England Tighten Grip on Test Match at Lord’s
As Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum observed the second day’s play from the Lord’s pavilion, they could have been forgiven for reaching for a box of cigars, not just to get ahead of the proposed ban on outdoor smoking. Sri Lanka endured a difficult time, conceding 427 runs with the ball and then being dismissed for 196 in 55.3 overs. At stumps, England were batting again, with stand-in captain Ollie Pope deciding against enforcing the follow-on and opting to bat on.
Despite Sri Lanka’s shortcomings, the transformation instigated by Stokes and McCullum this summer has gained further validation. The headline act came early, as Gus Atkinson, unbeaten on 74 overnight, sealed his maiden Test century just 23 minutes into play. Stationed at No. 8 and having never reached three figures in senior cricket before, the 26-year-old remained unflappable during his swift conversion, driving Lahiru Kumara for a sixth four of the morning and letting out a guttural roar.
“Stokes’ eye for a player’s attributes, rather than their past achievements, has proved sharp in recent years. Atkinson is now the sixth men’s cricketer to claim a spot on all three Test honours boards at Lord’s, having taken 12 wickets on debut against West Indies in July and now scoring a brilliant 118 from 115 balls.”
The low swing and seam movement on the first day provided context for England’s total, even if Dhananjaya de Silva opted to bowl first. This signposted the need to chisel out 10, and eventually 20, wickets on the surface, especially with Mark Wood’s injury depriving the attack of its point of difference.
Despite Kamindu Mendis’ classy 74, which left a spectator requiring medical attention after being hit by a six, England seized control quickly. Sri Lanka slightly wilted, with two men falling to leg traps, De Silva nicking off for a duck, and a run-out among the wickets. England’s attack, with a tighter line than their counterparts, reduced Sri Lanka to 118 for 7, with Asitha Fernando’s five for 102 providing some resistance.
Olly Stone’s return to the side after a three-year, injury-blighted absence was encouraging, though he was not as quick as Wood. He claimed two wickets and rattled a few bones with his pace. Chris Woakes continued his impressive Lord’s record, while Matthew Potts, who grew into the match in Manchester, extracted the most movement here.
Atkinson’s contributions, including the important wicket of Dinesh Chandimal, capped a clinical, professional display from England. Pope’s decision to bat again was understandable, even if Dan Lawrence fell late in the day.
This is an England attack that has undergone a radical shift in the past 12 months, with the five frontline bowlers in this match boasting a combined 257 wickets, compared to the 1,751 wickets of the five who played the fifth Ashes Test last summer.
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