Cricket:James Anderson and Chris Tremlett both made notable returns as England put Sri Lanka in trouble on a rainy first day of the third test at the Rose Bowl.
Anderson was back after missing the Lord’s stalemate with a side injury, and Tremlett at the ground where he learned his trade before his move to Surrey last year.
Neither wasted his opportunity after Andrew Strauss gave his bowlers first use of what turned out to be a pacy pitch, in favourable conditions for his seamers after heavy overnight and morning rain.
The upshot, in the 38 overs possible between more interruptions for bad weather, was two wickets each in a stumps total of 81 for four. The tourists, 1-0 down with just this final match of three to play, needed plenty of skill to avoid even more damage once England found their radar.
The rain breaks played into Strauss’ hands, allowing his bowlers regular breaks as Anderson bowled unchanged for 12 overs from the northern end and Tremlett for 11 from the opposite direction.
They and Stuart Broad operated to ultra-attacking fields as late movement in the air and off the pitch — as well as steepling bounce — meant a five or even six-strong slip and gully cordon, and a short-leg, was on high alert throughout.
Anderson was almost immediately posing a significant threat with new-ball swing in this inaugural test for this venue; yet it appeared Sri Lanka’s left-handed opening pair Tharanga Paranavitana and debutant Lahiru Thirimanne’s skill and concentration might pull them through the delayed first session.
Thirimanne played promisingly in compact defence only to then edge an attempted push-drive for a routine catch at first slip, giving England an especially timely first breakthrough just two balls before rain returned.
Sri Lanka had not managed to add a run after the extended lunch break when Tremlett, preferred to Broad at the pavilion end, struck with only the fifth delivery of the afternoon.
Paranavitana was undone by full-length swing, pinned lbw on the crease. Stand-in captain Kumar Sangakkara then failed for the fifth time in as many attempts so far in the series, driving and edging at a wide one from Anderson as a third wicket fell for the addition of only six runs.
Sri Lanka’s brittle batting therefore looked in jeopardy as Anderson continued to demonstrate his well-being after last week’s inactivity. England’s lines, as at Lord’s, were initially far from consistent — Broad, who took the new ball with Anderson, perhaps the most culpable.
But they were making stealthy progress nonetheless, and Sri Lanka badly needed some breathing space when more rain returned after only five afternoon overs to bring an early tea and no more play until 6pm.
With 20 overs remaining, there was still an obvious chance for more England gains — and Tremlett made sure they began well with a near unplayable delivery which seamed away and bounced on Mahela Jayawardene for another caught-behind, and 37 for four.
The powerhouses of Sri Lanka’s line-up were out of the equation, and Thilan Samaraweera and Prasanna Jayawardene faced an unenviable task to keep England’s pace attack at bay.
It took Jayawardene 16 balls before he was off the mark with an unconvincing four past gully off Tremlett, and his partner was necessarily watchful too.
Respite arrived, however, when Strauss decided Anderson needed a rest — and although the Lancastrian returned to bowl another four overs before the close, the fifth-wicket pair stood firm in an unbroken stand that more than doubled the total.