Rory Burns could finally be the answer to England's problems at the top of the order. AFP
Rory Burns could finally be the answer to England's problems at the top of the order. AFP
Rory Burns could finally be the answer to England's problems at the top of the order. AFP
Rory Burns could finally be the answer to England's problems at the top of the order. AFP

Sri Lanka v England takeaways: 'Almost unflappable' Rory Burns looks the heir to Alastair Cook's top-order throne


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Sri Lanka v England

First Test, at Galle
England won by 211

Second Test, at Kandy
England won by 57 runs

Third Test, at Colombo
From Nov 23-27

Burns sizzles as openers stake their claim

The arrival of Rory Burns at the top of England's innings could not have come at a better time. Year after year, England struggled to find a reliable opening partner for the relentless run machine Alastair Cook, as the great and the not so good of the County Championship tried and failed to make the step up to Test level. And when Cook finally called time on his career in the summer, alarm bells were ringing.

Burns, though, had earned his chance, scoring consistently – 1,359 at an average of 64.71 – as he captained Surrey to the Division One title last season.

The 28 year old may not have reached triple figures in Pallekele, but his calm and assured knocks of 43 and 59 in England's 57-run win were vital as the tourists sealed the three-match series.  His captain Joe Root described Burns as "almost unflappable".

With opening partner Keaton Jennings having ended his miserable run drought with an unbeaten 146 in the first Test, England may have finally solved their long-term opening issues.

The efforts of all-rounder Ben Stokes in the field helped turn the tide England's way in the second Test. Reuters
The efforts of all-rounder Ben Stokes in the field helped turn the tide England's way in the second Test. Reuters

Stokes and Jennings provide fielding masterclass

Neither Jennings nor Ben Stokes contributed anything with the bat in the second Test, but boy did they prove their worth in the field.

In Sri Lanka's first innings, it was Stokes who produced game-changing moments at vital times.

The home side were looking good at 126-2 on Day 2 in reply to England's 290 when the all-rounder brilliantly ran out Dimuth Karunaratne for 63, with the Sri Lankan looking well set for a big score.

Just a few overs later, Stokes was at it again, this time with a stunning one-handed catch to bag Kusal Mendis at slip.

It was Jennings' turn to don the Superman fielding cape in the second innings with two moments of sheer brilliance – first a one-handed catch at short leg to remove Dhananjaya de Silva followed  by a remarkable parry up in the air for wicketkeeper Ben Foakes to snaffle, with Karunaratne again the victim of brilliant England fielding.

Jennings insisted afterwards England's heroics in the field was "no fluke" crediting assistant coach – and former England all-rounder – Paul Collingwood for making a "big impact" on the team.

England's Jack Leach celebrates with his teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dilruwan Perera. Reuters
England's Jack Leach celebrates with his teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dilruwan Perera. Reuters

English trio prove kings of spin at home of Muralitharan

It would be rude not to mention England's spin trio after their efforts on the dusty Sri Lankan tracks.

Jack Leach, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid took 19 of the 20 wickets in Pallekele, with the former claiming eight in the match – including 5-43 in the second innings – in only his second Test.

Moeen is now the series' joint-leading wicket taker with 14 and Rashid, while still guilty of throwing down far too many pies and giving away easy runs, has still produced the odd unplayable snorter to justify his selection.

Few will ever get close to matching the exploits or the skills of local hero Muttiah Muralitharan, but the three English spinners have just made their own little marks on Murali’s home turf.

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews has scored three half centuries so far in this Test series. AFP
Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews has scored three half centuries so far in this Test series. AFP

Mathews proves the one bright spark for hosts

It has been a turbulent time in the career of Sri Lankan batsman Angelo Mathews. He stepped down as captain in all three formats last year – following an ODI series defeat to Zimbabwe – but was coaxed back to lead the ODI team … only to be axed following the team's poor show in this year's Asia Cup in the UAE.

Furious at being made a "scapegoat" for their early exit, Mathews flirted with retirement before he was dropped ahead of the recent ODI series with England with selectors questioning his attitude and fitness.

But Mathews has reacted in impressive fashion  with three half centuries in this Test series while the rest of his teammates have failed miserably with the bat. He looked set for a match-winning century with the second Test in the balance before Moeen had him trapped lbw. It would have been an emphatic point well made for a player who has put through the wringer by those in charge of the national side. "My stats will speak on behalf of me," Mathews said.

England's Joe Root has endured an up and down year with the bat, but he has come of age as the leader of the national Test side. The manner in which he captained England to Test series victories at home against India and away to Sri Lanka is commendable, and a hundred in difficult conditions during the Pallekele Test marks him for potential greatness. Reuters
England's Joe Root has endured an up and down year with the bat, but he has come of age as the leader of the national Test side. The manner in which he captained England to Test series victories at home against India and away to Sri Lanka is commendable, and a hundred in difficult conditions during the Pallekele Test marks him for potential greatness. Reuters

Tide turns as Root grows into captain's role

The pressure was well and truly on Root going into this series. Without an away win as captain and struggling for runs after a disastrous tour of Australia and New Zealand, where England lost five out of seven Tests, Sri Lanka  looked a tough destination to restore confidence. But restore confidence he has and England have won all of the key moments over the two Tests.

Root's magnificent 124 on Day 3 in Pallekele, with the match firmly in the balance, tipped the match in England's favour. The Yorkshireman said afterwards that his 15th Test century was one of his finest and put England on their way to their first series win in Sri Lanka since 2001.

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Moeen Ali and Jack Leach spin England to first Test victory in Galle

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UAE SQUAD

UAE team
1. Chris Jones-Griffiths 2. Gio Fourie 3. Craig Nutt 4. Daniel Perry 5. Isaac Porter 6. Matt Mills 7. Hamish Anderson 8. Jaen Botes 9. Barry Dwyer 10. Luke Stevenson (captain) 11. Sean Carey 12. Andrew Powell 13. Saki Naisau 14. Thinus Steyn 15. Matt Richards

Replacements
16. Lukas Waddington 17. Murray Reason 18. Ahmed Moosa 19. Stephen Ferguson 20. Sean Stevens 21. Ed Armitage 22. Kini Natuna 23. Majid Al Balooshi

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WOMAN AND CHILD

Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

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Power: 268bhp / 536bhp
Torque: 343Nm / 686Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
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On sale: Later this year
The biog

Marital status: Separated with two young daughters

Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo

Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian

Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness

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Section 375

Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat

Director: Ajay Bahl

Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL

Rating: 3.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Results

STAGE

1 . Filippo Ganna (Ineos) - 0:13:56

2. Stefan Bissegger (Education-Nippo) - 0:00:14

3. Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:21

4. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 0:00:24

5. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) - 0:00:30

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION

1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) - 4:00:05

2. Joao Almeida (QuickStep) - 0:00:05

3. Mattia Cattaneo (QuickStep) - 0:00:18

4. Chris Harper (Jumbo-Visma) - 0:00:33

5. Adam Yates (Ineos) - 0:00:39

PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA

Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore

Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com

Sri Lanka v England

First Test, at Galle
England won by 211

Second Test, at Kandy
England won by 57 runs

Third Test, at Colombo
From Nov 23-27