Debutant Foakes steadies England against Sri Lanka

Herath keeps his date with 100th Test wicket at Galle

England’s Ben Foakes made a memorable debut to help the tourists recover from a terrible start and reach 321 for eight wickets on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

With England reeling at 10 for two and then 103 for five, even the 200-mark looked difficult but Foakes forged 50-plus stands with Jos Buttler and Sam Curran to drag them back into the contest.

Foakes, replacing the injured Jonny Bairstow in the side, was batting on 87 at stumps, having been impressive with his batting while his glovework remains to be seen.

It was the golden arm of retiring 40-year-old Rangana Herath that ended Root’s 62run stand with Jennings. Herath yorked an advancing Root to claim his 100th wicket at the venue where he made his Test debut in 1999.