PLAYER RATINGS: Joe Root starts 2021 with a bang but England's openers endure tough introduction

The Cricketer runs the rule over the individual performances of both sets of players during the first Test between Sri Lanka and England in Galle

Sri Lanka v England: 1st Test scorecard

SRI LANKA

Lahiru Thirimanne (4 & 111): Under intense scrutiny, the left-hander came up with a gem of a second-innings century to put his country back in the game. More than six per cent of all the balls he has faced in Tests - that’s 37 matches and 72 innings spread across 10 years - came in that knock in Galle as he frustrated England and punished lacklustre spin bowling. 8.5

Kusal Perera (20 & 62): After an abject dismissal in the first innings, caught at slip reverse sweeping the second ball bowled by an England spinner in Asia in 27 months, Perera was much more accomplished in the second. Brave, withstanding a blow to the hand from Wood, he remains an excellent watch when in full flow. 7

Kusal Mendis (0 & 15): By nicking off to Stuart Broad second ball in the first innings, Mendis completed a miserable run of four consecutive Test ducks. He got off the mark second time around but looked nervous and scratchy. Very good close to the wicket in the field. 2.5

Angelo Mathews (27 & 71): Nearly 100 runs in the match for Sri Lanka’s veteran batsman, who was a big reason why England were made to bat again. Would have been disappointed at the timing of his dismissal in the first innings, when Sri Lanka were looking to rebuild. 7.5

Dinesh Chandimal (28 & 20): Sri Lanka needed an innings of note from their stand-in captain in this match. On occasion, his shot selection was a little hung-ho - especially when hitting aerially through the covers. 4

Niroshan Dickwella (12 & 29): In and out in both innings, attempting to cut on each occasion. Lively behind the stumps, as ever, though his exuberance does seem to hamper Sri Lanka’s DRS decision-making process. 4

^{Centurion Lahiru Thirimanne}

Dasun Shanaka (23 & 4; 0-22 & DNB): A low-key game for the allrounder, who did not get much of a chance to bowl and could not help stabilise the lower order with the bat. 3

Wanindu Hasaranga (19 & 12; 0-63 & 0-4): Disappointing with the ball. Did not make England's batsmen uncomfortable. 3

Dilruwan Perera (0 & 24; 4-109 & 0-34): Four first-innings wickets came despite Perera failing to get anywhere near his best with the ball. Contributed good runs in Sri Lanka's second innings. 4

Lasith Embuldeniya (0 & 0; 3-176 & 2-29): By far the best of Sri Lanka's bowlers, Embuldeniya extracted turn and bounce from a helpful surface throughout and gave his side a brief flicker of hope on the fourth evening. 7.5

Asith Fernando (0* & 0*; 2-44 & DNB): Did not get a great deal of time with ball in hand. Showed he is more than capable by taking two wickets in two balls in England's first innings. 6

^{Joe Root is congratulated on his first-innings 228 by Angelo Mathews}

ENGLAND

Dom Sibley (4 & 2): Not the start to a tour of the subcontinent the opener would have wanted. Bowled off a leave in the second innings, with a modest target in England’s sights, will not have helped confidence. Rory Burns is due to return to the squad for India. 2

Zak Crawley (9 & 6): A game to forget for the young batsman. Out playing aggressive shots early in his innings on both occasions. Learned to deal with spin as an opener for the first time in first-class cricket - will hope to make amends in the second Test with Rory Burns due to return for India. 2

Jonny Bairstow (47 & 35*): Once again showed tremendous aptitude against spin on the subcontinent, which bodes well at the start of a six-Test trip to Asia. Knew he needed to deliver, and he didn't let his side down. 7.5

Joe Root (228 & 1; DNB & 0-19): Magnificent with the bat, dictating the rhythm of the England first innings from start to finish. Captained well, caught with assurance, generally oozed positivity. Such a big year for the skipper, and he could not have hoped for a better start, despite the disastrous run out in the second innings. 9.5

Dan Lawrence (73 & 21*; DNB & 0-10): Excellent against spin in difficult conditions on debut, in differing circumstances in the first and second innings. England will be hugely encouraged by this performance, given the need to rotate the squad this winter. 8

Jos Buttler (30 & DNB): A useful 30 with the bat but the big takeaway from Buttler’s performance in Galle came by way of his wicketkeeping. Reliable behind the stumps, he produced a pair of excellent catches in tricky circumstances, maintained his concentration, and survived the physical test of keeping in humid, hot conditions. Added a first Test stumping, too. 8

^{Root made his first Test ton since November 2019}

Sam Curran (0 & DNB; 0-8 & 2-37): Used sparingly by Joe Root throughout the game. Came up with two wickets at crucial times in the second Sri Lankan innings - one with a miserable long-hop, one with a cracking late inducker - to get rid of the home side’s openers. Bowled first ball in his one trip to the middle. 5

Dom Bess (0 & DNB; 5-30 & 3-100): Helped himself to one of the less attractive five-fors in Test history in the first innings and struggled for line, length and control early in the second. Improved as the innings went on, however, and showed encouraging signs ahead of a big tour of India. 6

Jack Leach (4 & DNB; 1-55 & 5-122): After a miserable 15 months, during which Leach has struggled with serious illness and been left as a non-playing member of bio-secure bubbles, this was an important match for the Somerset man. He responded with a solid performance, mixing drift, flight, shape and good turn at times. Like Bess, went through fluctuations in terms of his control of the rhythm of the game. 7

Mark Wood (2 & DNB; 0-21 & 0-49): Having raw pace in an attack in these conditions made a difference for England. Though he went wicketless, Wood was threatening - he hurt both Kusal Perera and Mathews at times, and kept Sri Lanka out of their comfort zone. 6

Stuart Broad (11* & DNB; 3-20 & 0-14): Twenty-six overs for 34 runs illustrates perfectly how good Broad was in this Test. In three previous matches in Sri Lanka, he had combined figures of 3 for 249 from 82 overs, having struggled for incision or control. Here, he employed variations in pace, a tighter line, and well-disguised legcutters to excellent effect. His economy rate in the second innings - 0.82 - was extraordinary. 9

All pictures courtesy of Sri Lanka Cricket