England On Top But Surely ...

Test cricket is less predictable than in previous decades, what with so many of her players caught between the devil and deep blue sea where pirates live and swash their buckle and 400 totals are almost expected each day. The 4th day at Lords between two teams who claim lions as their emblematic inspiration - despite the symbol coming from the same source - was just that ... predictable.

It rained whilst Alistair cook listened to the new Pink album and dreamed of colouring his hair. Jonathan Trott had an indoor net until lunch, finally exhausting the Lords members who offered to bowl endlessly to him in the manner young boys were paid to do the same at Caringbah Oval to a still cherub faced Andrew Hilditch. The fast bowlers smiled, signed autographs but stayed close to their seats. Strauss watched computer profiles of the Sri Lankan tail. Who knows what they did! Its enough to know that England hospitality extended another wet session in this series where flippers and face masks have been as important as thigh pads and helmets.

Sri Lanka finally resumed after lunch but the means justified the end, with Finn and Swann cutting them down in 29 overs and England were batting again by tea. Once Jayawardene left, taken in a good slippers catch by Swann at second for his overnight score, it was just a matter of time. Prasanna tried to keep the tail together but only found Herath of any use. Seven wickets fell for 85 in as clean a dispatch as Strauss might have hoped for. England were like hunters wringing the neck of shot ducks. Steve Finn collected four wickets but it was sketchy performance, often spraying his deliveries, bowling too short but then, producing the wicket taking ball. The best of bowlers at this level are consistent, a lesson he is yet to show a knowledge of.

England's second turn at the crease was more predictability - Cook made runs and is ready to make more tomorrow. All batsmen know that at one point in your career, whether it be Test cricket or 4th grade in Armidale, the fattened cow of runs will be mooing contentedly at your door and it's up to you to milk it for all its worth. Cook has been wandering among the Fresians since the end of the last English summer and he is milking them like a four handed farmer from Taunton. In the words of Paul Kelly, "he's half the bloody side".

Much of the second half is Jonathan Trott, who was more expansive in his innings of 58 with trademark fours driven through the off side and taken from his legs. In complete control, it was a surprise when he played over Herath as the left arm slow bowler trundled through his first over. Trott gives little joy to spinners, having been dismissed only twice by the men of guile in his 32 Test innings. A fact of growing interest however has been lefties of all pace. Trott has fallen to them 11 times - a third of his Test innings, with Australia's slinger Mitchell Johnson having claimed him the most.

In the meantime, a third of his innings have gone past 50 at an average of 64. Nothing much to worry about yet!

Pietersen earned warm or was that ironic applause as he gave a solid defence to Herath in consecutive deliveries to end the over and batted for his longest in the series to date, reaching 15 by the close. England lead by 156 but Strauss will bat on. Its only a three Test series and he leads it 1-0 with one to play. He's seen enough rain this summer to know lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place.