Substandard Sri Lanka and England's new look... ENGLAND V SRI LANKA TALKING POINTS

NICK HOWSON AT THE SWALEC STADIUM: Cardiff tries to bring the noise and Chris Jordan catches everything as England go 1-0 up in the three-match series

Scorecard

England men's cricket fixtures - summer 2021: Full schedule and dates

Bad timing for Cardiff

Cultural and sporting events have been hopscotching their way across the calendar in recent months, crossing their fingers that government intervention won't torpedo their big day.

Due to the different strategy adopted by the Welsh hierarchy, it has taken slightly longer to get fans back to grounds in this part of the world.

Glamorgan have been able to negotiate the return of 2,982 supporters for their Blast matches, and these back-to-back T20Is in the Welsh capital have a similar number.

It was almost reassuring to see on my way to the ground that at least one stag do was able to hold onto their tickets, many of which would have been refunded when it became clear Covid restrictions would not be lifted sufficiently for a fuller attendance.

Sophia Gardens has never been a venue for great atmospheres. I've been here for an Ashes Test and it was rather gentle in the circumstances.

The main noise was coming from the Sri Lanka fans who had managed to make their way to the Welsh capital. England's only really responded when things went their way, but there was plenty of that.

It was revealed this week that the Sri Lanka ODIs had been added to the government pilot scheme. There is a slightly different dynamic at play, but you wonder why an agreement couldn't have reached in time for these T20s? More spectators would have injected this contest with some much-needed impetus.

Sophia Gardens only hosts one more international game - the first ODI of that 50-over series - and then we have The Hundred's matches with Welsh Fire.

But you can still have some sympathy for their misfortune.

^{Chris Jordan now has 34 catches in T20Is}

Sri Lanka in the blocks

One sad casualty of this summer was the cancellation of the tour matches during the early part of the summer for New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The Sri Lankans had been due to face Kent and Sussex on June 18 and 20, which would have been wonderful events down at Canterbury and Hove.

Instead, the touring party have had to warm up using intra-squad matches; preparation which most teams have been forced into during the pandemic.

One interesting dynamic of cricket in the Covid era is games have either been in intense clusters or spread out. You can play an unseemly amount of games, before going weeks without one.

Most of Sri Lanka's squad have gone a month since their last competitive outing against Bangladesh in the ODI series.

And on a breezy night in south Wales, they looked every inch a rusty outfit lacking a bit of match practice. They grew into it but the result was a formality once they got going.

All of these England players have been performing in the Blast. In Mark Wood's case, he was last seen at Edgbaston in the New Zealand Test series.

Hopefully, we get something better in the second game and then at Southampton.

Chris Jordan's bucket hands

Mickey Arthur has cut quite the dejected figure in recent meetings with England.

You suspect Sri Lanka's batting display will hardly have filled him with joy on what was an inauspicious start to the series.

The continued desire to keep trying to take on Chris Jordan, who possesses one of world cricket's safest pair of hands, would have been among his chief frustrations.

Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga all tried to take on the Sussex Sharks man, with predictable outcomes.

Add that to the wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka in the fifth over and it was another storming display from the 32-year-old, who very subtly has become a key figure in Eoin Morgan's plans.

An increasing amount of exposure to franchise cricket has made a tangible difference to Jordan's output over the last three or four years. During that period he's had spells at the Big Bash, Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League and Indian Premier League.

Jordan could previously get lined up by batters. But he's come up with good variations, of length and pace, and developed into a complete performer.

And in the field he is imperious. He now has 34 catches in T20Is, just seven behind his captain Morgan, with David Miller top of the tree on 61.

^{Dasun Shanaka kicked off his tour with a much-needed half-century}

England's rubbish kit

Since nations identified T20 merchandise as a separate revenue stream, England have kept it simple with their kits.

Red. Sometimes a collar, sometimes not. Simple has been the name of the game.

Only in 2017 did manufacturers New Balance deviate away from the tried and tested method. The kit with blue stripes across was an atrocity.

The 2021 effort, however, is on a different level.

Red body. Fine, leave it there yeah? Blue wavey effect on the front. Ok, but that's enough. Red slashes across the front like you've been attacked by a bear? Please no. And could we make it purple?

You're required to part with £60 for this gem. Maybe in 10 years this will become the sought-after item, only worn by those dedicated to the Barmy Army cause.

But I suspect not.

Gun fielder

Danushka Gunathilaka produced the moment of an otherwise substandard night with a wonderful diving catch to help dismiss Jason Roy.

As the England opener looked to smear the ball over extra cover, he didn't quite connect and he got Gunathilaka into the game.

The 30-year-old timed his leap to his left-hand side perfectly and pulled off a brilliant double-handed effort. Had it meant more to the outcome it might have provoked some more hysterical celebrations, but there is little doubting it was the highlight of the evening.

It took a flying catch to dismiss Jason Roy!#ENGvSLpic.twitter.com/TEWS2uAHJh

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) June 23, 2021

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