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Plays of the day
Cook's patience and Malinga's hostility
Andrew Miller in Colombo
December 9, 2007
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Lasith Malinga returned with the hostility that he displayed in the World Cup to drown England's hopes of ending the first day in command
© AFP
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Over of the day
At 237 for 3 and with half an hour of the day's play remaining, England
were in sight of a satisfactory day's work. It had been slow and
sapping, and possibly less rewarding than they had envisaged. Still, they were expecting to lay claim to at least a share of the
spoils. And then Lasith Malinga wrecked all their good work in the
space of two new-ball deliveries. If Cook's leg-before decision was debatable, there
could be no quibbling with his follow-up to Ravi Bopara. Full, fast
and swinging, it ripped through the new boy's defences and brought to
mind the low-slung hostility Malinga generated in that incredible
World Cup spell in Guyana. He's been quiet in this series so far, but
he's always been about more than just his haircuts.
Innings of the day
Throughout the first session, it seemed there was only one man to whom
this day was going to belong. Michael Vaughan was in such superlative
touch that by lunch he had outscored his junior partner by four runs
to one. And yet, as the shadows began to creep, only one of the
pairing was still standing. Cook committed himself to survival, and
endured in the manner that recalled the endeavours of his Essex
team-mate, Nasser Hussain, seven years ago. Patience is the key in Sri
Lanka, as all the sages in the England set-up like to profess. Cook
couldn't quite see it through to the close, but he was the only man
who looked like heeding that advice.
Drop of the day
It hasn't been the easiest of series for Cook. His Kandy experience
lasted all of seven balls and though he had been hanging around for
rather longer than that today, the runs were refusing to flow. After
limping to 8 from 38 balls, he edged Dilhara Fernando into no-man's
land between first and second slip. Realistically it was Kumar
Sangakkara's catch, but Mahela Jayawardene at second dived straight
across his team-mate, and the moment was lost. As England learnt to
their cost at Kandy, such let-offs can be crucial.
Dismissal of the day
Like some mad scientist, Vaughan is always on the look-out for new and
inventive ways to get out - handling the ball, getting bowled off the
underside of his thigh pad, serving up miracle one-handed plucks to
outstretched fast bowlers and the list goes on. Today, with a century
there for the taking, he decided to test the adhesiveness of Jehan
Mubarak's thighs with a firm tuck off the hips. Mubarak at short leg
stood his ground, clenched his legs together, and rolled over
backwards to end the most fluent innings of the day
Controversy of the day
A monstrous moment, and potentially a match-turning one as well.
Kevin Pietersen drove with hard hands at his fifth delivery, and squirted a
sharp edge low to Chamara Silva's left at third slip. Silva reacted
brilliantly, scooped the ball off the turf, juggled it as he fell to
earth, by which time Sangakkara at first had swooped round to tidy the
rebound. Sri Lanka's reaction was ecstatic and the umpires were
convinced, but replays suggested the chance had gone to ground at the
first attempt. Pietersen somehow attracts these moments. Against India
at Lord's last summer he was reprieved as he reached the pavilion
gate, and once again he loitered with every intention of carrying on
his innings. This time it wasn't to be, and England's momentum was
well and truly quashed.
Fight of the day
Ricky Hatton v Floyd Mayweather. It may have been taking place on the
other side of the world, but the world title bout in Las Vegas was the
only topic of conversation on the morning of the Test. The ground was
echoingly empty for the first session of play as most of the Barmy
Army chose to watch the contest in the lounge at the Hilton. One
punter was even said to have asked Angus Fraser over breakfast: "Which
are you off to watch today, the cricket or the boxing?"
Idiot of the day
Midway through the 70th over, a streaker decided to liven up
proceedings by hopping over the fence and giving a quick twirl of the
outfield. So far, so very average. The amusing aspect came a couple of
minutes later. Reunited with his shorts, and with a T-shirt draped
over his shoulder, he strutted along the hill, taking the salute from
England's fans, and generally loving his moment. Unfortunately, his
cockiness left the ground authorities in no doubt whatsoever as to his
identity. And off he was led to the local slammer, busted by his own
bravado.
Andrew Miller is UK editor of Cricinfo
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