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Sport Homepage Colombo, 9-13 December 2007 Sri Lanka v England 2nd podcast | Blog 606 debate | Mobile scorecards England Latest scores Live text Scorecard Day 5 photos Results Fixtures Averages Second Test, Colombo: LATEST FROM: Squad England 351 & 250-3 drew with Sri Lanka 548-9d Test Match Special Blog Squad selector Classic Ashes England have drawn the second Test and kept the England need positive mind-set ------Mahela shines while Monty series alive after rain brought an early end to the struggles Daily E-mail final day against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Prior starting to relish Test cricket Mobiles

Fun and Games England had reached 250-3 at tea with Updated: 12 Dec, 12:58 GMT Question of Sport and having guided them into a 53-run lead. CHOOSE A SPORT Select But during the break rain started to fall and the umpires SEE ALSO called a halt to the Test. The series will be decided with 2nd Test day four as it happened the third Test in Galle. 12 Dec 07 | England RELATED BBC SITES Second Test day three as it NEWS happened Earlier scored 61, 62 and WEATHER 11 Dec 07 | England 54. Second Test day two as it Sport feeds | happened LATEST ACTION AS IT HAPPENS (ALL TIMES GMT) 10 Dec 07 | England Second Test day as it happened By Oliver Brett 09 Dec 07 | England England in Sri Lanka 2007 e-mail [email protected] 606: DEBATE 28 Sep 07 | Cricket (with 'For Oliver Brett' in the Have your say on the Second Test on 606 subject), text 81111 (start RELATED BBC LINKS: your message with the word Match scorecard "CRICKET") or use 606 BBC Asian Network Sport Not all contributions can be used BBC Sinhala Service Your say on 606 1010: So it's off to Galle next Tuesday for the final Test, which will be an emotional affair. The ground has been RELATED INTERNET LINKS: rebuilt following the devastation caused by the tsunami Sri Lanka Cricket of Boxing Day 2004. Nobody knows what the pitch will England and Wales Cricket Board do there. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites 1006: Match - draw Well I reckon if one team had, say, needed 10 runs or one to win there may have been a concerted effort to get some cricket again, but not in this scenario.

1002: The rain has more or less stopped, but there will be a major mopping up operation to be done, assuming there is the will to do so...

"Are all the girls reading blind? It's Alastair Cook all the way, tall, dark and handsome with an air of mysterious brooding about him. I'm quite weak at the knees, and

1 of 15 13/12/2007 12:56 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7140356.stm

that's not just from my run in this morning." Caro from London!

"Just arrived at work with a bit of a hangover, and I discover not that not only are we heading towards a (very boring but valuable) draw, but also that Sarah from Canterbury has described me as lovely. Headache suddenly disappearing..." Danny, Canterbury Danny - Sarah has just e-mailed me with her suspicions about me being a misogynist so no sexist jokes from you, matey

0957: TMS are off air altogether - that's bad news for Sri Lanka fans hoping for a miraculous seven in two overs should the rain ever stop...

"Zoe - I think you'll find the hot stuff in the England team is still at the crease: Paul 'the Ginger' Collingwood" Love from Helena in Norwich You girls sound like men describing female tennis players!

"I think BBC TMS should adopt as a strategic objective the introduction of new cricket words to the English language at a quicker rate than Shakespeare. We've had 'nurdle', 'jamspangle' and now 'bunt'. Can I suggest 'he's kerdrizzled that one', for the very specific shot of a slight inside edge onto the pad when lunging half forward, where the ball dribbles out onto the off side and spins slightly in a clockwise manner before being picked up by a fielder saying 'well bowled'." Paul in Lancs

0947: It's still raining amid some speculation the match might be called off before too long...

"I am developing a substantial crush on Ian Roland Bell. This may be a rebellious act on my part as my dad has declared him 'not good enough'. Am I normal?" Zoe from Leeds, TMS inbox Zoe love, if you call him Roland you'll struggle to snare the Bell-man. I believe his middle name is Ronald, as in the clown.

0930: DELAY We won't be starting the final session on time due to the inclement weather. Further updates as soon as we get them...

This will probably bore a lot of you senseless, but I understand a bouffant-haired bespectacled Venetian really is going to become England's association football manager.

Capello to become England manager

0920: RAIN: I told you that rain was coming. The final session should start at 0930 but there may be a slight delay.

I have had three e-mails about my use of the word

2 of 15 13/12/2007 12:56 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7140356.stm

"bunt" to describe a Pietersen shot. One of you was not familiar with the term, so I should say it is a baseball term to describe a "sacrificial" shot where you just block the ball, to allow someone else to advance bases. In this case, KP's bunt was a defensive tap, but hit into space, and just helped him rotate the strike.

0912: TEA - Eng 250-3 Silva bowls the last over before the interval, Colly negotiates without alarm - in fact he hits the last ball for four - and a huge storm appears to be threatening the Sinhalese Sports Club. A draw it will be then... England lead by 53.

0908: Eng 244-3 I am sorry this Test has lacked excitement in the main. Even on its 10th day this wicket might still be helping the batsmen... Can Fernando strike before tea? He really needs to if Sri Lanka can snatch victory here.

Oh lordy, apparently Sarawak is also in Malaysia... My geography is generally good but not in that region. Fulsome apologies all round.

0902: Eng 241-3 England have almost reached the sanctuary of tea, with a lead approaching 50, and Silva has switched to off-breaks from leggies. What a talented chap he is. Silva appeals for lbw against a sweeping Pietersen, but he was just outside the line.

Simon Hughes says Brian Luckhurst was the only cricketer he knew to use a Lillywhite's bat. Hughes adored Luckhurst so much he scribbled "Lillywhite's" on his own bat.

0859: Eng 239-3 Pietersen may have decided to cut loose, but I think Collingwood - after his horrid shot on the last day in Kandy - will be cautious to the finish. Fernando is on and Colly is playing him with utmost respect. Grey clouds are gathering...

"What do I have to do to get a plug for Romanian cricket? It's taken very seriously here and played even in winter on a tennis court under one of those inflatable covers - and the team that came earlier this year from UK was in some way connected to 'Blowers'. Three messages sent so far - but no success ! Mike, TMS inbox Mike makes it third time lucky, but only because I'm a charitable soul, and hey everyone - it's Christmas! I might add that Iain in NZ (0836) is getting short shrift from the regulars...

0853: Eng 237-3 Pietersen decides enough's enough and a Silva leg-break, pitching far too short, is smashed high over the midwicket boundary for six. A late-cut for four tests out a squalid-looking Malinga at third man (his clothes are more dirt than white) and goes to the boundary.

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England lead by 40...

0850: Eng 227-3 Pietersen moves way across his stumps, and just bunts Vaas into space on the leg-side - that's a very typical KP shot. If he wanted to he could probably hit that for four, but it's worth remaining a bit cautious for now.

"England have moved away from troubled waters and are now in more tranquil surroundings" Roshan Abeysinghe, on TMS commentary

0842: Eng 223-3 Collingwood steers Vaas wide of the two slips, but not as far as the gully, and all along the ground, for his first boundary from his 42nd ball faced.

Between the 0817 and 0823 entries I quoted Paul Vaughan in Indonesia. His e-mail signature shows up "Sarawak", but he says he's in Kuala Lumpur, so I guess he's doing some Pacific Rim business and, like everyone else these days, is on a Blackberry or something.... Anyway, thank you, you diligent people, for spotting the error...

0836: Eng 217-3 That runless period is ended by an emphatic square drive from Pietersen for four, off Vaas. There are 43 overs remaining, and England lead by 20. Tea is at 0910.

"Could you please stick to the subject of the cricket instead of allowing it to become a tacky internet chatroom. PS. I bet you don't show this message." Iain Appleyard, New Zealand What do I win?

0831: Eng 212-3 The demise of Bell has led to a long spell of virtually run-less, but fascinating cricet. Some rather lazy calling by Pietersen denies Collingwood a single off Murali. The batsman tries one of those cut shots I mentioned before, but again there's no run.

"I'm leaving work early to watch my youngest play the role of the back end of a cow - and its a speaking part!" Gary, Luton Thanks too for the mentions of other roles as "orange" and "Conservation Man" - a superhero - but that will have to be the limit now...

0826: Eng 212-3 England's lead is 15 as comes into the attack. I hope I am not tempting fate here, but I don't think Vaasy is very dangerous with the old ball these days. Very attacking field, all sorts of short men in on the off-side.

"Oliver, I have a 'coffee date' in 'complicated circumstances' lined up for when I return to British shores, I wonder if Sarah from Canterbury has any tips

4 of 15 13/12/2007 12:56 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7140356.stm

given the success of hers? Alison in Ghana Alison, given that as a schoolgirl Mary you got through "several" leading men, I would suggest a slightly quieter approach.

"Not THE Roger Jones, surely? I met you once at Lee Abbey in Devon about five summers ago. You won't remember me, but my wife was eight months pregnant. I can vouch for this chap's musicals, they are very popular, very singable and always tell a good story. Andrew Wilson

0823: Eng 212-3 England hanging on a bit. Pietersen is playing quietly, and is about to face his first ball since the Ian Bell . Murali is the bowler.

"I note Robert's comment about "The Brain Collectors of Glune." I also remember that play and M. Bagley was my teacher. I can still remember the tune to some of the songs. I'm in Kuala Lumpur now, so a long way from Potters Bar where that school was." Paul Vaughan, Indonesia

0817: Eng 211-3 Another error from Malinga, this time at backward point, gifts Collingwood three runs. Remember the runs are really important now, because if Sri Lanka do bowl England out they have to knock off the 100-or-so runs to win the match.

"In about 1982 when I was at primary school I played Yoda in a version of the Nativity crossed with Star Wars. It was devised by a fantastic teacher called Miss Toft. Instead of teaching Luke Skywalker the ways of the Force, Yoda enlightened him about the birth of Christ. I can distinctly remember having my face covered in green facepaint and wearing a set of false ears. I bet if you tried something like this today you'd have Lucasfilm lawyers hounding you. Luke Williams, south London

0815: Eng 208-3 It's all getting rather tense as Malinga causes Collingwood a few problems. England lead by 11, Aggers keeps mentioning the gloomy weather - but it's always hard to predict rain in Colombo - and it would be very nice if England could get through to tea (at 0910) without further loss.

0807: WICKET Bell c Vandort b Muralitharan 54 (Eng 204-3) Whenever England start looking secure a wicket falls. It's Bell playing a positive shot against Murali, who had just changed ends, and his drive is caught by a man lurking at a deepish mid-off - it's Vandort who takes a good catch diving to his right.

"I'm a composer, and my latest musical THE INN CROWD is being performed all over the world, ie. India, Hawaii,

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Wigan!, etc. It features the usual traditional characters, plus the Wise Men "Goldie", "Frank" and Merve", as well as Sheep called "Baarney", "Baarbara" & "Baart". Well, you asked! Come on England! Roger Jones

0759: Eng 202-2 And there is that 50-run stand and team 200, with one Bell shot, a pull off Silva placed between mid-on and square-leg for four easy runs. Murali not operating at the moment.

0758: Eng 198-2 Landmarks always come together in cricket... Bell reaches his 50, England go into the lead by a run and we're almost at the 50-run stand and team 200.

"Oliver, In my son's first nativity play he played the part of a ' Knife Grinder'. What on earth did knives have to do with the birth of Jesus, and why did they need grinding? This has puzzled me for the last 18 years." Steve, Mirfield

0756: Eng 196-2 Sri Lanka return to pace, and it suits Pietersen fine and dandy. Malinga wangs a full-toss down the leg-side, KP gets a little tickle on it and that's four easy runs, England now trailing by just one run.

"I was once in a play called the "Brain collectors of Glune". It was written by our English teacher Richard Bagley - smashing chap. It was a musical and a record was made of the songs. Didn't make it to the charts I am afraid. The hero was "Uncle Wilberforce" who invented things in his shed! Oh yes Come on England!" Robert in the TMS inbox Why do English teachers think they can write plays? That reminds me of a modern-dress play about the life of Solomon in which I was some bloke who tried to get Solomon drunk in a pub or something!

0748: Eng 189-2 Pietersen hits his first boundary, clipping Murali through midwicket, Malinga making a complete mess of the save at deep midwicket. Three singles off Murali follow and the run rate is picking up smartly again.

Apologies for briefly having England's score at 1676-2! (And the 15 e-mails that told me of the fact, though I did correct it before spotting your collective correspondence)

0743: Eng 178-2 Bell is rotating the strike well, chiefly with well-placed cut shots. Now he signals for a towel with a bizarre gesture that makes him look like a Jesuit priest crossing himself before starting the gospel... Divine intervention helps him pull Silva for four - nice shot - he's got to 43 already.

0736: Eng 167-2 Pietersen possesses one of the most ostentatious

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"leave-alones" in world cricket. He produces one here with his bat pointed skywards as he continues to bide his time. Incidentally, he has just signed a new contract at Hampshire.

Pietersen pens new Hampshire deal

I want e-mails about bizarre school theatrical productions. Tomorrow I am going to watch my three-year-old son play a shepherd in a Nativity play. But he insists the play is mainly about a camel called Humphrey! I am confused... It's a catholic school for heaven's sake, what's wrong with a standard story of Jesus being born in a manger?

0732: Eng 166-2 Murali vs Pietersen is one of the great individual battles in cricket today, and Pietersen is just surviving at the moment, and without total conviction. He won't block until tea, that much I know.

I said no more temperatures and locations, but have been seduced by offerings from someone "on their Blackberry floating on the Dead Sea off Jordan" and someone on a rather more chilly sea, the North Sea to be precise, on an oil rig. But that really is it!

0726: Eng 163-2 Sri Lanka are going to go with a twin spin attack for a fair while I think. They should have picked a couple in the first place, as should have England, of course. Bell drives Silva handsomely straight down the ground for four, but inevitably looks less assured against Murali.

I'm not publishing any more e-mails about temperatures and locations, but here's one half of you have been waiting with bated breath for and the rest of you will probably scratch your head wondering what on earth is going on:

"A very good morning to you, Ollie. I can report that the coffee date went better than expected given the complicated circumstances. You can, however, reassure the lovely Danny that I awake once again a single, independent, Ashes owning DVD lady." Sarah, Canterbury Sarah, you're a DVD lady who has won ! - I think you meant to say Ashes DVD-owning lady.

0718: Eng 156-2 Murali looks anxious to partake of some of this fun, like a party guest who keeps missing the canape tray. Pietersen is looking edgy, literally, a ball clipping bat and pad but luckily for England falling wide of silly point.

0715: Eng 153-2 Silva bowls really short to Pietersen, but the big right-hander misses out, thumping the , a no-ball, without timing to mid-on.

0712: WICKET - Cook c M Jayawardene b Silva 62

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(Eng 152-2) What a start to the session for Sri Lanka, and a horrible one for England. Cook never looks entirely in control of affairs when coming forward to the spinners, and the hunch to keep on the part-time leggie pays off a treat. The ball doesn't turn, takes the edge, and is caught at slip.

"It's a pleasant 21 degrees here in Wellington, New Zealand, sitting on my deck sipping a nice cold Bourbon and coke, listening to the commentary over the internet... I won't tell you how though, cause you are meant to be in the UK to listen, but there are ways and means! I don't fancy swapping places with the guy in Kazahkstan, although wouldn't mind him bringing over some more ice!" Keith Block, TMS inbox Not that I'm jealous or anything but come July I'll be knocking back a vodka and orange while relaxing in my garden in the London sunshine and imagining the scene in bleak, wind-swept Wellington - and it is the Windy City is it not?

"Is Tottenham Court Road exotic enough?" Phil at work on TCR, by text Not really, no. But what work is to be done on the "TCR" at 6.30am?

0630: LUNCH - Eng 152-1 In the space of six minutes three e-mailers from Sydney, Ankara and Dubai have said that my phrase "too easy for England" was dangerous, You are a fatalistic bunch! But as if to prove me right Belly skips down the track to Murali from the last ball before lunch and drives him sweetly over the top for four.

0625: Eng 147-1 I have noticed far more cut shots played against the spin by English batsmen on this series than we ever saw under , who worshipped the sweep and the forward press above all else. Cook gets three runs off Silva with one such cut shot - it's a better percentage shot than the sweep and usually reaps more runs.

"A balmy -5C here in Toronto, but it's -18 a little further north. I must say I love the international flavour of these e-mails. Incredible that cricket fans from Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada, etc... are all up at odd hours following the game... Chris Jagoe, TMS inbox Oh and there are many more amazing places that these e-mails come from - in the past half hour we've had Azerbaijan, Tanzania, Romania and Cambodia!

This is a good moment to thank all you TMS e-mailers (and I am genuinely sorry we can't use all your comments) for all your kind words about the quality of my commentary. I don't think it's that good, really, but it makes such a change from the sour, bile-laden invective that I receive whenever I go on "606"...

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0619: Eng 144-1 As I know you are desperate to know what Silva is bowling, here's my observation - generally leg-spin, with a lot of "straight-onners" (probably top-spinners). One of them is smartly driven by Cook for four, but one that turns beats the England opener's attempted on-side flick.

This is the first time since 1948 that both England openers have both scored half-centuries in both innings...

0617: Eng 138-1 After a maiden from Chamara Silva - bowling for the first time in Tests - Cook safely negotiates most of a Murali over, before tapping a no-ball for a single. Bell survives the last ball

"Just a quick update on the 'Owzat' website [for entering fantasy cricket teams] you referred text viewers to yesterday. I understand 1,000 people visited the site in the 20 minutes that followed, and that they've had to close down the site while they look at getting in more robust coding etc..." Paul in Lancs I should add that the site owner also e-mailed me to say he was not in any way aggrieved by the extra publicity - OB

0610: Eng 136-1 Bell gets a single off Murali by just dropping a ball a few yards square on the off-side. Too easy for England...

0606: Eng 134-1 Cook gets to his half- with a simple single off Vaas, and that completes a second fifty in the Test, a fine comeback after his horrible match in Kandy.

I have just been told that the kids by the boundary "throwing some shapes" during the rain break were break-dancing (or rainbreak-dancing?) rather than attempting to become the next Olga Korbut. Having to type that makes me feel as old as my dad and I'm only 35.

0602: Eng 131-1 Alastair Cook unleashes a hugely expansive cover-drive off Murali and misses, but Bell plays a lovely late cut for four.

"I've imbibed two litres of imitation Red Bull, and have retained control of both my eyesight and my bowels. 1,200 words to go. With your support I can get there Oliver!" Angelo, slightly delirious, in Hull - and presumably another student who likes to wait until the last second before submitting an essay

0557: Play will resume at 0600, it has been announced.

"They mentioned on TMS that Cook was born on

9 of 15 13/12/2007 12:56 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7140356.stm

Christmas Day... If he guides us to close of play, would it be too cheesy to say he really is the English cricket's Messiah.? Ethan in Paris That's your fourth e-mail already Ethan and yes that was horribly cheesy. Positively gorgonzolay...

I have just polished off a mini chocolate florentine left over from last night's "pre-party" prelude drinks for the main office Christmas party that the three of us - oh there's a fourth now - all avoided.

Some children helping the groundstaff have been indulging in some very good amateur gymnastics by the side of the ground. Lots of excellent backward flips, which I hope the selectors for the Sri Lankan gymnastics squad for Beijing have spotted.

0548: The covers are on for now, and will take a while to come off, even if there are some indications the rain isn't set in for the duration.

"I've been rather busy this morning and have only just logged on. Thought I'd better send an e-mail in as I notice you haven't had any from chilly (-23°C) Kazakhstan today." Regards, Fraser in Uralsk [Fraser - you read my mind, I was gagging for an e-mail from Kazakhstan after that duet yesterday. -23! Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Does that beat any of you Canadians or Alaskans?]

Time for a quick update on the state of play. England are 124-1, still trailing by 73. In theory, 75 overs remain but it's highly unlikely we will get them in even if they take an early lunch. And even if it was to stop raining now, we also have to consider bad light at the end of the day. (The days are also short in Sri Lanka, albeit not as short as in balmy Stornoway)

0537: RAIN STOPS PLAY - Eng 124-1 Umpire Dar was the keenest of everyone to get off the ground, while his colleague Harper was less certain. Any road, the players are in the pavilion now.

0535: - Eng 124-1 Rain is falling and the groundstaff are doing things. Gus Fraser says it's more like a sea-fret, Aggers says it's "not Sri Lankan rain at all".

"Stornoway is set to be the warmest place in Britain, and Sarah (Canterbury) isn't yet back from her coffee date. It's obviously going to be a day of surprises, so maybe England will save the Test after all. Alan, Edinburgh [I saw that stat about Stornoway on the forecast yesterday. It's about as frigid as a nun in Lent in London]

0530: - Eng 121-1 Murali is about to start his second spell with exactly an hour to go until lunch. Apparently Bell has got out to him

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three times in three innings so far, and he just gets his bat down to a nasty off-break homing in on the stumps.

"When was the last time England lost four wickets for 10 runs? That should counter-jinx it! Still 30C and sunny in Malaysia" Dave, TMS in box

"Why oh why did you say that England are going along well? We may all have been thinking it but now you have said it. Murali will take five and we will look like fools!" Simon in Peru

0519: - Eng 116-1 Bell leans into a compact cover-drive off Vaas which rifles past a fielder close in, and then between two more conventional cover fielders, for a very nice boundary. Vaas is then glanced for four more and the run rate is picking up again.

"When was the last time both openers made a century? Has to be a very real possibility on this pitch, which has about as much life as a nursing home Xmas party. Not wanting to jinx anything mind you. Andy, Brisbane [I'm afraid you did exactly that, Andy!]

0513: WICKET - Vaughan c&b Fernando 61 (Eng 107-1) Fernando keeps trying the slower ball and this time it works a treat, the England skipper blocking his drive straight back to the bowler and Sri Lanka's victory ambitions are renewed.

0510: - Eng 103-0 Vaas has relieved Murali and the light is getting quite dodgy. Umpire Harper correctly declines an lbw appeal against Cook, because 'Chef' got a slight inside edge - but that's a rare close call.

"I have got up this morning to write a particularly evil essay, although to be honest it's not going very well." Alex, Bordeaux, not writing his 'droit administratif' essay I think that means he's a law student in case you are wondering what 'droit administratif' is... I used to write all my History of Art A-level essays at about this time. It's hard to enthuse about Quattrocento painting at 5am! - OB]

0505: - Eng 101-0 Vaughan misses out on a Fernando long-hop. A right old freebie that one, but we'll forgive you. Wow, Cook and Vaughan have become the first England pair since Boycott and Edrich to produce two century stands in a single Test, and only the eighth pair in the grande histoire of Test cricket.

Blimey, CMJ on commentary has just attempted a Yorkshire accent which makes mine sound as authentic as Arthur Scargill's or Alan Bennett's.

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"I'm following this on my Blackberry by my Dad's hospital bed. They always say you shouldn't use phones in hospital but we both need updates and they won't let us put the radio on." Chris in Northumberland [You carry on with your blackberry viewing, though I prefer blackberries when my wife turns them into jam... And I hope your Dad gets better, Chris]

0457: - Eng 100-0 That's the second successive century partnership for this pair and England's attempt to save the Test is going along very nicely indeed I think...

0450: - Eng 98-0 Vaughan demonstrates that when you play with a straight bat and hit the ball in the middle of the bat you can get away with mis-reading a slower ball. Fernando looks aggrieved as Vaughan hits him high over mid-off for four more.

"I've just had to turn the radio off again because Marks and Aggers were starting to send me off within minutes despite the very promising start from England. When are you going to get promoted to the verbal side of things Oliver?" Alex, London, TMS inbox [The things people will do to get e-mails published, but seriously Vic M and Aggers are good commentators, Alex! Try listening to Willis and Gower for an hour]

0444: - Eng 92-0 Murali, who has not been changed yet this morning in contrast to the shenanigans at the other end, bowls at Cook who pushes another single between silly point and slip - safely along the ground.

"Congrats on being the true professional and not going to your Christmas party!" Ethan, Paris [That would kind of assume I actually wanted to go to it, Ethan - OB... It seems last night was a popular one for office dos and other Christmas-based frivolities]

0439: - Eng 88-0 An impatient Jayawardene calls for another bowling change, this time bringing on , a right old nuisance with the bat yesterday at no. 10. Vaughan hits his first ball for a single wide of mid-on for his second half-century of the match.

0431: - Eng 85-0 Muralitharan is getting quite a lot of turn, but with a pitch as slow as a snail on valium you can play him off the back foot - well Vaughan and Cook can at least, not sure you or I could...

"Those of you listening a little bit bleary-eyed will be pleased to hear England have got their eyes peeled this morning"

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Simon Hughes on TMS

0426: - Eng 80-0 Muralitharan completes his second over, a maiden, and here's an odd sight - the skipper Jayawardene bringing himself on to bowl a collection of off-breaks that only rarely see the light of day.

Manmeet in Louisiana (about time for a nightcap there?) is watching on satellite. So how come Thomas W in the slightly more technologically-adept California can't see the cricket?

0421: - Eng 80-0 With Vaughan playing as majestically as this, Cook's strokeplay - by default - casts him in the role of an Ugly Sister to his skipper's Cinderella. That said, here he rocks back to put Malinga away for successive fours through the covers - nice work, Chef.

"Well Oliver, I have got up this morning just to keep you company at this dark hour, and am hoping that I may finally get an email published, if being up at stupid o'clock doesn't do it then I don't know what will!" Matt, Lancaster[Matt - you're on the site! Now crack open the champagne and get through the rest of this tortuous two-and-a-half hour session with a Bucks Fizz!(Actually with Vaughan playing like this it might be easy viewing at times)]

There was an old-fashioned pea-souper of a winter's fog when my taxi picked me up from my abode in London N11 an hour or so ago... And for all you Californians out there, let me tell you that thick winter fogs are actually a fairly rare phenomenon in London... Even this one was localised as it dissipated once we passed under the East End road on the North Circular.

0412: - Eng 69-0 Vaughan leg-glances quite beautifully for four, then finds the wide open spaces through point, hitting a ball short of a good length with a straight bat for four more. on commentary says Tom Graveney used to play shots like that. Aggers is going on about the High Commissioner's dinner last night...

"I'm a Brit living in California and damn do I miss cricket. These damn Yanks have no idea what a beautiful game it is and they do not televise it. All i have to go on is your wonderful, descriptive, intellectual commentary (am I laying it on too thick here?)" Thomas W, TMS inbox [Not laying it on too thick at all! Us hacks love any compliments we get ;-)]

0408: - Eng 59-0 Murali bowls the second over of the day, from round the wicket to the left-handed Cook. The Essex man looks a bit uncertain but lives to fight another over.

13 of 15 13/12/2007 12:56 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7140356.stm

"Evening Oliver, It was also my work's night out. I sacrificed the meal in order to go to Ibrox and watch Rangers lose 3-0 to Lyon and crash out of the Champions League. What a poor decision. I hope England don't make it a hat-trick of slaps in the face. Probably party time for Murali." Mark, TMS inbox

0405: Eng 58-0 From the worst of Vaughan to the best of Vaughan... A perfectly-timed push through the leg-side gives him his second four of an eventful first over.

0404: Eng 54-0 Vaughan edges Malinga, safely, with a rather loose drive for four. Careful, Michael. There's more than enough time to play yourself in. Malinga follows up with an lbw appeal, and replays suggest that would have hit leg-stump. Umpire Aleem Dar reprieves the England skipper!

0357: The umpires are making their way out to the middle, and play will begin very shortly. It's all about Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan this morning. If they get anywhere near lunch still together then I think England will draw this match.

"Morning Oliver. Am I alone in thinking that the major question on every true cricket text watcher's lips today is not whether England can hang on for a draw, but how did Sarah from Canterbury get on with her coffee date yesterday? Guess a late 'signing on' from her might speak volumes>" Alan, Dubai, in TMS inbox [Never a truer word spoken Alan, and oh how I wish I was in Dubai right now. It was -3C last night - OB]

0348: Well, neither Anna nor James did the Xmas party, but there appear to be the sickly remnants of a pre-party drinks trolley in the office - including some particularly revolting salmon, having sweated itself into near-oblivion, was a rather unpleasant site. Trolley now banished to the far end of the room.

0330: It was the office Christmas party last night, but I opted against what would have turned into a dangerous all-nighter. I wonder if my other early-bird colleagues did likewise. Will let you know when they rock up in a minute or two.

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14 of 15 13/12/2007 12:56 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7140356.stm

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15 of 15 13/12/2007 12:56