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Giles puts Lanka on the backfoot

By Ted Corbett

GALLE Dec. 2. We only had time for overture and beginners as the first day of the opening Test splashed and spluttered in the rain, the bane of the coastal plain. So far it has killed two of three one-day internationals here but 60 overs were squeezed into broken play today and, led by the renaissance of Ashley Giles's left-arm spin, England was on top with Sri Lanka a hesitant 138 for four.

It was Giles' day with three wickets for 13 in 10 overs — after a dismal year when he had taken only 10 Test wickets at 68 apiece — and a struggle to reshape his action but he refused to be overjoyed. "It is the first day of the battle and there are 15 more to go," he said.

During the next four days the overture may be the most important part of this match even though the beginner Paul Collingwood has held two sharp catches near the bat.

A couple of hours before he made the 15-minute coach trip from the hotel to ground, Nasser Hussain, former captain and the rock of the batting line-up, complained of feeling unwell and long before the delayed toss he was clearly suffering from a virus and unable to take any part which allowed Collingwood to begin his Test life.

He is only the second true man of Durham to gain a Test cap after Steve Harmison, the fast bowler who would be in the side if he were fit. Oddly, Hussain first came to the attention of the selectors while he was at Durham University 15 years ago.

Cement had to be poured on to the wettest parts of the ground before it could be declared fit half an hour late. Ironically, the weather was fine, the sun hot and conditions perfect when Michael Vaughan, the England captain, lost the toss yet again; seven times out of nine Tests in only half a year as captain.

The 90 minutes before lunch were less than dramatic as Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu put on 46 in 21 overs. Ten minutes later came the first hint of incipient rain when the ground boys marched along the boundary and crouched by their covers.

At 83 for one, after Jayasuriya had found that Giles had truly learnt the tricks he hopes will transform the second half of his Test career and edged a catch to Collingwood at short leg, heavy rain delayed play for two hours.

Even then there were few signs of the trouble to come. Instead of going on to make another big score Atapattu gloved a catch off Andrew Flintoff in the middle of an intelligent spell, but at 88 for two, Sri Lanka was poised to make the big score that would ensure Muttiah Muralitharan could spin his magic until England was desperate to head off for Kandy and the next Test.

At 132, Giles switched to the Fort End and in the space of three overs taunted Mahele Jayawardene until he gave Collingwood his second catch and teased Hashan Tillekeratne until he aimed a savage cut at a rising ball and allowed Chris Read to prove that his skill level is as high as any recent England 'keeper.

Kumar Sangakkara, as tough a No. 3 batsman-wicketkeeper as you will find anywhere in the world, survived along with Thilan Samaraweera until darkness and the threat of an evening shower brought play to a close.

If Sri Lanka is to run up a score to make Muralitharan's life easy, everything hinges on these two batsmen.

This ground is steeped in character. Crows fly in, hunt for their dinner, and politely move to one side whenever they feel cricketers need their own space. It would still be charming even if one did not have the Fort in the background and glimpses of the sea and 150 helpers to take the covers on and off.

So, why did those in charge allow a sponsor's balloon to perch behind the Fort End sightscreen, distracting the batsmen and spoiling the view? To be fair, the scene had already been roughed up by banners, national flags, messages to folk back home and a garish rest home for the travelling support.

I know cricket has gone utterly commercial but this undignified display of sponsor's power did nothing to improve the game's image.

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