Anderson strikes but rain rules

Kaushal Silva was the first Sri Lanka wicket to fall as a mere 3.4 overs were possible up to tea on a rain-wrecked final day at Lord's

Hundred eludes Hales, wickets elude England

Alex Hales is getting closer to a treasured maiden Test hundred, but he will have to wait a while yet. He was on 94, only six runs short, when he fell only 10 minutes before tea at Lord's

England in front as bowlers hold sway

Nearly 10 years have slipped by while Alastair Cook has been a permanent fixture at the top of England's order in home Tests. In his temporary absence at Lord's because of a bruised knee, England had an unnerving vision of the future

Silva leads Sri Lanka's response on Bairstow's mixed day

For Jonny Bairstow, even on the grandest days the debate about whether England should utilise him as a wicketkeeper or specialist batsmen seems destined to ring loudly

Prolific Bairstow rescues England again

Jonny Bairstow, looking more battle-hardened by the month, completed his third Test hundred in eight innings to rouse England from a problematic opening day in the Lord's Test

The anti-surpassing record, and the Cookie Monster

In an unsatisfying England-Sri Lanka series, some unsatisfying numbers were achieved. At least England's captain got to go berserk at the end

'Frustrated' Hales content with contribution

Alex Hales might have missed out on a maiden century for the third time in the series but he could console himself with the knowledge that he has established himself in England's top order for the foreseeable future

SL flag removed from balcony after no-ball call

The Sri Lanka team were asked to remove the national flag they had displayed on their balcony "to show support" for the side, after suffering an incorrect umpiring decision in the third Test

Hales falls short, England press on

James Anderson reprimanded for disrespect to umpire

James Anderson has been reprimanded by the ICC for showing disrespect to umpire S Ravi on the third day of the Lord's Test against Sri Lanka

Rain has final say as Sri Lanka carry fight

England seamers resume dominance

Come on folks, you need to be realistic

The third day began with much hope for Sri Lanka but it ended with talk of progress being restricted to small moments

Silva finds a new lease of life

Kaushal Silva had always been selected to give Sri Lanka some solidity, but it reached a stage where sometimes he solidified completely. On his return to the side he is striking the ideal balance

Farbrace calls for more, but England show glimpses of future strength

England have plenty room for improvement but, despite more notable batting failures, they have options queuing up in their bid to become the world's best

Facts conspire against Sri Lanka

Some may believe they were victims of misfortune but the truth is Sri Lanka's defeat was at least partly self-inflicted, not the result of a conspiracy.

Bairstow's tatty glovework tells a tale of a neglected skill

Jonny Bairstow has gloriously fast hands when it comes to being one of the world's most in-form batsmen. But they deserted him in his wicketkeeping duties, and it's not entirely his fault

Silva's Lord's love, and England's lower-order runs

Stats highlights from a batsmen-dominated day at Lord's

Bairstow continues to build England's advantage

A not-quite-perfect special-sort-of day

Amid the rainfall and the disappointment of seeing Alex Hales miss out on a maiden Test hundred, there was still a bit of the Lord's magic

England's wicketkeeper policy risks costly damage

It was all going so well for Jonny Bairstow on the second day at Lord's as he moved to a career-best 167, but once again his glovework was left as the talking point

Déjà vu all over again

Early inroads, a dropped catch (or sometimes more than one) and then the opposition middle order leading a recovery. It's a familiar script for Sri Lanka

More haste, less speed would aid England's top order

England are a fun, often thrilling, side to watch - as typified by Jonny Bairstow's Lord's hundred - but they are not making it easy for themselves by frequent top-order wobbles

Bairstow's golden year, Cook's further milestones

Stats highlights from first day's play of the Lord's Test where Cook and Bairstow rescued the England against Sri Lanka

Wobbly England rely on Cook and Bairstow

Umpire's call margin likely to be reduced

Mahela Jayawardene has confirmed that a recommendation has been made to reduce the margin of umpire's call on the DRS, which would lead to more batsmen being given lbw

Pradeep 'unlucky' to miss out on five-for

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford said Nuwan Pradeep was unlucky to miss out on a Lord's five-wicket haul, given the quality of his bowling in the second innings

Alastair Cook challenges England to end their final-Test blues

In their last five series - against West Indies, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa - England have been defeated in their final outing

Ford calls for better county opposition

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford has suggested his team's approach to the series has been less than ideal

Lord's factor offers beleaguered Sri Lanka a boost

ESPNcricinfo previews the third Test between England and Sri Lanka at Lord's