England v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test: Day 2 - Heading for a Draw?

 

England v Sri Lanka

3^rd Test: Day 2

Heading for a Draw?

 

June 10^th  2016

Two days into the Test and things are being put into perspective. This match is being played on a friendly pitch, in near-perfect conditions, with two attacks that lack the X-factor to make things happen.

Once again, the day has been about Jonny Bairstow: first with the bat – his highest Test score – and then with the gloves – a bad drop when England needed to take every chance if they were to make something happen. It matters not a jot that, later, he took a much harder chance: it was the easy one that was shelled that makes the headlines. As a result, suddenly Jos Buttler, who has played no red-ball cricket since South Africa, appears to some fans to be a combination of Don Bradman, Godfrey Evans, Alan Knott and Superman, but without their evident weaknesses. Yes, not playing for a few months imbues players with amazing superpowers.

Jonny Bairstow is not the best wicket-keeper in the country, but he is by far the best wicket-keeper batsman. Whereas Jos Buttler has struggled to show his best batting form in Tests, Jonny Bairstow is in a moment of supreme batting form. He has maintained his record of making a big century every time that he has passed 50 this season: 246; 198; 140 and, now, 167*, with his next highest score this season, 48. He also now has a small matter of 17 catches in the series, although that is largely due to the lemming-like tendencies of some of the Sri Lankan batsmen in the first three innings of this series.

The biggest discovery of the series though may be the most important one, long-term: Chris Woakes. He scored his maiden Test 50, missed out on a century to a single hot-headed moment and then bowled with vim and venom, although without luck. Chris Woakes is starting to look like a fully-fledged Test all-rounder.

The bowling was economical, even Moeen Ali kept the runs down, but there is a real possibility that Sri Lanka can bat for a day and a half more and put 650+ on the board. If they do that, facing Herath to save an innings defeat on the last day may become a daunting prospect.