While Test specialist Cook prepares for Pakistan, wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow will be looking to take his red-ball form into the intervening five one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.
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Dimuth Karunaratne finished unbeaten on 37 while Kusal Mendis was 17 not out when time was called.
Rain meant only 12.2 overs were possible on the final day, with Sri Lanka 78 for 1 in their chase of 362 when play was finally abandoned.
Kaushal Silva was Sri Lanka’s man-of-the-series. He knows he has to work hard at his keeping and a couple of chances have gone down.
“In South Africa I was a bit tentative, not leaving as many balls as I should have done outside off stump”.
England had to settle for a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka after rain wiped out nearly the entire final day of the third Test at Lord’s on Monday.
“They play positive cricket and you have got to be on your toes and really good to beat England in the ODI series that s coming up”, Mathews said.
Meanwhile, Bairstow was delighted to silence the doubters after being named man of the series.
All-rounder Moeen Ali, opener Alex Hales and batsman Joe Root have been rested from the shortest form, while Ben Stokes is ruled out with injury.
They lead by 237 runs but have yet to discover whether captain Alastair Cook will be able to bat in their second innings as he recovers from a bruised left knee.
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”.
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.
But the weather relented for play to resume after tea.
Angelo Mathews concedes it took Sri Lanka too long to get going in the lost Test series against England.
New batsman Mendis was fortunate when, trying to evade a Broad bouncer, a top edge sailed over wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow’s head for four.
Sri Lanka could only manage 288 in reply, despite fifties from Karunaratne and Silva, with all-rounder Chris Woakes taking three for 31.
Replays indicated part of Pradeep’s front foot had landed just behind the crease but fielding teams are unable to challenge a no-ball call by an umpire and Hales survived.
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Both Hales (94) and Alastair Cook had collector’s-item good fortune on their side, via DRS and playing conditions, before England declared on 233 for seven on day four of the third Test.
