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Sport Homepage , 9-13 December 2007 Sri Lanka v England 2nd podcast | Blog 606 debate | Mobile scorecards England Latest scores Live text Scorecard Photos Results Fixtures Averages Second Test, Colombo (day four, stumps): LATEST FROM: Squad England 351 & 48-0; Sri Lanka 548-9d Test Match Special Blog Squad selector Classic Ashes England were facing a fight to save the second Test Mahela shines while Monty struggles ------after bad light stopped play on day four with Prior starting to relish Test cricket Daily E-mail England 48-0, but still 149 runs behind Sri Lanka. England must banish conspiracy Mobiles theories Fun and Games was 28 and Question of Sport unbeaten on 19 when play was halted 35 minutes early. Updated: 11 Dec, 14:13 GMT CHOOSE A SPORT Sri Lanka declared just after tea on 548-9, ------ hitting 195 and namesake Prasanna SEE ALSO 79. Second Test day three as it RELATED BBC SITES Sri Lanka's ninth pair of Prasanna Jayawardene happened NEWS 11 Dec 07 | England and combined to put on 98. WEATHER Second Test day two as it happened Sport feeds | 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 tms@.co.uk (with 'For Oliver Brett' in the 28 Sep 07 | Cricket subject), text 81111 (start your message with the word

"CRICKET") or use 606 RELATED BBC LINKS: Please note not all contributions can be used Match scorecard BBC Asian Network Sport And that, ladies and 606: DEBATE BBC Sinhala Service gentlemen, is STUMPS. We Have your say on the Second Test Your say on 606 will attempt to re-arrange on 606 taxis and so on to crank up RELATED INTERNET LINKS: the commentary at 0330 GMT or soon afterwards tomorrow. TMS on the air from 0355. England and Wales Cricket Board The BBC is not responsible for the 1110: It looks like it's all , because it's raining, but content of external internet sites no official announcement, although is already being interviewed by TV.

A predictable torrent of e-mails about roundabouts - what a bizarre nation we are, and I do mean nation because none of those e-mails come from Stockholm, Kazakhstan or Toronto.

The one in Swindon is apparently known as The Magic Roundabout, there's a "picturesque" one in Colchester - a roundabout picturesque! - and some frightening concoction "a five-way circulatory system (with four mini-roundabouts feeding it)" which forms the gateway

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of Canvey Island. That's quite enough.

1100: Looks like an official close of play is imminent, with the news that play can start at 0400 GMT tomorrow, at a faintly ridiculous local time of 0830.

BAD LIGHT STOPS PLAY

1055: Eng 48-0 The groundstaff are making some preparations. Jayawardene was going to do some gentle of his own, but the umpires offer the light and the players come off.

1052: Eng 47-0 England are exactly 150 behind as Murali starts his second over, and bad light is suddenly a major threat.

"Have you ever been on that roundabout in Hemel Hempstead?" asks Gus Fraser in conversation with Aggers.

Angus makes it sound as frightening as facing Sylvester Clarke - but really it isn't. It's nothing compared to most roundabouts in London... Tulse Hill is a horror story for instance - OB

1048: Eng 45-0 Murali is finally into the attack, and completes a harmless enough first over. Cook hits a fine cover drive but an excellent stop in the covers stops a certain four.

"I was rather unkind on my driver , he went against the traffic on a roundabout - legitimately so - but it was terrifying" Aggers on TMS

"1023, Nick in Stockholm... Wow, somebody else in Stockholm following the live text! I don't think there are too many of us around. Perhaps we should start a "Live Text Stockholm Appreciation Club". Are you interested Nick? Rachel in Stockholm (TMS inbox)

I don't think it's weird at all - there were two e-mails from Kazakhstan before 0530 this morning! - OB

1040: Eng 43-0 So much for that experiment. The first ball is short, and cut for four. The second, a full toss, also goes for a boundary. Cheers, Jehan, says Cooky.

1037: Eng 35-0 Fantastic, it's time for spin. The only weird thing is that it's rather than a certain other spinner I can think of.

1027: Eng 30-0 Fernando's first over contains about as much threat as an unfilled water-pistol. It can't be too long before Murali, surely.

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"I was just in the car listening to local Sri Lankan radio and laughing at the commentator stumble over phrases like "ground England's hopes into the ground". I came back to my desk to get your update and find that they have read out your whole opening paragraphs on the radio. Talk about creative journalism... your written words are being aired on the radio! What power... John, "working" in Colombo (TMS inbox)

1023: Eng 28-0 Oh that's a wonderful off-drive from Vaughan off Vaas for four. That would look nice on the MCC coaching manual, or DVD, or podcast or however they promote their stuff these days...

Now Vaughan puts Vaas away wide of mid-on for four more, meeting the ball at the top of its bounce. He's raced to 20 off 20 balls.

"Re: Sonning Common; there used to be a fantastic pub there. Many beer-fuelled afternoons spent at the fireside with the landlord, an old Vulcan bomber pilot, bashing out show tunes on the piano. Changed hands now though. Come on England! One last push!" Nick in Stockholm (TMS inbox)

I remember some enjoyable pints in the same place following match playing for Turville Park at Grey Greens on a minefield of a wicket (then the rain saved us) - OB

1012: Eng 17-0 Three overs completed now, and the rate has been aided by some attacking fields. How long will it be before Murali is into the attack with his usual puppy-like enthusiasm?

Jack Byrne from Stockport is not a popular man. Many of you are launching a staunch defence of , and I concur. His coaching has been a revelation already in one-day cricket.

1012: Eng 11-0 Not very much movement for Vaas and Malinga despite the humidity and cloud cover overhead.

1007: Eng 8-0 Quite a breeze fluttering the flags over the scoreboard and the light's getting a bit dodgy. Some talk of an early finish on the cards, as Vaughan leg-glances Malinga's first ball for four. He's got a silly mid-on in, by the way.

Final e-mail about Rupert House (from Matt Nebbett in Basingstoke) - "I can confirm that Rupert House School is still in existence as anyone who has ever tried to drive past the damn place when all the Chelsea tractors are dropping off their little darlings will confirm"

Driving through Henley on your way to Basingstoke isn't much fun. Personally, I would take the Nettlebed via Sonning Common route - OB

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1000: Eng 1-0 Vaas removed Cook in his first over in both in . Surely it can't happen again. In any case Cook gets off the mark with a quick single to Muralitharan at mid-off.

Thank you for the two e-mails confirming Rupert House School in Henley is still alive and kicking. I had a very good female cricket coach there in the late 1970s, but sadly her name escapes me. It might come back...

"Hmm... just clicked on that fantasy cricket teams link, to be greeted with "User salixcc has already more than 'max_user_connections' active connections". Looks like you have some serious power over us text-followers. If you can disable Salix's website with one fell swoop, imagine what might happen if you went into evil tyrant mode!" Eoin, in the TMS inbox

On a slightly serious note, can I ask you to lay off the link for a bit, because their server might charge them loads of money for all the extra hits or something...

WICKET & DECLARATION: Sri Lanka 548-9 Jayawardene's dreams of a Test century are destroyed - for now - as he edges a cut shot off Harmison behind. The skipper immediately ends the innings - in its 187th over no less. The lead is 197.

"The English side is all set for another defeat by the talented Lankans. It seems they have planned their defeat in a very professional manner. Silly chokers and losers..." lightProudindian on 606

"Has anyone noticed the striking similarity between Aggers and Rodney Robot from the Dreamworks' Robots film?" Viv, Belfast - TMS inbox

0944: Sri 545-8 Sri Lanka are grinding ahead with this ninth-wicket stand that just goes on and on... Harmison is slashed through point for four more by Jayawardene...

"It's like rai-ain, on the last day's play It's a lucky dra-aaw, when you've been outplayed It's the stumping chance that you just didn't take Who would want Mont-y's figures?" E-mail of the day from Louis, Henley (See various Alanis Morissette e-mails from earlier)

My hometown is, or was, Henley - OB. Is Rupert House School still in existence?

0934: Sri 535-8 Fernando edges slightly wide of Prior at a very inviting height, but the Sussex gloveman elects not to make the

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slight movement to his right to claim the catch. Poor old Sidebottom. It's four runs and Vaughan is not amused.

Right, I am putting an end to any more XIs of philosophers, engineers, Victorian authors, BBQ XIs(!?) They are all very good but time to draw a close. And someone has just sent me this link which allows you to play two fantasy teams together.

Play Owzthat - Salix CC

0931: Sri 531-8 No declaration yet - this is agony - Sidebottom to Fernando.

While the 24-hour convenience outlet otherwise known as the TMS inbox has been doing sterling service today - I wish I could put up all your e-mails - a reminder that the more selective boutique otherwise known as 606 has opened its gates for business today.

"It is so boring, England have lost it. I don't want to be the first one to call for Peter Moores's head, but since he has taken over we beat a poor West Indies side 2-0 at home, then we got beat on our home turf by . We are now getting embarrassed by Sri Lanka." Jack Byrne, Stockport, TMS inbox

"Since England are now in an unfortunate position of possibly losing this match and the series, perhaps you whimps should consider being more critical of the woeful umpiring decisions that may have cost England. Have some backbone you big girls' blouses." Rory, TMS inbox

TEA

0910: Sri 531-8 Broad looks like he needs to have a week on a sunlounger in Tenerife, actually scratch that, he doesn't need any more sun. He bowls the last over before tea, by the way, with Jayawardene 70 not out (dropped twice before he had made six) and Fernando 28 not out. Massive , crushing any hope England had of getting back into this Test. Draw the only hope now.

"What Richard has failed to spot regarding his tea/spoon post, is that there is a certain irony in the fact the song Ironic contains no irony whatsoever. Whether the whining Canadian Iggy Pop lookalike actually meant this or not is open to debate, but I can't be bothered debating it." Steve Whittle, London, TMS inbox

"Sorry Danny, but you have to be quicker off the mark. The "coffee" is brewing in my bedroom, alongside the TV and DVD of triumph of 2005. I know how to impress a woman!" Pete, Canterbury (see earlier e-mails about people living in Canterbury and coffee dates)

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Thanks to Frank from Bratislava - do you guys really live in these places? - I have given Monty his second wicket after rudely robbing him of one - forgot that lbw...

0902: Sri 525-8 Good gracious, are Sri Lanka still I hear you cry. Yes they are, through 181 overs of what has - at times - been unmitigated tedium.

"The Engineers XI would of course be able to call on and Nari Contractor. is of course known as Iron Bottom throughout the Indian continent, so should be in." Paul, in the TMS inbox

Ah, Farokh, a great friend of the BBC Sport website. He would make an excellent skipper - OB. Somebody else wanted Archimedes in there for his famous 'screwball' but I though that was a cocktail?

0856: Sri 520-8 turns his arm over for the first time today, but this wicket is not conducive for medium-pacers like him. (Though I do recall the slightly faster doing a grand job here.

Gosh that was quick. In comes the Engineers XI to take on the Philosophers: I K Brunel, George Stephenson, James Watt, Christopher Cockerel, R A Mitchell, Frank Whittle, Charles Parsons (Steam Turbine designer), Werner Von Braun (appolo Rocket designer), Sergei Korolyev Soviet Rocket designer), Nigel Gressley (Flying Scotsman designer), William Shockley (Inventor of transistor). Thanks to Keith Mitchell for that.

0852: Sri 518-8 Oh where oh where can Monty's third wicket come from? It's not for want of trying but he's nearly bowled 50 overs now and only has a couple to his name.

The Barmy Army, whose trumpeter is now playing Jerusalem, have disowned the streaker incident from day one, in case you were remotely bothered.

"Did Richard acknowledge his astonishing plagiarism in his last missive, re: ironic and town planners. I saw that line from the 100 best stand ups (Ed Byrne I think) sometime last week and that was already a repeat! Alistair, Preston, TMS inbox

"Sarah from Canterbury has a date?! I spend years reading her endless comments in awe, finally pluck up the courage to move to Canterbury, and she has a date?! I left and the chance to see Saj [Mahmood] bowl every week for this! Danny, dejected, Canterbury, TMS inbox

0846: Sri 514-8 Jayawardene goes to 60 after following a mighty blow for four off Panesar with a single from the last ball of the

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over.

0841: Sri 509-8 Runs coming thick and fast now, but Pietersen misses out on a wicket, Prior guilty of a missed stumping that would have ended Fernando's innings.

We had some bizarre chat about animal fight-clubs as a spin-off to celebrity cricket fight-clubs earlier, and Hasith has just e-mailed me a stomach-churning photo of a... Actually I'm not even going to SAY what it is.

0835: Sri 501-8 It's the fifty partnership, the 150-run lead and the team 500 all at once as Fernando slams Pietersen down the ground for four.

Paul in Lancs e-mails in this remarkable Philosophers XI of "stable but influential opening thinkers, hefty middle-order theoretical hitters, a couple of tricky mind-bending spinners, and a couple of destructive in-your-face nihilist/post-modern quicks.

Team: Descartes, Leibniz, Kant, Hannah Arendt, Karl Marx (c),Rabindranath Tagore, Lao Tsu, Jurgen Habermas (w),Chantal Mouffe, Spinoza, Michel Foucault, Nietszche.

He wants to take on a team of "world-renowned engineers" for some reason.

0830: Sri 496-8 Panesar appeals for lbw, more in hope than expectation. It's Pietersen from the other end, who I think might pinch a wicket here.

"Hi Ollie! Not sure which I was more nervous about this morning - opening my laptop for the England score or the coffee date I have later. The first went better than I expected. Does this raise or lower the odds for a successful afternoon?" Sarah from Canterbury, TMS inbox (I believe she has some sort of legendary status on these commentaries)

Good luck with the "coffee date" - Not one of those "Do you want to come upstairs for a coffee?" coffee dates, I do hope - OB

0825: Sri 493-8 Jayawardene gets to his half-century from 109 balls, and as I will remind you again he was dropped twice very early on in his innings this morning.

"Regarding your being unable to find a spoon at 0710, Alanis seems to be confused between the words 'ironic' and 'unfortunate'. "A traffic jam when you're already late" is simply unfortunate, whereas "a traffic jam when you're on your way to a meeting of city planners to tell them how you solved their traffic congestion problem" is ironic..."

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Richard in the TMS inbox, who doesn't say whether he is in said traffic jam, but I suspect he might be

0820: Sri 490-8 Jayawardene pulls Harmison for four and moves to 49, lead grows inexorably to 139. Sri Lanka back in a very good position thanks to this partnership.

"I will wave to your sister next time I go through there (Great Barrington). I live in Chedworth. Perhaps she will be in contact if she needs any stone walling done?" Andy (TMS inbox) still waiting to go out walling in the cold (in the Cotswolds)

0815: Sri 486-8 A short drinks break is just coming to an end, England desperate to end this innings now. It seems to have gone on for weeks. Michael Vaughan, who sometimes looks like Dan Aykroyd in his Ghostbusters days, has a long discussion with Harmison about something or other.

What's your favourite pudding (see below)? I think the celebrity cricket fightclub stuff, entertaining though it was, may have run its course.

"I finally had that pudding Sri Lanka is famous for yesterday, watalappan, a sort of cream caramel thing with palm syrup and egg" [And according to , spiced coconut] Simon Hughes on TMS

0809: Sri 485-8 A superb from Harmison takes the top of Fernando's pad and disappears for four leg-byes. A good batsman might have edged that for a catch.

0807: Sri 481-8 After an OK sort of over from Sidebottom, Jayawardene gets a really good short ball from Harmison, which hits the sticker of his bat but drops safely. The next ball is pulled really well, this time over the man at deep square leg, for four. Stand worth 31 now. Harmy's pace is well down now...

An immaculate-looking - white shirt, silver tie - is doing some TV commentary. I wonder if his recent retirement has afforded him some time to hit Colombo's gentleman's outfitters.

0800: Sri 475-8 Simon Hughes, commentating on TMS, is disappointed with Harmison's form with the new ball. It's a shame, he was bowling really well with the old ball this morning. Hughes says Harmy occasionally "lacks a little bit of nastiness". The stand is worth 26 now, featuring a whole lot of mis-hit pull shots just falling safe.

" 'We had a slug in our house in the autumn, and it's spotlessly clean.' Is that the slug or the kitchen?" Ian Lowe, TMS inbox

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Ian - it was in the living-room, having slid under the front door, I think - OB. I did once have a major mice infestation in a flat I rented in Grimsby, but that was a long time ago

0755: Sri 474-8 Jayawardene now plays a very good shot, flicking Sidebottom up and shortish midwicket for four, then he grabs a single off the last ball of the over.

0752: Sri 469-8 Jayawardene's charmed life continues. An impotent little pull off Sidebottom just fails to reach mid-on and he almost gives Prior a catch next ball.

"In Celebrity Animal Deathmatch, forget the fox and the Badger. I once saw a fight between a rat and a hedgehog. It was a close run thing, but the hegdehog finally won on points." Andy about to go and listen to TMS while dry stone walling in the frosty Cotswolds

If you're anywhere near the village of Barrington, wave hello to my sister, Andy! - OB

"Boony vs Gatt under traditional Sumo rules would be a fascinating contest to witness" Rob in , Western Australia - see previous "celebrity cricket fightclub" suggestions

Did you get yourself down to the at the Waca last night, Rob? What a frightening performance that was from the Aussies, with five specialist fast bowlers - OB

0744: Sri 468-8 Sidebottom, hunting a fourth wicket, is bowling a nice line and getting some movement into the right-handers, but the one that goes straight on is edged down to third man for four by Fernando.

0741: Sri 463-8 After one delivery with the old ball, Harmison, back into the attack, takes the new cherry. There will be a quick flurry of runs or a quick end to this innings, methinks. Harmison implores umpire Harper for an lbw decision against Jayawardene, but it's rightly rejected, and Fernando slices the last ball a couple of metres over point.

0738: Sri 462-8 Jayawardene, who was dropped twice before lunch, slog sweeps Panesar for four. It's a bid odd that Harmison and Sidebottom aren't operating, it really is.

0735: Sri 457-8 Broad looks fairly exhausted as he completes his 35th over of the innings. Sri Lanka lead by 106 and the draw looks a distinct favourite right now, I would say.

"Is Mark Burn (0531) the same person who worked for the Simon Community (a charity for the homeless in

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London during the 1980s) and once trod on a slug in bare feet in my kitchen in Stoke Newington (I hasten to say that I don't think the slug was a permanent in-mate of the kitchen, just visiting from the garden until meeting its untimely end). Robert Portal in the TMS inbox

We had a slug in our house in the autumn, and it's spotlessly clean. Just a sign of wet weather I think (hope) - OB

0730: Sri 456-8 Panesar has a shout for lbw against Fernando. Aleem Dar says there's too much doubt, and turns his direction away semi-scornfully, as though declining the attentions of a salesman in a clothes shop.

"Cricket Fight Club? Colly strikes me as a gritty knee-in-the-solarplexus type who you'd want to have backing you up in a dark alley, a sort of more articulate Barry McGuigan. But surely Harmison going at it windmill-like would hard to land a punch on? Alex Coe, just leaving work for a beer, Brisbane, in the TMS inbox

0727: Sri 453-8 Aggers reckons the Barmy Army have been quieter on this tour than on any other he can remember. He also says Broad is being kept on to give him the confidence-booster of a cheap wicket or too, even though Harmison and Sidebottom are more likely to take .

"You'll have to do better than that tonight, the British High Commissioner is expecting you for dinner. You look like the man from Del Monte in your suit." Aggers to on TMS

0718: WICKET Malinga lbw Panesar 9 (Sri 450-8) That pitched on line, turned a fair bit, and would have probably hit middle and off. Malinga's lunge looks pretty aimless. "If he didn't hit it he was lbw, if he did he was caught" says Vic Marks on commentary. I am going with the lbw for now.

"For the fight club, how about the porky convict (Aussie) vs the double-jointed possessed-looking Murali to settle it once and for all!" Anon, by text

0716: Sri 449-7 No Harmison as Broad continues, and his first ball, a loosener of a full toss wide of off-stump is easily put away for four by Malinga. I think I could have hit that for a boundary.

0710: Sri 440-7 Panesar bowls the first over after lunch, and Jayawardene's single puts Malinga on strike.

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My colleague Anna has just kindly cropped a picture of for me for the index photo. His hair makes him look like the Rocky character Ivan Drago.

I feel an Alanis Morissette song coming on, as I have been scouring the office for a spoon, only to find everything but.

There have also been complaints that the canteen at Television Centre is not running its full breakfast menu yet. I had a mince pie to accompany my coffee. Play resumes at 0710, by the way.

"Hello from Sydney. Work's nearly done for the day at last. Fight club: Ranatunga vs Gatting, vs Matty Hayden, Chris Cairns vs Beefy Botham, Freddie vs Symonds (good shout), Tremlett vs , Wasim vs Shoaib. Just a few suggestions - I reckon Roy would beat Fred though and then beat Cairns in the final - Big lad." David Nicholls in the TMS inbox

"RE: The fox and the badger. In Celebrity Animal Deathmatch, a badger would always prevail over the fox, no matter how cunning a creature folklore would have us believe. RE: The cricket. An air of inevitability the way KP was getting more turn than a Black & Decker Powerdrill, England to claw for a draw." Scott in Singapore (TMS inbox)

So with that optimistic bulletin about Hoggy's fitness, I'll leave you to get out of bed, go to lunch, make some dinner (depending on time zones). I'm off for some rocket-fuel strength coffee, but keep those e-mails coming in...

"I saw bowling in the nets earlier today, more or less at full pace, and showing no ill effects." Simon Hughes, on TMS commentary

LUNCH

0629: Sri 439-7 Broad purses his lips into a little O after a pinpoint yorker almost defeats Jayawardene. The next ball is hooked, but it doesn't quite carry to Ravi Bopara.

0625: Sri 438-7 Panesar is definitely bowling without that desperate look he wore yesterday. He had the body language of a teenager hunting for a date for the high school prom with minutes to spare before the big night.

But now he is licking his lips expectantly after snaring Mahela. Maybe there's a second wicket in the offing for him.

0621: Sri 437-7 What could be an irritating partnership between Malinga

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and Jayawardene is gifted four runs by a silly four overthrows, after Harmison pointlessly flings the ball at the stumps, and the deflection sails to the boundary.

"Greetings from a chilly Sakhalin Island. Pound for pound, I'd say Devon Malcolm would be the best scrapper in the cricket world. Merv Hughes would get a vote too if it weren't for the Blue Oyster Club moustache." Andy W in the TMS inbox

I am informed by my colleague James Standley that Sakhalin Island is disputed territory between Japan and Russia. Interesting [OB]

0614: Sri 432-7 Phil Mustard is on as a substitute, and he has to chase a lofted Jayawardene drive off Broad. I am no longer calling him Prasanna J, as the other Jayawardene is out - hope you can follow.

"In the fight club championship I'd like to see KP versus Michael Clarke of Australia. It'd be a really girly fight with them both shouting "Not the hair, not the hair" Euan, suffering England fan in Melbourne, in the TMS inbox

0609: Sri 428-7 DROPPED! Prasanna J gets another life, this time Bell shelling a diving chance at mid-off off Panesar. The other batsman is Malinga, wearing his retro-modern pads without the vertical ribs we are all so used to.

0604: WICKET Vaas c Bell b Broad 4 (Sri 425-7) And young Stuart Broad strikes for the first time in Tests. He has found ODIs easier than Test cricket so far, but that was a pretty well-directed bouncer, which Vaasy was too late on. His attempted pull caught the gloves and took an easy catch in the slips.

"re Charles R in Toronto (see 0424), If I had known we didn't get TMS commentary here in Canada, I wouldn't have married my Canadian wife and moved here! (she's in bed at this late hour and hopefullly will never read this)" Chris Jagoe, TMS inbox

So she doesn't sneak a laptop under the duvet? Crossed fingers time, Chris [OB]

0600: Sri 424-6 Vaas hits a clumping drive through the covers off Panesar, Pietersen gives chase and saves the boundary.

0557: Sri 420-6 As well as the wicket, England have put a on the , as Broad sends down an accurate maiden to Prasanna J, following Monty's wicket maiden. Vaas is the new batter by the way.

"Although Mark Byrne (0531) suggests that a fox would

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be the quintessential English woodland creature, I would argue against this. Foxes more commonly live in urban settings today and are found on every continent bar Antarctica. Far more British would be the badger, which is our very own version of the bear and known to be nothing but grumpy." Rick T, in the TMS inbox

I am sure , cricket's very own "Badger" would be delighted, Rick [OB]

"Greetings from Sydney. When the cricket is slow, I often wonder in that schoolkid kind of way, who the toughest (in a fight) current English cricketer is? Then take that to another level, and if there was a fight-club/karate kid championship arrangement between all the national sides, with each pitting their top gun against each other, who would win the title? I'd fancy a Freddie versus final, but appreciate that might change depending on fight rules etc" Greg, in the TMS inbox

Blimey, Greg - I thought cricket fans were such gentle souls [OB]

0549: WICKET M Jayawardene c Collingwood b Panesar 195 (Sri 420-6) Well done Monty. He really turned that, and Mahela wasn't expecting it. His lofted drive against the spin goes sykward, Collingwood settles under it and it's an easy catch for him stepping backwards two paces at . Nice timing with that e-mail, Dom

"Morning Ollie, from a beautiful, white cloud-dotted Dubai. How much of a lead do you think they need before it's all over? 150? 200? Step forward Monty, it's time you did a Murali." Dom, in the TMS inbox

0548: Sri 420-5 DROPPED! Prasanna J is missed by Bopara at short midwicket, diving to his right. An edge travels towards another Essex man close in, Cook at second slip, but it bounces first.

CMJ is doing some commentary, and says there is talk of "some showers" tomorrow, which will help England draw the match or deny a double century, depening on your level of optimisim. Your e-mails are coming in in batches, by the way, Nothing for half an hour then about 30 at once.

0542: Sri 418-5 No Vaughan, but Monty is into the attack, and Mahela J plays a slightly dragged, lofted on-drive, but he's totally secure in the shot and the ball disappears for four. The remaining four balls are defended, and there is very little turn.

"Why has Vaughan not had a bowl yet? He usually can make something happen."

13 of 17 12/12/2007 11:20 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7138486.stm

Matt, by text

DRINKS are brought out by Phil Mustard and James Anderson

0534: Sri 414-5 Mahela J is homing in on another Test double century as Broad's first ball is effortlessly caressed wide of mid-on for four, a tired Harmison chasing it all the way to the ropes. A couple of singles take the skipper to 190 and Sri Lanka lead by 63. Not much of an opening over from Broad, I'm afraid.

0531: Sri 407-5 Sidebottom ends an accurate maiden with a big shout for lbw against Prasanna J. It pitched about a yard outside leg-stump. And here's Stuart Broad, can he get his first Test wicket now?

"The beast that proverbially poohs in the wood is actually the bear not the pig. Probably why they called Winnie "the pooh" (Not denying the fact that pigs do it too, just being traditional in my proverbs) Dave Linsell, TMS inbox

0525: Sri 407-5 Harmison completes another testing over and Sidebottom starts a new one. No bowling changes yet from England.

"Surely that quote (0450) should be accredited to 'bear' not 'pig', or if in England 'fox', or here in Denmark 'drunken man on a moped'?" Mark Byrne, in the TMS inbox

Well Mark, a colleague of mine suggested 'bear' as well, but surely pigs (wild ones at least) would do the same.

0521 - Sri Lanka 404-5 I have been admonished by one Stephen David for not providing regular score updates, so here is one.

Oh no, I was dreading this. There are two Jayawardenes out there. The new on is Prasanna, the wicket-keeper.

Hasith, thanks for spotting my error in the 0447 entry. I have corrected it now.

What's this? A second e-mail from Kazakhstan! That is even more extraordinary than England taking a wicket...

"Living in a place like Kazakhstan (as I have been for 12 years) you miss quintessentially English things like Shakin¿ Stevens at Christmas, cheese & onion crisps, grey overcast skies, and the England cricket team up against it on tour. However, as it's Christmas, this time I think we'll salvage the draw (KP double ton) and win the 3rd Test." Andrew Devine, Almaty, Kazakhstan

0510 - WICKET Mubarak c Bell b Harmison 9 (Sri Lanka 399-5) My goodness, a wicket. Harmison bowling

14 of 17 12/12/2007 11:20 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7138486.stm

a proper, old-fashioned throat ball which the left-handed Mubarak fends off to Bell at gully.

"Good evening from Auckland, 22 degrees and blue skies! Looking forward to the tour here, just to see which team is the worst! Unless stops the use of "imports" totally we will end up just like , loads of enthusiasm but no realistic hope! How many "imports" do the Aussies or S Africa allow in their home leagues? Almost none, yet we're awash with "imports" and it shows at Test level. Come on England!!!" Lez and Lou Morgan, Auckland N.Z

...Oh to be in Auckland, now that December's here. I didn't quite dare to do that bungee jump thing off the side of a building they have there. Beautiful city, though.

"TMS cricket - my corner of Almaty (Kazakhstan) that will be forever England. Currently staring out the window at snow-covered mountains wondering how we could add some teeth to the bowling attack. Would dearly love a rampaging Harmy, Freddie and Jonesy back in concert - but wondered who else there is in the cupboard who can bowl like men possessed with these three not around (either literally or mentally). Not a lot of names spring to mind." Adam, and yes his e-mail is genuinely from Kazakhstan

0501: Harmison is trying some short stuff at Jayawardene. One delivery causes the batsman's heart rate to move possibly one beat per minute faster, but generally there would be more life in Highgate Cemetery than on this wicket.

A right old ding-dong on TMS between two old Middlesex team-mates Simon Hughes and . Gus is accused of being boring for having a steak in his own hotel last night. Hughes had an Indian meal ("slightly bizarre in Sri Lanka, I suppose") and is also moaning about Sri Lankan wickets not being suitable for Test cricket. It is a tad "trying" at times watching this stuff.

One man in form is . He's on 85 in the Bangalore Test, having scored a double-hundred in the first innings. "I enjoy batting in Bangalore - Ganguly"

0450: These Sri Lankan papers... TV camera homes in on a headline saying "I enjoy batting at SSC - Jayawardene". You don't say. "I do number twos in the woods - pig"

0447: Sidebottom and Prior have a half-hearted appeal for lbw against Mubarak, actually make that quarter-hearted. Jayawardene has now scored 2,042 runs at this ground in Tests - jeepers creepers. Mubarak on-drives Harmison for four. Early wickets not forthcoming.

0443: Jayawardene plays a sublime on-drive for four off

15 of 17 12/12/2007 11:20 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7138486.stm

Harmison, then Monty attempts a run-out with a massive wind-up and throw from four yards. He misses, but the batsman was in by miles anyway and miraculously there are no over-throws.

0442: Harmison is looking rather sweaty already, though it could be combination of perspiration and hair gel. Prior thinks about appealing for a catch down the leg-side, and rapidly thinks better of it.

Aggers is talking about a newspaper called The Bottom Line, which costs 20 rupees. Gus Fraser is reading an article from it that is calling for Sanath Jayasuriya to retire. Er, he already has done. "Curious," says Aggers.

0437: Sidebottom bowls a peach at Jayawardene with his first delivery, the seventh of the day. It seams away after pitching, beats the outside edge, and Sidebottom laughs. Jayawardene smiles sweetly.

One of the problems about starting at this time is that you go to bed stupidly early. I didn't even stay up to watch my beloved Liverpool thrash Marseille last night - and had to get the info from my Arsenal-supporting taxi driver, who was less than thrilled to supply the full details. I suspect he was lying when he said he couldn't remember who had scored any of the goals.

0432: The left-handed Mubarak check-drives Harmison, a bit stiffly, wide of mid-off and Panesar declines the dive. He has to charge all the way back to the boundary.

0431: We are starting late, why I don't know. The players are all out there already but by my watch they're at least 90 seconds late. Outrageous. It'll be Steve Harmison by the way, with a smattering of white sunscreen on his cheeks.

0424: The umpires are due out any minute but I can't help but concur with the last two e-mailers. The 2003 and 2007 Test tours for England in Sri Lanka have been pretty tough, and memories of that amazing tour of 2001 are rapidly fading.

"If I had known I wouldn't be able to get TMS commentary here in Canada, I wouldn't have done an exchange program with the University of Toronto. This history essay would go a lot quicker if i didn't have to change over to the text every two minutes. Come on England." A Very Tired Charles R, Toronto, Canada

"Good morning Ollie!! England to bowl them out by lunch, quick runs from the top five then Monty to spin us to victory!!!!!! Sorry am I dreaming!!! No I'm on my last nightshift for this week and having delusions I think. They will score 600+ and will be undone by Murali magic again!!! 2-0 down and no way back." Andy (very very very tired) WORTHING.

16 of 17 12/12/2007 11:20 BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Live - Sri Lanka v England http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7138486.stm

Yes, delusions I'm afraid, i fear. Why is Worthing capped up, is it such a worthy place? (Oh dear, that's a bad start)

"Am struggling to finish a night shift here in a cold and dreary Sussex. Need some exciting stimulation from our boys out in sunny climes to make it through the next couple of hours! We can but hope!" Claire, in the TMS inbox

0417: Actually, while we are on the subject of sending texts in the middle of the night, why do people think it's socially acceptable to do so? (well obviously it's fine if you're texting us!) I once received a phone call from a friend of mine at 3.30am (A doctor on a night shift). He was amazed when I answered, assuming I would be on voicemail.

0415: "Is this going to be another awful day for our bowlers? I can't see it being much better!" Chris in Gloucester, another early morning texter

0411: While we wait for Aggers and co to crank up the radio commentary from the Sinhalese Sports Club ground, here's an early text:

"Good morning to you too. Hopefully today won't be as painful as yesterday. If it is I'll be going straight to bed when i get in." Ben, in London Bridge.

0400: Good morning all... I believe this is my first live text cricket commentary since summer 2006, when was twirling away without a huge amount of luck against Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamam-ul-Haq at Lord's. More of the same today (albeit against different players), or will England be batting by lunch? Your e-mails most welcome...

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