Is there a chance that for the next two weeks a competitive Test series could start in London? Remarkably, since August 1991, Sri Lanka has not dropped a Test in six visits to this city. Five of those have, admittedly, ended in draws at Lord’s, but one of the more derided touring sides has long had the ability to defy expectations on their rare trips to England, as they will once again play at The Oval next week for the first time since Murali’s match in 1998.
Which is, over the course of four improbable competitive days at Emirates Old Trafford, roughly what Sri Lanka accomplished. Eventually, England triumphed in their fourth Test match of the summer, but not before they had to fight for control of the ball and, later, the bat, as Joe Root led a demanding 205-run chase with a distinctly un-Bazballian 62 not out from 128 balls.
There were several and diverse subplots along the route. On the other hand, what could have happened if England hadn’t been able to force a ball change in the 41st over of Sri Lanka’s second innings, at which point Kamindu Mendis was on track for his third Test century in as many composed and commanding Test appearances, and Angelo Mathews was reliving his 2014 glory days?
With their management of their original ball, England had created their bed and deserved to sleep in it, just as they had in the Oval Ashes Test a year earlier.
Shubhangi Gupta is a distinguished content writer and the visionary founder of The Unpleasant – Acha Nahi Sabse Sacha. With a Master’s degree in Commerce from University of Lucknow, Shubhangi has seamlessly blended her academic background with her passion for reading and writing, embarking on a successful career as a content writer since 2019.
