Sri Lanka use their heads to press for victory
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from day two of the first Test in Galle
Andrew McGlashan in Galle
27-Mar-2012
Jonathan Trott ends up in a heap after colliding with Prasanna Jayawardene having been stumped • Getty Images
Header of the day
Chanaka Welegedera was involved in an action-packed opening over to the second day as Sri Lanka added 16 runs. It included two boundaries off the bat - a flayed edge over the keeper and a crunching pull - and two sets of four leg-byes. The second of those came when a bouncer from James Anderson took Welegedera flush on the helmet and Graeme Swann couldn't gather it at second slip. It was a glancing header that would not have looked out of place in the Premier League, not that Anderson was impressed.
Chanaka Welegedera was involved in an action-packed opening over to the second day as Sri Lanka added 16 runs. It included two boundaries off the bat - a flayed edge over the keeper and a crunching pull - and two sets of four leg-byes. The second of those came when a bouncer from James Anderson took Welegedera flush on the helmet and Graeme Swann couldn't gather it at second slip. It was a glancing header that would not have looked out of place in the Premier League, not that Anderson was impressed.
Non-wicket of the day
Suraj Randiv, the tall offspinner, was not called on until the 32nd over by Mahela Jayawardene but briefly thought he had struck with his third ball to remove Ian Bell. The batsman played a sweep (not a rare shot for England players) which rebounded off short leg for the keeper to take the catch. However, the appeal was cut short as the ball had come off Dinesh Chandimal's helmet and the Laws say: "It is not a fair catch if the ball has previously touched a protective helmet worn by a fielder."
Suraj Randiv, the tall offspinner, was not called on until the 32nd over by Mahela Jayawardene but briefly thought he had struck with his third ball to remove Ian Bell. The batsman played a sweep (not a rare shot for England players) which rebounded off short leg for the keeper to take the catch. However, the appeal was cut short as the ball had come off Dinesh Chandimal's helmet and the Laws say: "It is not a fair catch if the ball has previously touched a protective helmet worn by a fielder."
Collision of the day
Although Alastair Cook fell early, the real start of England's problems came when Jonathan Trott was stumped off Rangana Herath. That simple description does not do the moment justice. Trott tried to use his feet, which is unusual for him against spin, and played over a full toss which presented Prasanna Jayawardene with a stumping opportunity. Then, in running around in celebration, Jayawardene collided with Trott which sent the batsman sprawling in a heap. He lay there for a moment, and concern grew that he was injured, but he slowly rose to his feet a little dazed and embarrassed.
Although Alastair Cook fell early, the real start of England's problems came when Jonathan Trott was stumped off Rangana Herath. That simple description does not do the moment justice. Trott tried to use his feet, which is unusual for him against spin, and played over a full toss which presented Prasanna Jayawardene with a stumping opportunity. Then, in running around in celebration, Jayawardene collided with Trott which sent the batsman sprawling in a heap. He lay there for a moment, and concern grew that he was injured, but he slowly rose to his feet a little dazed and embarrassed.
Ripper of the day
England handed most of Rangana Herath's wickets to him on a plate, but Ian Bell was done by a lovely delivery that gripped off the surface and turned past the edge to bowl him: the perfect left-arm spinner's dismissal. As ever, it was possible to pick holes in a batsman's method - and Bell hadn't offered his pad as a second line of protection - but sometimes a bowler deserves the credit.
England handed most of Rangana Herath's wickets to him on a plate, but Ian Bell was done by a lovely delivery that gripped off the surface and turned past the edge to bowl him: the perfect left-arm spinner's dismissal. As ever, it was possible to pick holes in a batsman's method - and Bell hadn't offered his pad as a second line of protection - but sometimes a bowler deserves the credit.
Confidence-booster of the day
Graeme Swann was not at his best in the first innings and pressure was growing for him to make an impact. Andrew Strauss threw him the ball in the seventh over and he seized his chance with two left handers to bowl at, spinning one past the edge of Lahriu Thirimanne which allowed him to release some pent-up frustrations in the celebrations. Suddenly there was a spring in his step and a bound to the crease. By the close he had four wickets to his name.
Graeme Swann was not at his best in the first innings and pressure was growing for him to make an impact. Andrew Strauss threw him the ball in the seventh over and he seized his chance with two left handers to bowl at, spinning one past the edge of Lahriu Thirimanne which allowed him to release some pent-up frustrations in the celebrations. Suddenly there was a spring in his step and a bound to the crease. By the close he had four wickets to his name.
Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo