England reached 49-1 in reply to Sri Lanka's 188 before bad light brought an early end to the opening day of the first Test in Kandy.

The visitors were on top for much of the day after Matthew Hoggard took four wickets before lunch but the reply was marred by the loss of Alastair Cook.

Sri Lanka were reeling at 86-5 at lunch before Kumar Sangakkara (92) and Prasanna Jayawardene (51) shared 106.

But three quick Monty Panesar wickets sparked Sri Lanka's premature demise.

By Mark Mitchener

606: DEBATE Discuss the day's play on 606

1159: Play may be finished for the day in Kandy, but as you'd expect, we've got the usual action-packed Saturday afternoon of sport coming up on BBC Sport. Jonathan Stevenson - a tidy left-arm spinner himself, on his day - will be your guide for the afternoon's Premier League action on the BBC Sport website. And there's the second round of the FA Cup today, as well - what's not to like?

Thanks to all of you who've been following the cricket here today, and especially to those of you who've e-mailed in - needless to say, we'll be back in the wee small hours tomorrow morning to follow the second day's play (which starts at 0500 GMT). See you then - enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

"The decision to bring the dog out by the Sri Lanka captain reeks of desperation. He was over-used in the ODIs and the surprise factor really isn't there anymore"
Mark Airey, Rochdale, in the TMS inbox

BAD LIGHT STOPPED PLAY - CLOSE

17th over - Eng 49-1
But no, they carry on, so it's another over from Jayasuriya. Bell takes a single to take his score to 36 (out of 49). As the Barmy Army trumpeter shows that his repertoire includes "Ding Dong Merrily On High", Vaughan safely sees off the rest of the over. With the light a little worse at Murali's bowling end, the umpires offer the light - and the batsmen unsurprisingly take it. That'll be it for the day. And months after commissioning my "Bad Light" graphic from our designers, I finally get to use it!

16th over - Eng 48-1
Vaughan is still looking pretty bamboozled against Muralitharan. Might this be the last over? Vaughan defends his stumps, and the umpires consult once again.

15th over - Eng 48-1
Vaas is off - and with doubts about the light leaving captain Jayawardene unwilling to risk the pace of Dilhara Fernando, he throws the ball to veteran Sanath Jayasuriya, whose slow left-arm "darts" have been a regular feature of the SL ODI side. Will this be his last Test, as has been rumoured? Bell plunders three twos and a single, while Vaughan also takes a single to pinch the strike. Against Murali - schoolboy error there, skipper. The umpires consult about the light - but carry on.

14th over - Eng 40-1
It's looking very dark - is that why we haven't seen Dilhara Fernando yet? - and Murali continues to the uncomfortable-looking Vaughan. Vaughan forces him through the off-side from which he can take two runs. And we have another drinks break.

13th over - Eng 38-1
Possibly in celebration of Murali's entrance, a dog runs onto the field! Followers of the recent ODI series will be keen to know that it's a completely different dog from those that regularly invaded the pitch at the ODIs in Dambulla. It's mostly white, with a few sandy/ginger-coloured bits, and it's unmistakeably a female dog. Back on the pitch, Bell hits a couple of twos, before working the final delivery away through midwicket for four. He moves on to 28.

12th over - Eng 30-1
A roar goes up around the stadium as the local hero is brought on to bowl. Murali has Vaughan beaten off his second delivery, Jayawardene junior whips off the bails and Sri Lanka think they've got him - but the third umpire Tyron Wijewardene rules "not out". Vaughan is completely bamboozled by the fourth ball but umpire Rauf turns down a half-hearted lbw appeal. Murali opens with a maiden.

11th over - Eng 30-1
Aggers on TMS points out a rather presumptuous poster congratulating Muralitharan on reaching 709 wickets (which of course he hasn't reached yet). Will we see the Kandy man tonight? Might we have to see spin if the light deteriorates further? I may be risking a "commentator's curse", but Bell is looking fairly sound defensively against Vaas, off the front and the back foot, and he plays out a maiden.

10th over - Eng 30-1
Vaughan looks keen to get away from Malinga's end, but declines what would have been a very ill-judged single. Malinga strays down the leg-side and Vaughan accepts the gift willingly, glancing it off his leg for four to fine leg.

"In response to the comment about Vaughan looking like Capt. Norrington, I was thinking 'No, he looks like the guy in 'Coupling''. Turns out it's the same actor - Jack Davenport. To be fair, I haven't seen the sequels, and it's been four busy years since I saw the original 'Pirates'."
Alan (sadly out of range of all England cricket broadcasts) in the TMS inbox

9th over - Eng 26-1
Bell works Vaas away for two off his legs. "The rooks have gathered in force" says CMJ on TMS - I take it he means some malevolent-looking birds and not a collection of chess pieces. A single rotates the strike, and it changes again when Vaughan takes a single. Bell sees off the over and calls for a drink.

"This has probably been spotted before but Michael Vaughan also resembles Matt Bellamy - guitarist/vocalist with rock band Muse"
Peter Gilbert in the TMS inbox
[No idea who this chap is either - you're shaming me with my lack of knowledge of popular culture - MM]

"The light is much gloomier now, there's a shadow almost three-quarters of the way across the pitch"
Simon Hughes anticipates a curtailed day's play on TMS

8th over - Eng 22-1
England batting coach Andy Flower peers over the top of a laptop in the dressing-room, sat next to coach Peter Moores. A row of water-bottles are in front of them. Vaughan is still on the defensive against Malinga, but a perfectly-timed leg glance brings him a boundary. CMJ notices a crow circling near the TMS commentary box - hopefully that's not a bad omen or anything.

"I make it one-all on umpiring lifelines so far"
Reverend_Weasel on 606

7th over - Eng 18-1
As the Barmy Army trumpeter belts out "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, followed by the more traditional "Jingle Bells", Bell fiddles with his non-jingling helmet and twirls his bat before perfectly judging when to shoulder arms against Vaas. CMJ on TMS thinks Vaas is already swinging it more than Sidey did for England. But Bell tickles him for two - he has 17 of England's 18 runs.

6th over - Eng 16-1
Malinga slings one down the leg side which Jayawardene junior takes well behind the timbers. Bell then plays a back-foot defensive shot which evades the leaping Silva at cover and is timed so well that it flies away for four. Then, his third four of the innings comes when he hooks Malinga down to the unguarded square leg boundary. When Bell glances into the on-side, Murali tries some soccer skills (ie trying to stop the ball with his boot rather than bending down), but misses and they run three. England's best over so far.

5th over - Eng 5-1
Vaughan is on the defensive against Vaas, and looks fairly relieved to play out a maiden.

"Mark, Richard Knew means Miles from cult 1990s drama 'This Life'. I agree with him, Vaughan does resemble him"
Nadia Kamil in the TMS inbox
[Ah! Know exactly who you mean now! MM]

4th over - Eng 5-1
Malinga has a big shout for lbw, but Vaughan appears to be saved by a slight inside edge as it was pretty straight but umpire Rauf is unmoved. Vaughan is off the mark when he dabs one into the covers for a single.

"Hoggster has done a great job. Monty has had a good day (to be honest, he hasn't had that many in the last year). Jimmy Anderson has done the job asked of him. And only Sidebottom was relatively expensive. Even if a wicket or two falls early, 188 is a sub-standard score. England need to take their time and make sure that they get a decent lead. Loads of time left"
Cricketing_stargazer on 606

3rd over - Eng 4-1
Bell gets England under way with a well-timed forward press for four through the covers. But that's the only scoring stroke from the over.

"How about Vaughany looks like Capt Norrington from Pirates of the Caribbean?"
Richard Knew in the TMS inbox
[I've been on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney, but haven't seen any of the films so can't help you there - MM]

"Tall openers? Chris Broad (6'4") and Graham Gooch (6'0") equal Vaughan and Cook"
Michael Haddock in the TMS inbox

2nd over - Eng 0-1
An entirely different proposition from left-arm swinger Vaas is right-arm slinger Malinga, who's spearing the ball in from roughly in front of the umpire's face. He already has Vaughan playing and missing outside off-stump, and he's also getting some bounce with the new ball.

"I heard someone mention that Sri Lanka had a long tail. what about England? Hoggard, Anderson, Sidebottom and Monty!"
KB is back, on 606

1st over - Eng 0-1
Ian Bell is in at first drop (having batted at six in recent Tests to accomodate Vaughan at three). He sees off the rest of the over, and it proves you can't write Vaas off just yet.

0.3 overs - WICKET - Cook lbw b Vaas 0 - Eng 0-1
Chaminda Vaas is thrown the new ball in his 100th Test - he's not the quickest any more, but he's still a canny customer and he's bowling to four slips. The third ball is full and straight, it hits Cook just under the knee-roll and he's back in the pavilion already - when the bowlers may only just be peeling off their whites and putting their shorts on.

1036: Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook to open up for England - "one of the tallest opening pairs England have ever had", insists Vic Marks on TMS. "Will Jefferson has not yet played for England", he warns.

"I've always thought that the boy Anderson looks like Ace Ventura actor Jim Carrey?"
Miles Parker in the TMS inbox

"It couldn't happen, could it? Murali getting his five wickets (for the Test record) tonight?"
Vic Marks on TMS

1030: Well, there were some impressive bowling figures out there - Hoggy takes 4-29 from 14 overs, and the Montster finishes with 3-46 from 14. One each for Sidey and Jimmy, and just that one token over from Bopara before lunch.

SRI LANKA FIRST INNINGS - 188

59.4 overs - WICKET - Muralitharan run out 1 - SL 188 all out
Murali's off the mark with an off-driven single. Malinga then has a wild swipe to leg, calls Murali for a second run that was never there, and Anderson breaks the wicket at the bowler's end when Murali is barely halfway down the pitch.

59.2 overs - WICKET - Sangakkara c Collingwood b Anderson 92 - SL 186-9
Sanga finally departs when he flashes at one outside off-stump and Colly takes a superb leaping catch at backward point - the sort of catch we've come to expect from the ginger ninja - but it's the end for Sanga and he gets a deserved standing ovation. I'm not saying Muralitharan's a poor batsman, but the groundsman might want to start the roller.

"Oh joy, isn't it good to see the boys back in their whites?"
Chrissy, north Notts, in the TMS inbox
[Not a fan of ODIs then? MM]

59th over - SL 186-8
It's the Montster v the Slinger - and a loud lbw appeal by Monty is turned down, rightly, by ump Aleem Dar as it pitched outside leg. There are four men encircling the bat, while Angus Fraser on TMS compares Malinga's unusual pads to lengths of drainpipe. Anyway, the Slinger survives the over - will Sanga reach three figures?

58th over - SL 186-8
Sanga (now joined by Lasith Malinga) drives Anderson into the off-side but declines the chance of a single. He then carefully opens the face to tickle it down to third man for four which takes him to 92. Off the final derlivery, he tries to cut a straight ball but misses, leaving Malinga to face a full over at the other end.

"On the subject of lookalikes, I've always thought that Murali resembled Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air"
Paul in Wolverhampton in the TMS inbox

"For me, Sangakkara (and we see a lot of him on TenSports over here) is Snoop Dogg"
Luke, in Oman, in the TMS inbox

57th over - WICKET - Fernando c Vaughan b Panesar 0 - SL 182-8
Panesar gives it some air against Sanga, who refuses to take the bait. He then drills a single off the fifth ball of the over, but then Fernando prods forward at the sixth ball, it hits him on the thumb and skipper Michael Vaughan takes an excellent tumbling catch at second slip! Three wickets for the Montster.

"I'd have thought that facing the seamers would be easier for a tail-ender like Fernando than facing a spinner like Panesar"
Angus Fraser on TMS

56th over - SL 181-7
Sanga square-drives Anderson - it's in the air but safe, and Bopara scampers in from the cover boundary to prevent a run. He eventually leg-glances the fifth ball of the over and walks through for a single, allowing Fernando to defend one ball against Jimmy. Which he does.

55th over - SL 180-7
Monty P has the chance to bowl at the lesser batsman now, and there are three close fielders in for Fernando. He defends stoutly, and it's another maiden. But the shadows are starting to lengthen across the outfield, and the TMS team fear an early finish because of bad light.

"Feels a bit like Sangakarra is gonna be like Chanderpaul in the West Indies series, everyone around him falls but we just can't get him out"
Sebwinder on 606

54th over - SL 180-7
Anderson to Sanga, who is now charged with protecting the tail. KP is back on the field after a spell off before tea, and he is inches away from running Fernando out with a direct hit at the bowler's end. A maiden.

1000: We're back out again. Jimmy Anderson to continue from the Non-Monty end.

"On new DVD releases [see 35th over], Ben Dirs (during the India v Pkn ODIs) revealed exclusively that Tendulkar had been carefully amassing scores of 99 as pre-release publicity for a re-recording of Nena's 99 Red Balloons (as in 'I get to 99, then balloon a gentle catch'). Strangely, I've not seen it in the shops yet - maybe just in India. (My own theory was ice-cream-based.)"
Paul in Lancs in the TMS inbox

"I don't know why, but Kumar Sangakkara reminds me strangely of Sandra Bullock"
PPC in the TMS inbox

"Is it just me or does Sangakkara look a bit like Sandra Bullock! It's the eyes I think. And for that matter Matthew Hoggard looks a lot like Spare Head 3 from Red Dwarf"
Andy sat at work in Canterbury, in the TMS inbox

TEA INTERVAL

53rd over - SL 180-7
England sense that one end is very much open now. They surround new batsman Dilhara Fernando, with five men around the bat, but he survives the three remaining balls until tea.

"Sangakkara has played a polished, imperious innings, but most of the others, apart from Silva (who got a peach) have let him down"
Simon Hughes, "The Analyst", on TMS

52.3 overs - WICKET - Vaas b Panesar 12 - SL 180-7
And having hit back at Fletcher in the papers, Monty claims another victim when Vaas tries to play the cut shot but misses the ball, which again hits the footmarks and spins well, and he's cleaned up.

52nd over - SL 180-6
The seamers are being rotated in four-over spells as Anderson relieves Sidey. Left-handers Sanga and Vaas take a single each. Meanwhile, the Montster has hit back at Duncan Fletcher's recent comments about him - saying the former England coach "found it challenging to understand spin bowling". Fighting talk from Monty P!

51st over - SL 178-6
Vaas, playing his 100th Test, takes a single before Sanga goes aerial, lifting Monty over mid-on but it just bounces inside the rope for four.

"Sangakkara is hitting boundaries at will, and getting the fielders pushed back so he can take singles"
Roshan Abeysinghe on TMS

"I've just dragged myself out of bed, despite an appalling hangover, and i'm feeling brighter already. England clearly exploited the new ball to great effect. Sri Lanka look to have settled, but one more wicket and we're into the tail. Good start to the series from England"
Giveusbackourashes on 606

50th over - SL 172-6
A comedy moment as Monty fields at mid-on and in returning the ball to the wicket-keeper's end, almost decapitates bowler Sidey who is walking back to his mark. Sidey takes it in good heart, but Sanga then flays him for successive fours through extra cover.

"The England spin coach David Parsons is keeping a close eye on Monty Panesar, seeing how he bowls on a pitch without much in it for him"
Simon Hughes, "The Analyst", on TMS

49th over - SL 164-6
After Sanga takes a single off Monty, Vaas executes a textbook forward defensive before slog-sweeping him for four to the unguarded square leg boundary. He tickles the next ball for two, so it's seven runs from the over.

48th over - SL 157-6
Hoggard lets down fellow seamer Sidebottom as Sanga despatches a leg-stump half-volley and Hoggy lets the ball through his hands on the boundary. And with the magic hour of 0900 GMT having passed, 606 is open for business - get involved and let us know what you think of the game so far.

"Does anyone think that the England team are the best Test team in the world?"
An anonymous texter on 81111
[Don't be shy - give us your name when you text in - MM]

47th over - SL 152-6
We're into the bowlers now - it's the wily old left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas, who also bats left-handed. The close fielders appeal for a catch, but it came off his ankle. Vaas, who is no mug with the bat in one-day cricket, steers one through the covers and Sidey decides against diving for the boundary, although he does knock an advertising board over. Four runs for Vaas, but a good over for Mr Panesar.

46.1 overs - WICKET - P Jayawardene c Cook b Panesar 51 - SL 148-6
The Montster strikes! Jayawardene tries to turn one off his legs and it goes straight to Alastair Cook at forward short leg. It strikes him in the midriff but he holds on to the catch, and Monty is leaping and high-fiving anyone he can find.

46th over - SL 148-5
Vaughan posts himself at silly mid-off as Sidey runs in to Jayawardene, while Aggers and Vic on TMS share their tales of travel woes and underground car parks on the subcontinent. Jayawardene weaves away from a rare bouncer, before pinching the strike with a single off the final delivery.

45th over - SL 147-5
Monty tosses one up at Sanga, who pads it away outside off-stump, and although it shoots away towards the boundary, he is not entitled to take a run as he made no attempt to play a shot. Aggers has noticed the return of the monks in their saffron robes, and Monty has Sanga tied down a little. He eventually nudges one off his legs for four and the ball is retrieved by possibly the smallest (and youngest) ball-boy in international cricket.

"My grand-daughter, Georgie, has just seen the picture of Vic Marks you posted, and wants to know 'why is the funny man pulling a face? Is he being sick?' I'm not sure what to reply, so I have said I will ask the man who is doing the words today. She is enthralled by this concept"
Carole and Georgie in Maidenhead, in the TMS inbox
[It's a picture of him putting a sweater on while playing for Somerset in 1989. Would you believe, that's the most recent pic we have of Vic - MM]

44th over - SL 143-5
With Monty entrenched at one end, Vaughan rotates his seamers at the other, with Hoggard off and Sidebottom returning. CMJ on TMS notices some dark clouds in the far distance, while long wave listeners have returned from Yesterday in Parliament. Sanga off-drives Sidey for a single, and then CMJ describes Jayawardene "flishing" at one outside off-stump (when he was in two minds over saying "flashing" or "fishing"). It's a dot ball though, so just that Sanga single from the over.

"Hi Mark, it's minus 5 degrees Celsius, we are told to expect 25cms of snow tomorrow and reports today suggest it's going to be the coldest winter for some years! Any offers from your female readers currently inhabiting warmer climes?"
Brian, southern Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, in the TMS inbox

43rd over - SL 142-5
Having been bowling over the wicket to the left-handed Sangakkara, Monty now goes over the wicket to the right-handed Jayawardene in the style of Ashley Giles, while the Barmy Army sing up in the hope of boosting England's morale. And it works - to some extent - as Panesar sends down his first maiden.

42nd over - SL 142-5
Sanga gets away with another inside edge off Hoggy which rebounds off his front pad safely. Radio 4 long-wave listeners are torn away from TMS and forced to listen to Yesterday in Parliament. Jayawardene pulls Hoggy down to long leg and they run through for a single which not only brings up his own fifty, but also the century partnership.

"Hoggard started the tour with a beard and hair down over his ears - he's since been to the barber and would pass the headmaster's inspection"
Christopher Martin-Jenkins on TMS

41st over - SL 140-5
The linguistic expert CMJ on TMS has an excellent attempt at pronouncing Jayawardene's full name (Hewasandatchige Asiri Prasanna Wishvanath Jayawardene) while the drinks are taken. Sanga sweeps Monty to fine leg for a single, where the ball is retrieved by sub fielder Owais Shah, who's on for KP who took a slight bang on one of his fingers making a stop in the field a few overs ago. Jayawardene guides the next ball to third man for three, while Sanga uses his feet well to push a single to mid-off. Jayawardene drives for two, and it's seven off the over.

"Jayawardene has been the understudy wicket-keeper for a while, until they relieved Sangakkara of wicket-keeping duties. He got a pair against Australia at Hobart, but he averages 48 in Test cricket in Sri Lanka"
Vic Marks on TMS

40th over - SL 133-5
Sanga trots through for two as he rocks back onto his back foot and steers Hoggard through extra cover. He then carefully pushes one past gully and umpire Asad Rauf signals a proper, full-on drinks interval (as opposed to those where the odd bottle is brought on).

"If I'm gonna be up this early on a Saturday morning revising for my medical exams, it may as well be with the company of some good cricket and good banter. Keep up the good work boys!"
Claire, Nottingham, in the TMS inbox

39th over - SL 130-5
Harmison the waterboy hands Hoggy a drink just inside the ropes as Jayawardene takes Panesar on, firmly driving him through the covers for four as Monty bustles through his over. Both batsmen take a quick drink.

38th over - SL 126-5
Sanga is a little becalmed against Hoggard, but eventually works the last ball away for two.

"Good morning Mark! What a splendid start to the day! My little 3-year-old grand-daughter is sitting with me proudly wearing her Panesar mask. She is crayoning and ignoring the actual cricket, but, hey, it's a start"
Carole in Maidenhead, in the TMS inbox

37th over - SL 124-5
Sanga sweeps Monty, who appeals for lbw. Umpire Dar signals two leg-byes, but it's a good decision as the replay shows it hit him outside the line of off-stump. Monty has an even bigger shout next ball when Sanga steps back without playing a stroke at one that lands in Hoggard's footmarks and spins prodigiously, but again the umpire is unmoved. A single to Sanga rounds off the over, and Angus Fraser on TMS feels that second lbw shout might have been out ("I've seen them given", he says).

36th over - SL 121-5
Michael Vaughan must have been listening to Angus Fraser a couple of overs ago, as Hoggy returns in place of Anderson. Sanga cover-drives and it's half-stopped by Pietersen who takes a whack on the finger. Jayawardene, who has somehow reached 40 almost by stealth, digs out a yorker to round off the over.

"First dissenting voice of the day - patently England have picked the wrong team, Sideshow Ryan shouldn't be playing Test match level cricket, and his figures for the rest of the day are going to be painful. Harmison should be out there"
Aiden, Tokyo, in the TMS inbox

35th over - SL 120-5
Jayawardene sweeps Panesar, and it's in the air... but safe as it lands between two fielders at square leg and they run a single. Sanga takes a single too, and it's a better over from Monty.

"Monty has a DVD out for Christmas - has anyone seen it? Will it be in the bargain bucket in January? Are any of the other players cashing in on their high profile this Christmas?"
Tim, Bucks, in the TMS inbox
[Of course, other DVDs are available. But which other players, past or present, would you like to see bring out DVDs? Boycott and Inzamam's 101 best run-outs? - MM]

34th over - SL 118-5
Sanga carefully carves Anderson back past the bowler for four, then nudges a two to leg to bring up his fifty off 80 balls. Aggers can now spot four kites in the air, plus one stuck in a tree.

"Sri Lanka can't afford to lose a wicket in this session. But I'm surprised Hoggard hasn't bowled since lunch"
Former Middlesex and England seamer Angus Fraser on TMS

33rd over - SL 111-5
It's Monty time! Our first taste of spin in the series sees Sanga nudge his first ball away for a single. Jayawardene then carefully sweeps one down the leg side and it sails away for four. He gets a bottom edge to the next ball which goes through Prior's legs and another four ensues. He can't prevent a single off the final ball - so it's 10 from Panesar's first over.

32nd over - SL 101-5
England's new "waterboy", Steve Harmison, runs on with a bottle of water for someone and as he trots off again, Anderson is nudged away for a single by Sanga. Vaughan does more field-tinkering, and Jayawardene looks much more comfortable than he did when he took nearly half-an-hour to get off the mark. But he sees off the rest of the over safely.

"This is an unusual ground - we're broadcasting from a dilapidated gymnasium, with some old equipment 10 yards to our right"
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

31st over - SL 100-5
Sidey continues for his 11th over of the day, and Jayawardene gloriously cover-drives him for four to bring up three figures for Sri Lanka. The last ball sees Sidey land painfully on his ankle in his follow-through, but he looks okay. And the Montster, sporting what appear to be a new pair of sunglasses, is finally warming up!

"Whilst looking through all the TMS comments with my 1-year-old son, he spotted a picture, and said his first word "duck". Thanks to Mubarak and more importantly to Hoggard for this!"
Julian Small in the TMS inbox[The BBC educating and informing? Lord Reith would be proud of me - MM]

30th over - SL 96-5
Sanga works Anderson off his legs, Hoggard's a little slow to trot in at deep mid-wicket and having run the first run quickly, Sanga is easily able to call Jayawardene for a second run. Sanga is now on 42, but is the model of patience out there. This stand is now worth 54.

29th over - SL 94-5
Jayawardene takes two off Sidey, and then fences at one outside off-stump without making contact. He then slashes at a low one which bounces in front of wicket-keeper Prior who makes a good stop in front of Bell at first slip. Just two from the over.

"Just a quick one Mark - has Mr Vaughan had a dark rinse on his hair? The pressure of the England job tells!"
Kevin Dukinfield, Cheshire, in the TMS inbox
[It might just be sweat plastering his hair down - MM]

"Shining the ball will be very important for England in this game, as they have three bowlers who depend on swing"
Simon Hughes, "The Analyst", on TMS

28th over - SL 92-5
Anderson sends down five dot balls before Jayawardene dabs a single into the off-side. If you're just waking up (and no shame there, as it's a Saturday morning), then we want to hear from you on the text (text 81111, starting with the word "CRICKET") and e-mail (tms@bbc.co.uk with "For Mark Mitchener" in the subject). If you're supporting England, would you have settled for having Sri Lanka five down before lunch? And if you're supporting Sri Lanka, can Sangakkara still salvage the innings from this position?

27th over - SL 91-5
Sidebottom (with white zinc cream covering his nose and ears in the manner of Andrew Symonds) has also changed ends, so he's back at his original end for his third spell. He gets one to swing which moves away from the left-handed Sanga, and is rewarded with a maiden over.

"Why the red ribbons?"
Shirley Ratcliffe in the TMS inbox
[The England players are wearing red ribbons pinned to their shirts - I presume it's because 1 December is World Aids Day - MM]

26th over - SL 91-5
Anderson has changed ends, replacing Sidey, and he takes the first over after lunch from the end where Hoggard had so much success - the TMS commentary box end. Sanga gets the home side going with a single. Jayawardene tries to turn Jimmy away to leg, but the boundary is signalled as four leg-byes. For those of you who may have just got in, this is wickie Prasanna Jayawardene - not to be confused with captain Mahela Jayawardene.

"Been a bit out of the mix for the past decade. Not much cricket in Japan. We any good these days?"
Jon in the TMS inbox
[It depends who you mean by "we"! - MM]

0739: The Sri Lanka not-out batsmen stride out to the middle, preceded by the England fielders. We're almost under way again.

"From what I heard, the elephant - who was clearly biased towards Sri Lanka - was actually spraying 80mph inswinging squirts of water at Hoggard in an attempt to have him caught in the deep. Oh, talking about wildlife, any sign of snakes on the outfield yet?"
J-L, thoroughly enjoying the Test match, Pordenone (Italy), in the TMS inbox[No sign of any snakes - and no dogs have invaded the pitch yet either - MM]

0734: If you're interested in India's game with Pakistan, India have still been piling on the runs on day two - Sourav Ganguly has reached his century in a mammoth fifth-wicket stand with VVS Laxman.

0704: Right, I'm going to grab something to eat and drink, and I suggest you do the same. Be back soon!

LUNCH INTERVAL

25th over - SL 86-5
A moment to remember for Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara as he's thrown the ball for his first spell in Test cricket. The debutant will send down an over of medium pace just before the lunch interval, and Sanga turns his first ball away to Monty at deep square leg for a single. As the left-hand/right-hand combination take a couple of singles, poor old Mr Panesar is having to run 80 yards from deep square leg to deep square leg every time the batsmen cross. Vaughan finally shows some mercy to the Northants spinner as Pietersen is pushed back onto the boundary instead. Bopara finds Jayawardene's edge... and it bounces just in front of Ian Bell at first slip. Jayawardene then leg-glances a no-ball for four, and lunch finally arrives as Mr Bopara's Test bowling figures so far are 1-0-8-0.

"After a big Saturday morning lie in I wake to find Sri Lanka five down before lunch. Must lie in more often, or go to bed more. On an equally pleasing note, productivity soared so much in October when I allowed myself the odd therapeutic peek at the cricket live text during the ODIs that I was made employee of the month. Mind you, I am home-based and self-employed and was given my award by the dog"
Paul in Lancs in the TMS inbox

24th over - SL 78-5
With lunch approaching, Ravi Bopara is warming up in the gully. No sign of any warm-up from the Montster. Sidey gets a bit of movement against Jayawardene, but he beautifully cover-drives the Notts man for his third four in successive overs. He then turns Sidey off his legs for another four through square leg past the diving Pietersen.

"Ignore my previous message. There is no moral dilemma any more. I am watching the cricket in here, she is watching Teletubbies in the other room. (I prefer 'In the Night Garden'). Go Go Hoggy"
Philip in the TMS inbox

"Morning Mark! How lovely to find you in situ when I emerged blearily from my truncated sleep! I knew it was worth setting the alarm! You and the Hoggy Show - how marvellous!"
Sarah, Canterbury, in the TMS inbox
[It would be quite wrong of me to try and take any credit away from Hoggy - MM]

23rd over - SL 70-5
A supporter in the crowd is wearing a huge Ryan Sidebottom mask, while he and other England fans (including a lady in a bikini stood near him) are soaking up the sun and enjoying a morning session which has been dominated by England. Sanga leg-glances Anderson for a single to take his score to 37 (out of 63). Then, possibly the first short ball of the day is pulled to midwicket by Jayawardene for four, and with a little more confidence than he's showed so far today, he dabs into the covers for two and pinches the strike with a leg-bye.

22nd over - SL 62-5
Hoggy takes a well-deserved rest after a superb first spell with figures of 10-3-21-4. Sidey takes up the attack, and Sanga takes a single off his first ball. Jayawardene junior has now been in for 24 scoreless minutes (and 16 balls) - a presumably ironic sticker on his bat displays the word "Smasher". He's finally off the mark when Sidey strays down the leg side and Jayawardene guides it to fine leg for four. Even the scoreboard operator can't believe it, and credits the boundary to Sangakkara. Will we see the Montster turn his arm over before lunch?

21st over - SL 57-5
Sanga plunders another four as he off-drives one which goes straight through Sidey at mid-off. I start to sound like a grumpy old man if I mention the words "long barrier" on these occasions. He takes a single, and Jayawardene is still yet to trouble the scorers, unable to penetrate the close field - while the Barmy Army trumpeter announces his presence with the first fanfare of the day.

20th over - SL 52-4
Jayawardene junior is still waiting to get off the mark, and is denied a single as Vaughan runs round to mid-off to make a smart stop. The slip cordon appeal for a catch behind, Hoggy is a little more half-hearted, but umpire Rauf says "not out". Another maiden.

"Good start to the day. Early cup of tea, switch on computer - five wickets down. 100th birthday party and wedding to attend to today. Not the same person. In fact, a very good start"
John Peters in the TMS inbox

"Sangakkara has an astonishing record with the bat since he gave up wicket-keeping - he averages 160 and has got eight centuries"
Vic Marks on TMS

19th over - SL 52-5
Hoggy takes a well-deserved drink on the boundary, gulping down a bottle of water as Anderson continues bowling to Sanga - who captained his school side on this ground, CMJ reveals. Sanga then brings up the Sri Lanka 50 with an edge for four through the vacant third slip area. He takes two off the final delivery.

"Moral Dilemma... My wife is away at a Union conference. My youngest (18 months) is up. If I stick her in front of CBeebies, I can watch/listen to the cricket on the other telly. How can I justify this as good parenting?"
Philip in the TMS inbox

18th over - SL 46-5
Sanga takes two off Hoggy, then they scamper a quick single as the dead-eyed throw of Monty P hits the stumps but Sanga makes his ground at the bowler's end.

"What kind of analyst is Simon Hughes? 'Honours about even' at 40 for 3? - Have they changed the rules of Test cricket?"
Andrew Inkpin in the TMS inbox
[His "honours about even" comment was made at the drinks break when it was 40-2 - I've tried to make that a little clearer now! - MM]

17th over - SL 43-5
As Hoggy takes a bow at long leg with figures of 8-2-18-4, Sangakkara is left facing Anderson - and is now facing up to batting with the tail. He takes a single to bring wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene on strike. He's 28 but has played just 14 Tests and six ODIs. CMJ on TMS notes that Anderson is bowling tighter than normal and isn't "spraying it around" as he does occasionally. Just the one run from the over.

16th over - WICKET - Mubarak c Prior b Hoggard 0 - SL 42-5
Jehan Mubarak is the new batsman, and he's another leftie - the fourth in Sri Lanka's top six. He has to defend his stumps as Hoggard swings one back in to him. But Mubarak's innings is over as he gets a slight edge from the last ball of the over and Prior takes his third catch of the innings.

"Hoggard got soaked the other day while washing an elephant at an orphanage"
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

15.1 overs - WICKET - Silva c Prior b Hoggard 2 - SL 42-4
More good bowling from Hoggy - he gets one to move away from Silva, and the edge goes straight to Prior as he tries to play defensively. The Yorkshireman has 2-2 from his last seven balls - and 3-18 in total - and he is applauded by some bare-chested England supporters enjoying the sunshine.

15th over - SL 42-3
Slightly surprisingly, Panesar is posted on the deep square-leg boundary for the first few deliveries as Sanga faces Anderson - is he there to tempt Sanga to hook? Whatever the tactics, it works well as it's a second successive maiden for Jimmy.

"Sangakkara and Jayawardene have a fantastic understanding and have had many century partnerships, so that was a key breakthrough for England - it may be 'open sesame' for the rest of the innings now"
Simon Hughes, "The Analyst", on TMS

14th over - SL 42-3
New batsman is Chamara Silva, while Aggers on TMS notices that the monks have made a brief appearance, and then departed. Monty P gets a big cheer from the England supporters as he fields the ball as Silva takes two to get off the mark.

"Do you think the monks play cricket? Do they have their cricket whites on underneath their robes?"
Simon Hughes, "The Analyst", on TMS

13.1 overs - WICKET - M Jayawardene c Prior b Hoggard 1 - SL 40-3
With an hour played, the drinks trolley is wheeled out, manned by a gentleman who's apparently been looking after the players here since Aggers toured here more than 20 years ago. He's assisted by a couple of England substitutes - one of whom, Graeme Swann, remains on the field as Vaughan trots off. But as they resume, Hoggy finds Jayawardene's outside edge with the first ball after drinks, and Prior snaffles the catch!

"I think honours are about even here (at 40-2), but England have stuck to their task and haven't bowled anything short"
Former Middlesex and Durham seamer Simon Hughes, aka "The Analyst", on TMS

13th over - SL 40-2
Aggers on TMS describes Kandy as "one of the most picturesque grounds in the world" and compares umpires Dar and Rauf to Mark Nicholas (legendary ex-Hampshire captain turned commentator) - as they both take plenty of care in their appearance. Meanwhile, James Anderson replaces Sidey in the first bowling change. Sanga is content to defend as the Burnley man keeps it quite tight early on - and it's a maiden. Drinks taken.

"Get Sanga early, don't let him settle down!"
Ravi, Ottawa, in the TMS inbox

12th over - SL 40-2
Jayawardene plays and misses against Hoggy, who's still keeping it tight in his sixth over as Vaughan fiddles with the field. Steve Harmison is sat with his feet up, munching on some refreshment - he'll be carrying the drinks for this game, along with Owais Shah, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and Phil Mustard.

"I think that the Bopara/Shah issue is something we'll always face without Flintoff, but if England are so desperate for a 5th bowler can't we use Collingwood to slow things down? We don't have a great tail and Shah is a proven player of spin. If you're wondering why I'm up this early it's because I'm in Bangalore, but don't have a hope of watching the game on TV as India v Pakistan are playing!"
Simon in the TMS inbox
[Some of us have been up for several hours already - MM]

11th over - SL 40-2
Sanga flicks Sidey off his legs and it not only evades Cook at short leg again, but outpaces Vaughan to the midwicket boundary for four. A more orthodox on-drive brings the same result, and takes Sanga to 20.

10th over - SL 32-2
The new batsman is skipper Mahela Jayawardene - who is the first right-hander of the innings. (He's no relation to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene, apparently). Hoggy has men at silly mid-off and silly mid-on, and Jayawardene prods it past them for a single, while Sangakkara takes on Vaughan's arm for a quick single of his own and easily makes his ground. We have the first extra of the innings as Hoggy bowls a no-ball from which some smart fielding from Monty P prevents another single.

9.1 overs - WICKET - Vandort c Vaughan b Hoggard 8 - SL 29-2
Hoggy finally gets his reward for a tight early spell when Vandort spoons one straight to the skipper at mid-on. Vaughan doesn't even need to move his feet as he takes the catch.

9th over - SL 29-1
Sidey moves one away from left-hander Vandort - who looks like a man who never plays a ball that he can leave in the early stages while he plays himself in. He eventually rotates the strike with a single, while Sidey is tempting Sanga to have a go at one outside off-stump. But Sanga's not tempted, and it's just that one single from the over.

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8th over - SL 28-1
Hoggard slants one in to Sanga, who gets a very fortunate inside edge which just evades his stumps and shoots away towards fine leg for an undeserved single. Hoggy then gets a bit of extra bounce and hits Vandort on the glove with a lifting delivery. Then, it's Vandort's time to get an inside edge which spears out towards Bopara at square leg. Some good bowling from Hoggy here is not being rewarded.

7th over - SL 26-1
More textbook defence from Vandort. I never knew the Shipping Forecast could go on for so long, but as TMS returns to the long wave airwaves, Vandort guides Sidey through the covers for his first four, between Pietersen and Panesar.

"If England selectors are being bold by playing Bopara, why not include Stuart Broad instead of Anderson? SB would not let the side down with his bowling and would enhance the batting. Sidebottom at 8? But let's be positive..."
Steven H, Little Snoring, Norfolk, in the TMS inbox

6th over - SL 22-1
Vandort is content to leave the ball as Hoggy slants them across the left-hander, before eventually working him away for a single to leg. Just one from the over.

5th over - SL 21-1
The TMS crew are temporarily displaced by the Shipping Forecast. Sanga guides a half-volley just past Cook at short-leg and it trickles away for four, leaving Sidey to curse his luck.

"If I'd known that moving to New York would have meant no TMS then I would never have done it! I'm gutted. Can't listen to the cricket anywhere. Anyway, pleased for Bopara this series could be the making of him, and I have a feeling our slower/part time bowlers will take more wickets than people think. Gutted for Shah, I think this series might be the end of him"
Anatol, NY, in the TMS inbox

4th over - SL 17-1
Sangakkara glances Hoggard down towards the third man boundary. KP gives chase, and misjudges his bend-down-and-pick-up as he steps on the rope and concedes the four. Sanga then takes a single to pinch the strike.

"I was able to sit in a chair at leg gully yesterday, watching Pietersen in the nets, facing Harmison on a lively surface, and it was a wonderful 15 minutes watching KP close up - he batted magnificently"
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew on TMS

"A brilliant catch like that early in the innings will always raise the morale of a fielding side"
Vic Marks on TMS

3rd over - SL 12-1
The new batsman is Kumar Sangakkara, absolved of his wicket-keeping responsibilities, and he's off the mark with a single. But he averages about 160 in Tests over the last year or so, Aggers reveals.

2.5 overs - WICKET - Jayasuriya c Pietersen b Sidebottom 10 - SL 11-1
Aggers on TMS spots three kites flying in the breeze, and anticipates the arrival of the monks from the monastery that overlooks the ground, later in the day. Sidey, his long hair fluttering in the breeze, gets a bit of early movement off the seam. Jayasuriya then steers one to Pietersen at cover point where he dives to his right and takes a stunning catch! A great start for England, just when Jayasuriya was looking dangerous.

2nd over - SL 11-0
Matthew Hoggard takes the second over, and Jayasuriya flays the second ball through extra cover for four as Hoggy gives it a bit of width. A slower ball is flicked off his legs to fine leg. Vandort then prods forward as Hoggy hits him on the pad, but umpire Rauf is unmoved.

"Hi Mark, good morning from Italy (where it has just started raining... unlike in Sri Lanka, I hope). I can't believe they've left out Shah! Will he ever get the chance to prove himself at test level? Having said that - I hope RaviBop proves me wrong! Go England!"
J-L from Pordenone (Italy) in the TMS inbox

1st over - SL 6-0
Ryan Sidebottom takes the new ball with his left-arm swing, and Vandort gets the home side off the mark with a single off the first ball, before Jayasuriya rolls back the years with a superbly-timed cover drive for four. He then deflects one which hits Alastair Cook at short leg on the boot, and they scamper a single. Without Strauss and Flintoff, England have a relatively new slip cordon - Bell, Collingwood and Bopara, with Anderson at gully. Vic Marks on TMS reckons this is the first time Steve Harmison's been fit but not chosen (ie dropped) for a long time.

0459: Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya (a veteran of 109 Tests) is opening up with Michael Vandort (a mere 12 Tests). Here we go.

0457: England take the field for their pre-match huddle, and the most noticeable fielder is Ian Bell - his face is almost entirely covered in white sun cream, giving him the appearance of a mime artist.

"It would be special to do it in Kandy because I grew up here. I don't mind who it will be (to break the record) But it depends on how I bowl and they bat"
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan on TMS, looking to pass Shane Warne's record of 708 Test wickets on his home ground. He currently has 704.

0450: Don't forget, I'll need your help today on the e-mails and texts (and 606, when it opens for business at 0900 GMT). What do you think of England's team selection - and how important will Sri Lanka winning the toss be?

"I feel sorry for Owais Shah - if they think Bopara's going to score more runs than Shah against Murali, then it's a good decision. But I don't think Bopara's bowling will be that significant"
Former Somerset and England off-spinner Vic Marks on TMS

0445: Sri Lanka's most recent Test was against Australia from 16-20 November - from which they make two changes. Mubarak and Vaas replace opener Marvan Atapattu (who has retired from internationals) and Farveez Maharoof (who is injured).

England's last Test was way back in early August - and they also make two changes from that side, Bopara and Hoggard replacing Andrew Strauss and Chris Tremlett.

0440: Here are the confirmed teams:

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Chamara Silva, Jehan Mubarak, Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.

England: Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan (capt), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior (wk), Ryan Sidebottom, Matthew Hoggard, James Anderson, Monty Panesar.

The umpires are both from Pakistan - Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf. Third umpire on TV replay duties is Tyron Wijewardene, reserve umpire (to provide replacement balls and the like) is Deepal Gunawardene, and the match referee is New Zealand's Jeff Crowe.

TOSS NEWS: Michael Vaughan calls incorrectly, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene elects to bat first. Vaughan admits he would have preferred to bat first, but hopes his bowlers can exploit any early nerves from Sri Lanka's batsmen.

0430: A very good morning. It's eyes down for the first Test in England's three-match series in Sri Lanka, and we already have some team news - Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara will make his Test debut after being preferred to Owais Shah in the number six role, while Monty Panesar is the sole spinner, and Steve Harmison is left out.