Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, like Cook, had reason to rue the poor weather.
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Tucker received support from Hales, who said: “I have sympathy with Rod Tucker, when you think how fast the game moves and how close it was”.
Share with us your thoughts by commenting below, using #360fans on Twitter or getting in touch via Facebook. He was dropped twice on Saturday, and bowled off a no-ball on 58, all off the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep, who finished with 3-37.
This series had seen Hales come close to a century with scores of 86 and 83 in the first two Tests at Leeds and Chester-le-Street respectively.
The controversy at Lord’s had echoes of the Adam Voges let-off earlier this year when the Australian was bowled by New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell during the first Test at Wellington by a delivery that was called as a no-ball by English umpire Richard Illingworth.
“To try and hit the ground running at the start of the season was the aim, so I’m really pleased to back up the form I’ve shown for Yorkshire in an England shirt”.
“I’ve always thought he could play as a specialist batsman”, said Cook.
“Hopefully I get an opportunity against Sri Lanka in the forthcoming series, and we can go out there and put on a show like the boys did during the winter and last summer”. Lord’s authorities just as quickly told Sri Lanka to remove the flag. The incident happened in the 74 over of Sri Lanka’s innings.
Silva, who made a stylish 79 in the first innings of this match, said: “I’ve missed out on a hundred at Lord’s three times, hopefully I’ll get another chance next time”.
Cook subsequently had the freedom to launch only the 11th six of his record-breaking Test career, high over long-on off Herath – and mix in some uncharacteristic, nifty limited-overs-style novelty shots too – before declaring one short of his own 50.
But Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test-wicket taker, struck in the fourth over when Silva (16), padding up after failing to pick an inswinger going against the Lord’s slipe, was lbw.
The Sri Lanka flag was draped over the tourists’ dressing-room balcony for some 45 minutes in protest at Tucker’s decision.
Sri Lanka need an unlikely 362 to win while England require 10 wickets to wrap up a 3-0 series victory.
All umpires at end of year have certain percentage of mistakes and it is sad it has happened to us.
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Bayliss praised Hales, whose position was under scrutiny after he struggled in the tour of South Africa, but admitted the badly out-of-form Nick Compton faces an uncertain future in the Test line-up.
