ve been doing really well recently is communication what conditions are like and what we think a good score would be. Joe and Harry said 275-280 would be a really good score.
It doesn’t really bother me what stage of the innings I bowl. Harry likes us to be flexible and I think that’s why we’re achieving some good things.
The second ODI is at Headingley on Thursday afternoon, with the series concluding at the Oval on Sunday.
That’s only the ninth ODI five-for by an England spinner. The last person not called Adil Rashid to take one was Graeme Swann in 2009. And the last England spinner to do so against Sri Lanka was our friend Vic Marks during the 1983 World Cup.
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2x5 Adil Rashid, Vic Marks
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1x5 Graeme Hick, Ashley Giles, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Will Jacks
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England win by 89 runs
And Will Jacks is about to collect yet another player of the match award: 46 not out and 5 for 22 from seven overs.
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WICKET! Sri Lanka 176 all out (Madushanka b Jacks 0)
Will Jacks gets his first ODI five-for! Madushanka is bowled through the gate by a jaffa to complete an excellent victory for England.
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WICKET! Sri Lanka 176-9 (A Fernando c Banton b Jacks 0)
Four wickets for Will Jacks. Asitha Fernando can’t resist a flighted delivery and clobbers it high in the air towards long on, where Banton backpedals to take a comfortable catch.
These are ODI-best figures for Jacks: 6.5-0-22-4. But we all know what he really, really wants.
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WICKET! Sri Lanka 176-8 (Wellalage c Overton b Jacks 45)
England did hold their nerve. Wellalage charges Jacks, is beaten in the flight and clunks the ball high to Overton at mid-on. That ends a zesty cameo of 45 from 36 balls, and with it the contest.
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36th over: Sri Lanka 175-7 (Wellalage 45, Chameera 6) That flurry of boundaries from Wellalage has given Sri Lanka a sniff of a famous win, but England should be fine if they hold their nerve. If.
Chameera drives Atkinson classily for three, then Wellalage top-edges an extravagant hook for four. Sri Lanka need 91 from 84 balls.
35th over: Sri Lanka 167-7 (Wellalage 40, Chameera 3) The returning Will Jacks is taken for four singles.
34th over: Sri Lanka 163-7 (Wellalage 38, Chameera 1) Gus Atkinson returns to the attack. Wellalage takes a single off the first ball; Chameera defends the next four and then takes a single to keep strike. Hmm.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 161-7 (Wellalage 37, Chameera 0) Wellalage’s defiant cameo continues with back-to-back boundaries off Rehan, a slog-sweep and a lusty reverse-sweep past Archer at short third. His next shot is even better, a huge slog-sweep for six.
Wellalage scored 9 from his first 20 balls; he’s leathered 28 from the last nine.
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32nd over: Sri Lanka 144-7 (Wellalage 20, Chameera 0) Wellalage thumps Archer over extra over for the first six of the match. Duckett was a few yards in from the rope and couldn’t reach it as he jumped backwards. It needed a Ben Stokes 2019 tribute catch. Wellalage larrups the next ball for four as well. I’d love to hear Jofra’s internal monologue right now.
31st over: Sri Lanka 133-7 (Wellalage 9, Chameera 0) Replays confirm it was umpire’s call, so a review wouldn’t have saved Colombage.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 133-7 (Colombage LBW b Rehan 14)
Rehan Ahmed gets his first wicket. Colombage misses a vigorous sweep at a big-spinning googly and is hit somewhere near the phallus. Sri Lanka have no reviews left but I reckon that might have missed leg stump.
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30th over: Sri Lanka 128-6 (Wellalage 4, Colombage 14) Archer follows the left-handed Wellalage with a nasty delivery that thuds into the glove. Joe Root is also nursing a sore finger on his right hand after getting a touch on that edge for four from Colombage.
29th over: Sri Lanka 126-6 (Wellalage 3, Colombage 13) Rehan returns and is swept ferociously for four by the debutant Colombage. When he then takes a single, Wellalage plays and misses at a googly from round the wicket.
28th over: Sri Lanka 120-6 (Wellalage 2, Colombage 8) The substitute Liam Dawson misses a run-out chance with Colombage barely in the frame.
Colombage takes advantage of the reprieve to heave and edge Jofra Archer for a couple of boundaries.
27th over: Sri Lanka 111-6 (Wellalage 1, Colombage 0) Jacks bowls a couple of leg-side wides after turning the ball too much. But overall he’s having another very good day-night: 46 not out and 2 for 17 from five overs.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 105-6 (Kusal Mendis LBW b Jacks 42)
And it’s goodnight from Sri Lanka. Kusal Mendis, their last hope of victory, has fallen LBW to the impressive Will Jacks. He was hit on the pad after missing a premeditated sweep at a flighted delivery from around the wicket. Mendis reviewed, but deep down he knew.
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26th over: Sri Lanka 105-5 (Kusal Mendis 42, Wellalage 1) Overton continues to pummel the pitch and given the Sri Lankan batters very little to work with. He doesn’t quite have the variety of Liam Plunkett, the unsung hero of England’s 2019 World Cup win, but he has every chance of fulfilling the same middle-overs role in South Africa next year.
25th over: Sri Lanka 101-5 (Kusal Mendis 40, Wellalage 0) Jacks starts his over with four dots in a row to Kusal Mendis, who somehow needs to stick and twist if Sri Lanka are to win this game. At this stage England were 147 for 3.
One from the over. Jacks has excellent figures of 4-0-11-1.
24th over: Sri Lanka 100-5 (Kusal Mendis 39, Wellalage 0) Brian Withington has another Mark Wood song from the archives. “This one was inspired by the 2023 Ashes Headingley Test and was offered as a later period Beatles rip-off from the White Album (itself a delicious parody of the Beach Boys’ disturbing paean to young Californian females).
“My poor homage was prompted by a line from the CCLive’s very own Mes, Francophile and umpire extraordinaire of refugee cricket. (For those unfamiliar with the Guardian’s CCLive! acronym, DPRY = Democratic People’s Republic of Yorkshire.)
Back in the DPRY
Flew in from the Kirkstall End 90 MPH
Broad got Travis Head last night
All the way the Western Stand supported me
Man, this is an Ashes fight
[Chorus]
I’m back in the DPRY
You don’t know how lucky you are, boys
Back in the DP
Back in the DP
Back in the DPRY
Been away so long, am I worth my place?
Gee, it’s good to be back on
Pleased that I can still step up my pace
See if you can hit that son
[Chorus]
Well the Aussie boys nearly knocked us out
They leave the rest behind
But the Yorkshire crowd really sing and shout
That Bazball’s always on my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my mind
Oh, come on!
[Chorus]
Oh, show me ‘round your beer-flecked terrace way out West
Take me to your Yorkie heart
Let me hear those Northern voices ringing out
Hope we can keep up this start …
WICKET! Sri Lanka 100-5 (Liyanage c Buttler b Overton 4)
Big Overs strikes again. Liyanage tries to dab a hard-length, cross-seam delivery from Overton and gets the thinnest of edges through to Buttler. England are well on top.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 99-4 (Kusal Mendis 38, Liyanage 4) Liyanage opens the face to steer Jacks for three. But the other five deliveries bring only a couple, so Sri Lanka's required rate creeps up to 6.18. In these conditions, with four top-order batters already out, that’s quite a lot.
22nd over: Sri Lanka 94-4 (Kusal Mendis 36, Liyanage 1) Kusal Mendis is pinned on the glove by Overton. Crumbs, that delivery really took off. Mendis’s reaction was hilarious: he glared with a kind of furious confusion at Overton, then the pitch, then his own wounded hand.
Mendis composes himself to chip a majestic boundary down the ground. “Shot of the day I reckon,” says Mark Wood in the Sky Sports commentary box. If Sri Lanka are going to win this game, Mendis needs to go deep and big.
21st over: Sri Lanka 87-4 (Kusal Mendis 28, Liyanage 1) The right-handed Janith Liyanage comes to the crease – and almost leaves it when he whips a big offbreak from Jacks on the bounce to backward square leg. Excellent over from Jacks: two runs, one wicket.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 85-4 (Asalanka LBW b Jacks 1)
So much for the left/right combo: Asalanka has gone straight away LBW after missing a sweep at Jacks. He reviewed, no idea why, but that was plumb.
20th over: Sri Lanka 85-3 (Kusal Mendis 27, Asalanka 1) Charith Asalanka is the new batter, which gives Sri Lanka a left/right combination.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 84-3 (P Rathnayeke c Banton b Overton 13)
What a fine catch from Tom Banton! After cutting the previous ball for four, Rathnakeye crashed Overton into the covers and was nonchalantly taken at ankle height. Every time Sri Lanka threaten to get on top, England take a wicket.
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19th over: Sri Lanka 79-2 (Kusal Mendis 27, P Rathnayeke 9) Rehan is replaced by Will Jacks, who concedes three singles from a tidy opening over. The required rate creeps above six an over for the first time.
“Did someone say Mark Wood tribute?” begins Brian Withington. (I think John asked for a tribute to Wood’s imaginary horse, but let’s not split hairs.) “This was from 2024 and should be read to the tune of Norwegian Wood off the Rubber Soul album (by a short-lived 60s four-piece from Liverpool for the youngsters on here):
He knows how to bowl
And I should just say, very qx uickly
He comes from Dur-ham
Isn’t he good our own Mark Wood?
Ben asked for one more
And he told him to bowl anywhere Then Seales looked around
And noticed his stump wasn’t there
Joseph was the last in
And wasted no time
He’d cleaned up the tail, minus Motie
Five for forty
Ben said he fancied golf
In the morning and started to laugh
Mark told him he didn’t
And walked off to have an ice bath
And when we looked up it was all done
The game had flown
But he lit the fire
Isn’t he good our own Mark Wood?
18th over: Sri Lanka 76-2 (Kusal Mendis 25, P Rathnayeke 8) Big Overs, known more commonly as Jamie Overton, replaces Josh Tongue. An extremely heavy ball surprises Kusal Mendis, who flaps it into the leg side for a single. Rathnayeke clips nicely past midwicket for a couple.
“Mark Wood: what a legend,” writes Rory Young. “If he could have stayed fit more he’d probably be our best genuine fast bowler of the modern era – and that’s from a Jofra fan!”
He speaks really well on the loneliness of rehab. It’s quietly heartbreaking that he spent nine months trying to get fit for the Ashes and was only able to bowl 11 overs at Perth. But crumbs, what an exhilarating sight, comfortably the quickest England bowler I’ve seen. He’s also possibly my favourite ever England tailender. I think Wood’s other regret is that he didn’t lengthen his run-up earlier in his career. His Test stats show how big a moment that was (I think I’ve taken the correct cut-off point).
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Short run-up 30 wickets at 41.73
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Long run-up 89 wickets at 27.11
Drinks: Sri Lanka need 193 runs from 33 overs
17th over: Sri Lanka 73-2 (Kusal Mendis 24, P Rathnayeke 6) Sri Lanka’s captain Kusal Mendis injects some impetus by sweeping and pulling Rehan for successive boundaries. And just like that, it’s drinks.
16th over: Sri Lanka 64-2 (Kusal Mendis 15, P Rathnayeke 6)
Meanwhile, this is a cracking read
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15th over: Sri Lanka 60-2 (Kusal Mendis 13, P Rathnayeke 4) Brook moves himself to slip for Rehan, who is getting some encouraging turn away from the right-handers. Another good over; three singles from it.
Sri Lanka need 206 from 35 overs, aka 210 balls.
14th over: Sri Lanka 57-2 (Kusal Mendis 12, P Rathnayeke 2) Mendis gloves Tongue round the corner for a rare boundary, the first off a quick bowler since the seventh over. It remains an intriguing contest, an old-fashioned arm-wrestle of an ODI.
13th over: Sri Lanka 51-2 (Kusal Mendis 7, P Rathnayeke 1) A terrific maiden from Rehan includes three leg-breaks that beat Rathnayeke’s outside edge. Rathnayeke was anticipating the googly, Rehan’s biggest weapon, but he kept it under wraps in that over.
12th over: Sri Lanka 51-2 (Kusal Mendis 7, P Rathnayeke 1) Pavan Rathnayeke is the new batter.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 48-2 (Nissanka c Buttler b Tongue 27)
Josh Tongue in wicket-taking shocker. He’s just a natural, whatever the format, and he has made a vital breakthrough here. The dangerous Nissanka tried to run the ball towards third but could only edge it through to Jos Buttler.
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11th over: Sri Lanka 46-1 (Nissanka 26, Kusal Mendis 4) With the first Powerplay done, Harry Brook turns to his main spinner Rehan Ahmed. This is his 10th ODI and his first at home since the Ireland series of 2023.
Nissanka punishes a short ball, tagging it to cow corner for four, before offering a sharp caught-and-bowled chance. Rehan crouched to meet it with both hands but couldn’t hang on. Eoin Morgan, commentating on Sky, reckons Rehan would have taken the catch nine times out of ten.
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10th over: Sri Lanka 40-1 (Nissanka 21, Kusal Mendis 3) Another boundaryless over from Atkinson ends a fairly muted Powerplay, at the end of which Sri Lanka need 226 from 240 balls.
9th over: Sri Lanka 37-1 (Nissanka 19, Kusal Mendis 2) Kusal Mendis flicks Tongue for a single to get off the mark. There’s a slip in place when Tongue is bowling to Mendis, but not to Nissanka, who gets up on his toes to glide a single.
It’s been a cagey start to the innings, like a boxing match in which both fighters are waiting for the other to swing the first haymaker.
8th over: Sri Lanka 34-1 (Nissanka 18, Kusal Mendis 0) Another forensic over from Atkinson to Nissanka: five dot balls and a flick for two. Atkinson has bowled well and has figures of 4-0-12-1.
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7th over: Sri Lanka 32-1 (Nissanka 16, Kusal Mendis 0) Josh Tongue replaces Jofra Archer and starts with a cracking yorker that is defended by Nissanka. This is Tongue’s third ODI – and only his fifth List A game since 2019 – but England clearly like him as a potential wickettaker in the middle overs.
Nissanka stands tall to punch a beautiful boundary square on the off side. Nothing wrong with the delivery at all; that was pure class.
6th over: Sri Lanka 27-1 (Nissanka 11, Kusal Mendis 0) The pull looks a hard shot to play on what is a slightly two-paced pitch. Kamindu Mendis’s three boundaries came from fuller balls that were flicked or driven.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 27-1 (Kamindu Mendis c Duckett b Atkinson 14)
A bit of width from Atkinson allows Mendis to slap a cover drive for four. But that’s his lot: three balls later he cloths a pull to midwicket to give England their first wicket.
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5th over: Sri Lanka 23-0 (Nissanka 11, Kamindu Mendis 10) Nissanka is beaten twice by Archer and edges streakily for four. There are no slips in place; England have a more subcontinental field, with Root catching at short midwicket. Archer’s first over was a bit of a loosener; since then he’s been almost unhittable.
4th over: Sri Lanka 19-0 (Nissanka 7, Kamindu Mendis 10) Atkinson backs Archer up with a very accurate over that includes five dot balls in a row to Mendis. His length was spot on, just full of good, and the line gave Mendis no chance to use his wrists.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 18-0 (Nissanka 6, Kamindu Mendis 10) Sri Lanka are above England in the ODI rankings – it’s 6th v 7th – so we shouldn’t be surprised that they have been a lot more competitive.
Archer’s second over is superb, with only a leg-bye from it. Mendis is beaten by consecutive jaffas, both around 90mph.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 17-0 (Nissanka 6, Kamindu Mendis 10) Gus Atkinson shares the new ball, as he did in the final match of England’s series win against India earlier in the summer. A good first over, full and straight, is tarnished with Mendis clips another stylish boundary through midwicket. There wasn’t much wrong with that delivery; it was slightly too straight, no more than that, and Mendis punished him.
1st over: Sri Lanka 12-0 (Nissanka 5, Kamindu Mendis 6) Pathum Nissanka square-drives Archer’s first ball for a tone-setting four. He’s such a good player; there aren’t many modern openers who average over 40 in Tests and ODIs and over 30 in T20Is.
Archer’s first over is a double-figures job. Kamindu Mendis, who has been given a new role in the ODI team, is beaten by a lifter but then clips his first boundary between midwicket and mid-on. Nice shot.
Jofra Archer will open the bowling for England. Sri Lanka will surely go hard against the new ball; batting looked more awkward as the England innings progressed.
“Nobody, even an England fan, wants to see their team win matches against a feeble opponent, so welcome to the Sri Lankans’ cricket so far today,” says John Starbuck. “We’d like to see a tough struggle, England lose this game, just squeak a win in the second one, and all-to-play-for in the last. This opinion may be subject to discussion. Also, how about an OBO tribute to Mark Wood’s horse?”
I’m writing a 10,000 word feature to be published next week.
Something for the innings break
There are a gazillion reasons to love Mark Wood, who has announced his retirement from international cricket. What’s your favourite memory? The one that makes it drizzle on my face is Headingley 2023. That Ashes series became the greatest in this country since 2005; without Wood’s volcanic bowling – and his violently defiant batting – it would have been the most crushing anticlimax imaginable.
Thanks Taha, hello everyone. Be careful what you wish for, part 7,418,291. England fans craved a contest after a painfully one-sided T20 series; they’ve got one at Chester-le-Street, where Sri Lanka restricted England to 265 all out in the first ODI. The legspinner Sachindu Colombage, making his international debut at the age of 28, bowled beautifully and finished with 3 for 44.
I still think England are slight favourites on what looks a slightly awkward pitch, but there’s no Adil Rashid so the spin will come from Rehan Ahmed, Will Jacks and maybe Joe Root. Our algorithmic friends, the ones who share the name W. Predictor, reckon Sri Lanka are favourites.
Right, enough from me. Rob Smyth will take over for the second half.
The best cricket magazine in the world (I used to work there) is up on the honours board.
England all out for 265
Fernando fires in another yorker to wrap things up! It’s another one that tails into the right-hander and the No 11 doesn’t stand much of a chance. This is still a decent score on a tricky pitch … but Sri Lanka have a real chance at winning their first game on this tour.
WICKET! Tongue b Fernando 0 (England 265 all out)
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48th over: England 265-9 (Tongue 0, Jacks 46) Jacks gladly accepts a rare gift: a full toss from Chameera that is sent down the ground for four. The quick lands the next delivery but he’s too full as Jacks drives for another boundary. And then a third four in a row! Jacks punches a slower ball through cover and these are precious late runs. It’s been a responsible hand from Jacks at No 6 … and he makes it four successive boundaries with a pull!
WICKET! Archer b Fernando 2 (England 247-9)
It’s surely time for England to give it a real hoo-ha … but you can’t hit that! Fernando nails his yorker and Archer is sent on his way.
47th over: England 247-9 (Tongue 0, Atkinson 14)
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46th over: England 244-8 (Archer 1, Jacks 26) Madushanka greets Jofra Archer with a yorker before sliding one down the leg-side. He’s bowled quite a few wides today but has still impressed and closes his final over with figures of one for 45.
WICKET! Atkinson b Madushanka 14 (England 241-8)
Atkinson tries to attack … and perishes. It’s a cutter from Madushanka, from around the wicket, knocking back the stumps.
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45th over: England 241-7 (Atkinson 14, Jacks 25) Jacks finally beats the field, punching Wellalage off the back foot for his first boundary.
44th over: England 233-7 (Atkinson 12, Jacks 19) It’s another run-out chance for Sri Lanka – been a fair few this innings – as Atkinson nabs a quick single. The boundaries have disappeared … but a release arrives when Madushanka goes short and Atkinson just about shovels it around the corner for four.
43rd over: England 225-7 (Atkinson 7, Jacks 16) Wellalage returns for some stump-to-stump action, giving Jacks and Atkinson little room to swing big.
42nd over: England 221-7 (Atkinson 5, Jacks 14) Chameera begins with a dangerous, inswinging yorker … Atkinson digs it out in time. Sri Lanka decide to review, hoping there was a bit of pad on it – and it’s a colossal waste of time.
41st over: England 217-7 (Atkinson 3, Jacks 12) Colombage is in for his final over, really looping it up now. Atkinson doesn’t take the bait, prodding forward to defend. The debutant finishes with excellent figures of three for 44.
40th over: England 214-7 (Atkinson 1, Jacks 11) Rehan Ahmed had a rubbish time with the bat … but, on this surface, he’s got a big role to play in the second half. Gus Atkinson shows off his forward defence against Asitha Fernando.
39th over: England 211-7 (Atkinson 0, Jacks 10) England were 182 for three.
WICKET! Overton b Colombage 8 (England 211-7)
Colombage is back, with a leading edge off Jacks nearly creating a caught-and-bowled. Overton doesn’t survive though: the leggie tosses it up and the right-hander plays around one that doesn’t turn, the stumps rattled. Oh, this new guy’s loads of fun.
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38th over: England 210-6 (Overton 8, Jacks 9) The impressive Madushanka thunders in from around the wicket to Overton … and the ball keeps low again outside off. Runs suddenly look very hard to come by … ignore me: Overton middles a drive down the ground for four.
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37th over: England 203-6 (Overton 2, Jacks 9) Wellalage is back – slightly bemusing to not continue with Colombage after his wicket-taking over.
WICKET! Ahmed run out Asalanka 2 (England 199-6)
Three hours into this innings and we’ve still got 14 overs to go! Get a move on, lads. Rehan Ahmed edges off Madushanka … but the low bounce means the ball doesn’t carry to Mendis. And then a run out! What was Ahmed doing? He hits the ball straight to cover, decides on a single that Jacks isn’t having, and Charith Asalanka takes down the stumps with his throw. England are imploding!
36th over: England 199-6 (Overton 0, Jacks 7)
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35th over: England 196-5 (Ahmed 0, Jacks 6) Colombage follows up his wicket with three dots. It’s been a strong debut.
WICKET! Buttler lbw Colombage 31 (England 196-5)
Oh, that’s got to be out. Colombage hits Buttler in front but the umpire says no. The only explanation is that there’s some bat on it … Sri Lanka go upstairs and there’s nothing on UltraEdge. That’s knocking over middle and leg and Colombage has his second! The leggie’s done it with a similar delivery to the one that got Root: forcing the batter back and getting just enough turn.
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34th over: England 193-4 (Buttler 31, Jacks 3) Chameera bowls a slower ball and it looks to have flummoxed Buttler, who swings and lets go of one hand … but he’s got such power that he’s knocked it over mid-on for four.
33rd over: England 185-4 (Buttler 24, Jacks 2) Colombage is back as Jacks tries to settle – there’s a slip in for the leg-spinner. And he’s on the spot, testing out the forward defence. And then one spins big and stays low, very nearly taking Jacks’ off-stump. Just two off the over and Sri Lanka are starting to build a bit of pressure.
32nd over: England 183-4 (Buttler 23, Jacks 1) It’s Will Jacks, not Rehan Ahmed, at six.
WICKET! Brook c Madushanka b Chameera 67 (England 182-4)
Ooops. Brook comes down the track to swing at Chameera … and he’s got his placement wrong, finding the man at deep cover. A wicket out of nowhere, really.
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31st over: England 182-3 (Brook 67, Buttler 23) Brook continues to play spin well off the back foot, his hands rapid when he wants to rock back for a single.
30th over: England 175-3 (Buttler 22, Brook 61) Brook skips down the pitch against Chameera … and slashes the Durham air. He runs hard for two moments later.
29th over: England 172-3 (Buttler 22, Brook 58) Buttler looks in danger for a moment with a reverse-sweep, the ball looping up, but he nicks a couple. Wellalage is knocked around for ones and twos. Time for drinks.
28th over: England 164-3 (Buttler 17, Brook 55) Buttler skips down the crease to clip Asitha Fernando for three and is looking pretty settled.
27th over: England 160-3 (Buttler 14, Brook 54) Oh man, what’s happened here? Has Buttler been run out at the non-striker’s end … no, replays show he’s comfortably home after running through on a Sri Lanka misfield. Buttler closes Wellalage’s latest over with a thump down the ground for four.
26th over: England 154-3 (Buttler 9, Brook 53) Plenty of empty seats at Chester-le-Street, with tickets still available on Durham’s website.
Harry Brook reaches 50!
25th over: England 147-3 (Brook 51, Buttler 4) Brook knocks one off Colombage and that’s his half-century. He’s probably the best all-format batter in international cricket right now.
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24th over: England 139-3 (Brook 45, Buttler 2) Another decent over from Madushanka, Sri Lanka’s most economical bowler today.
23rd over: England 136-3 (Brook 44, Buttler 1) Root’s ODI batting average this year drops to … 180. Just have a look at these numbers.
WICKET! Root b Colombage 44 (England 135-3)
The leggie strikes! His first wicket is one of the greats, and he’s bowled him, too. Colombage forces Root back into the crease, and gets a hint of turn to knock back off-stump. Mark Wood’s on commentary for it; one career closes and another begins.
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22nd over: England 133-2 (Root 43, Brook 43) A run-out chance … and Root would have been a goner with a direct hit at the striker’s end after Brook wanted one off the returning Madushanka.
21st over: England 129-2 (Root 42, Brook 42) Brook has had a look at Colombage and is putting his foot down, driving for another boundary. Root is quietly knocking about ones at the other end.
20th over: England 119-2 (Root 41, Brook 32) Root very nearly chops on, pushing at a wide one against Chameera … but the inside-edge runs away for four.
In relation to new OBO favourite Colombage, John Starbuck writes in:
In my mostly inglorious cricket career I was a leggie too. The main advantage is that most batters rarely faced one, but the general opinion was that leggies got plenty of wickets, but gave away a massive number of runs. Can’t have one without the other, but optimism is essential.
19th over: England 113-2 (Root 36, Brook 33) Colombage is back, giving the ball air … and Brook drives through cover for four. He looks on for a big one today.
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18th over: England 105-2 (Root 34, Brook 27) England reach three figures and Brook pulls Chameera for four, the bouncer failing to rush the right-hander.
17th over: England 97-2 (Root 32, Brook 21) Brook dabs through point and sprints away for two as Wellalage continues. I wonder if he’s got KP on his mind.
16th over: England 94-2 (Root 31, Brook 19) Chameera is back as Sri Lanka decide, strangely, to take Colombage off after two good overs.
15th over: England 90-2 (Root 29, Brook 17) Brook wallops a sweep off Wellalage for four. My mind has just gone back to Colombo in January, when the England captain and Root both reached three figures to secure a series victory.
14th over: England 82-2 (Brook 10, Root 28) Always a joy watching a leggie, the hardest thing to bowl in this stupidly hard game. Colombage bowls another tight over.
13th over: England 80-2 (Root 28, Brook 8) It’s not a long-hop by Wellalage, but it’s short enough for Brook, who is so quick to get back and cut for four. Root then plays the cutest of reverse-dabs for a couple. Time for drinks.
12th over: England 72-2 (Root 25, Brook 3) A huge moment in the life of Sachindu Colombage. The debutant is on to bowl. He’s got a funky start to his action, arms everywhere … and he’s appealing for leg-before against Root! The ball goes straight on from the leg-spinner and Sri Lanka decide to go upstairs … I think it’s missing leg-stump … and DRS agrees. It’s a tidy start from Colombage: not much turn there but he’s accurate enough.
11th over: England 68-2 (Brook 1, Root 23) Out comes the captain, who punches for one to keep the strike.
WICKET! Duckett lbw Wellalage 32 (England 67-2)
Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage is on as Root and Duckett take their stand beyond 50. But Wellalage traps Duckett leg-before! It’s flat and quick, with Duckett failing to connect with his sweep. The batter reviews immediately, hoping he’s been struck outside the line of off-stump … but DRS shows three reds. Spin gives Sri Lanka the breakthrough – a smart piece of bowling by Wellalage.
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10th over: England 64-1 (Root 21, Duckett 31) Fernando is back after changing ends … and Root plays an immaculate cover drive for four. Nasser Hussain asks the question on comms: why don’t Sri Lanka bring the keeper up to the stumps? Root then marches out of his crease to guide the ball through the covers again. Duckett clips for another boundary and the powerplay belongs to England. Sri Lanka need to sort out their lines.
9th over: England 51-1 (Root 12, Duckett 27) Time for Dushmantha Chameera, replacing Fernando. Sri Lanka are bowling a bit too straight to Root, who clips again for four. Duckett copies his partner, finding the midwicket boundary to move to 27.
8th over: England 42-1 (Root 7, Duckett 23) Root opens up his blade to play his trademark guide to third for a single. Duckett’s timing is getting better, too, the ball starting to ping off the bat.
7th over: England 36-1 (Root 6, Duckett 18) Better from Duckett, who middles the cut this time, off Fernando and away for four. A whip through midwicket follows and Duckett is finding his flow. Root, meanwhile, has become the eighth man to hit 23,000 (!) international runs. Duckett very nearly gifts square leg a catch before punching through the off-side for three.
Adil Rashid ruled out of the ODI series
6th over: England 25-1 (Root 6, Duckett 7) Madushanka goes wide and Duckett can’t nail his cut. An in-form version of the left-hander would probably have found the boundary. And some news from England: Adil Rashid has been ruled out of the series with an injury to his bowling hand. Time for Rehan Ahmed to step up. Root closes the over with a lovely clip through midwicket.
5th over: England 20-1 (Root 2, Duckett 6) Asitha Fernando had a strong Test series in England a couple years ago, taking 17 wickets in three matches at 24.64. He goes a bit too straight against Duckett, who clips away for one, and Root plays a similar shot for two.
4th over: England 17-1 (Root 0, Duckett 5) A strong follow-up over from Madushanka, who is getting some tasty shape. There’s a bit of bother for Kamindu Mendis, at slip, who takes a blow to the right knee at the end of the over.
3rd over: England 16-1 (Root 0, Duckett 4) In comes Joe Root.
WICKET! Banton b Fernando 10 (England 16-1)
Poor work at deep fine leg by Madushanka, who goes for a one-handed stop by the rope but lets it slip away for four. Banton very nearly offers a return grab to Fernando … before a corker to hit the top of off! Brilliant from Asitha Fernando, who nips it away from the right-hander, beating the prod forward to take the off bail.
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2nd over: England 12-0 (Banton 6, Duckett 4) Dilshan Madushanka is on from the other end. The left-armer hoops the ball into Banton, who whips away for his first boundary. A wide down the leg-side follows but Madushanka eventually finds his spot, threatening the stumps with his inswinger.
1st over: England 5-0 (Banton 1, Duckett 4) A bit of shape away from the right-hander for Fernando as Banton gets going with a single. Ben Duckett had a poor Test series against Pakistan but did hit 141 in England’s last ODI, against India in July. He clips a full toss away for four.
Right, time to get going. Tom Banton is opening in an ODI for the very first time. Asitha Fernando has the new ball.
There’s an international debut for the legspinner Sachindu Colombage. Some ask to come in and bowl at that England middle order. I’m fascinated to see how Rehan Ahmed, carded at six, goes; he’s in because Adil Rashid has an issue with his bowling hand.
The teams
England: Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Sachindu Colombage, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
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England win the toss and choose to bat first
Wood is part of Sky’s commentary team for this game, and he’s joined by his former captain Eoin Morgan. They take in the toss … which is won by Harry Brook. England will have a hit.
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Mark Wood retires from international cricket
The big news this morning is that Mark Wood has called it a day at the highest level. Go to his Cricinfo profile and the numbers won’t jump out … but that doesn’t tell his story. You’re better off heading to YouTube to watch that spell at Headingley or the one in St Lucia, bowling at absurd pace. The body, inevitably, suffered. He took 18 wickets when England won the 2019 World Cup and nine at 12 when they won the T20 equivalent in 2022. He won the Ashes at home and, while things didn’t work out for the collective, he thrived in Australia, too. Some career.
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to the last series of the English summer, stretching its way right until the close of September. It’s back to 50-over cricket, the forgotten child, with Sri Lanka hoping that the longer form gives them more of a chance; the T20 series was a miserable affair for the visitors, with defeats by 119 runs, six wickets (47 balls to spare) and eight wickets (62 balls).
After a few lean years in the ODI game, England have won their last two series, away to Sri Lanka at the start of the year and then at home against India. Brendon McCullum has lost the Test job but his white-ball group have had a pretty impressive 2026. It would be quite the splash if Kusal Mendis’ side halt the streak here. We get going in Durham at 12.30pm BST.
