Watch: Prabath Jayasuriya bowled Harry Brook with an unplayable delivery at Old Trafford, turning from leg to take out off stump and leave England five down.
Following being bowled out on day one, Sri Lanka made consistent inroads into England's batting lineup when play got underway on the afternoon of day two in Manchester. Ben Duckett was out lbw to Asitha Fernando, before Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence were also dismissed within the first 20 overs of the innings. However, Joe Root combined with Brook to form England's first meaningful partnership of the day, the pair putting on 58 runs together before Root nicked behind.
With Chris Woakes carded at seven as part of England's new-look balance in the absence of Ben Stokes, Brook's partnership with Smith for the fifth wicket was crucial. Leading the partnership, Brook reached his half-century off 59 balls, the 14th time he's passed 50 for England in 16 Test matches. The pair brought up their 50-stand in the following over, creeping England towards the 200 mark.
Shortly after Tea, however, Brook was dealt an unplayable ball from Jayasuriya. The Old Trafford pitch had already showed signs of turn on day one, with Shoaib Bashir picking up three wickets. Jayasuriya, though, had struggled to find similar turn until the wicket delivery he sent down to Brook. Bowling around the wicket and pitching the ball on middle stump, the ball gripped in the pitch and turned away from Brook, sneaking past his outside edge and hitting the top of his off stump. The amount of turn Jayasuriya generate prompted Mark Butcher to label the delivery on commentary "an absolute jaffa".
That wicket brought Woakes to the crease alongside Smith, with England still 49 runs behind. Matt Potts is slated to come in after Woakes, with Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood and Shoaib Bashir making up the rest of the tail.
Watch: Jayasuriya bowls Brook with 'absolute jaffa'
How good was this from Prabath Jayasuriya?! 😱
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 22, 2024
Stay for Harry Brook's reaction 👀 pic.twitter.com/jccdpKd3Sw
Take a bow Prabath Jayasuriya 🤩
— Mr. Ali shaikh (@MrAlishaikh7) August 22, 2024
What a delivery to remove Harry Brook for 56 👏 #ENGvsSL #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/1VlYJsZ1Kw
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