Jonny Bairstow, Dan Lawrence seal emphatic seven-wicket win on final morning
Few alarms for England's batsmen in final push after fourth-evening jitters
14/01Result
1st Test, England tour of Sri Lanka at Galle, Jan 14-18 2021
-
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
135 & 359 -
![England]( "England")
421 & 76/3 (24.2 ov)
Player of the Match
14/01Result
1st Test, England tour of Sri Lanka at Galle, Jan 14-18 2021
-
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
135 & 359 -
![England]( "England")
421 & 76/3 (24.2 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 5
Jonny Bairstow's proactive approach smooths England's path to victory
Batsman sets out stall for winter with impressive display after year out of Test team
With Joe Root at the helm, have England fans ever had it so good?
Root's side look increasingly accomplished, bringing much-needed cheer for supporters locked down at home
Stats - England's winning streak in SL, and captain Root equals Cook, Strauss
Stats highlights from Galle, in which two England spinners took five-fors in a Test for the first time since 1982
Day 4
England face nervy final day after Jack Leach battles to five-for
Hectic last hour leaves England needing 36 with seven wickets in hand
Jaded Jack Leach taking nothing for granted after five-wicket comeback
Spinner happy to be healthy again after successful comeback following 14-month absence
Sri Lanka's top five show their mettle - three days too late
With all of their baggage, the top order's rearguard couldn't quite offset a disastrous first innings
Day 3
Joe Root posts majestic 228 but Lahiru Thirimanne stands firm to give SL hope of saving Test
Thirimanne 76* as hosts show much-improved batting performance
Sri Lanka still bugged by batsman error
Dominant position enhanced by desperate decision-making from opponents
Moeen Ali returns to England bubble after release from quarantine
England allrounder unlikely to be match-ready for second Test, but set to resume training
Sri Lanka will hope Lahiru Thirimanne can live up to early expectations, right now
On 76* opener has the chance to do something truly monumental
Day 2
Timely Joe Root century sees England tighten their grip
Lawrence makes fifty on debut as tourists take commanding lead
Stats - Joe Root's 50-plus average in Asia, and Lawrence matches his debut
The statistical highlights from a day that England dominated in Galle
Stats - Joe Root racks up the milestones, and England's run-rate in Sri Lanka
Root becomes the only England captain to score more than one double-century in away Tests
Day 1
Wasteful Sri Lanka skittled for 135 as England take control in Galle
Dom Bess takes five before Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow drive England's reply
Sri Lanka's 135 all out: Anatomy of a collapse
What was going on inside Sri Lanka's dressing room on the first day of the Galle Test?
Stuart Broad's subtleties prove the old dog isn't done with learning
Three first-day wickets at Galle set agenda for England and scotch some preconceptions
Dom Bess admits 'I didn't feel like I bowled very well' after first-day five-for
Offspinner returned his best Test figures as Sri Lanka collapsed
Sri Lanka batting 'the worst I've seen' - Grant Flower
Hosts' batting coach at a loss to explain how they were all out for 135
Joe Root casts off the shackles of captaincy to thrive in low-profile surroundings
England skipper put the burden of his role aside in this fleet-footed, fluent and fun innings
Others
Dan Lawrence lives up to expectations as England's hot-house bears fruit again
Nurtured like a tropical plant, Lawrence's maiden innings may herald the start of a long career
England 'unconcerned' by hotel staff's positive Covid tests
England "are the most compliant team in world cricket", claims team spokesperson
Angelo Mathews: 'Felt like I was playing against Stuart Broad in England'
"The wicket was not offering anything for the fast bowlers but he was still moving the ball."
Made in Somerset: pride as Dom Bess, Jack Leach share 14 wickets in Galle win
Club see spinners' success in Sri Lanka as vindication of decision to prepare helpful home pitches
Joe Root backs Jack Leach and Dom Bess to thrive in attacking spin conditions
Experience of helpful surfaces at Taunton may aid spin twins in first Test alongside one another
Dimuth Karunaratne believes Sri Lanka have the edge on England
With tourists missing several players from 2018 whitewash, skipper senses 'clear advantage' for home side
Mathews, Chandimal boost for struggling Sri Lanka
Mathews will play as specialist batsman; Chandimal set to return after missing second Test in South Africa
Jacques Kallis 'sad' to be surplus to SA requirements as England coaching stint begins
Former great lends expertise to England batsmen in Sri Lanka, and is open to further work
England lean towards three-seamer, two-spinner strategy for first Sri Lanka Test
Joe Root readies himself for a bigger role with the ball in Moeen Ali's absence
With no clear favourites, Sri Lanka vs England is poised to be a thriller
Hosts' wounded and injury returnees throw predictions into further disarray