Hussain had a busy day in the slips

Once again, some loose strokes accounted for Atapattu, Jayasuriya and Sangakarra.

It is one thing to be positive and these are all glorious players, but their duty should have been to build a solid foundation which would be build upon during the second day.

There was one mind-boggling decision, arguably one of the worst we have seen in this series that has been dominated by poor umpiring.

Aravinda de Silva edged Giles straight to slip where Hussain took a straightforward catch.

It was a classic left-arm spinner's dismissal but, somehow, umpire Dave Orchard thought the ball had come from de Silva's pad rather than the bat.

It was quite remarkable - and quite how de Silva had the temerity to stand there defiantly, I do not know.

Got him at last: Giles dismisses de Silva

He must have been smarting with embarrassment and if a batsmen will not walk for that, we must truly accept that the days of chivalry and sportsmanship are behind us.

England can hardly complain, though. They appealed vigorously for a catch at slip off Croft that bounced in front of Hussain.

He must have known it had bounced, Alec Stewart would certainly have seen it bounce, but there was not even a suggestion of England withdrawing the appeal.

No doubt Graeme Hick will be widely written off and, from his point of view, the omens do not look good.

England have preferred to play a man - Michael Vaughan - who has not held a bat for a month and who spent the first two days of this week ill, in bed.

It is, indeed, difficult to see Hick coming back from this.