Dickwella the joker, Root records and Galle FOMO... TEST MATCH TALKING POINTS

NICK HOWSON: Have England got selection right for India, did DRS make a mistake and how happy are the Sri Lanka tourist board?

Sri Lanka v England: Second Test scorecard

James Anderson conquers nerves and critics to remain England's man for all conditions

Dickwella talks the talk

A maiden Test century for Niroshan Dickwella on day two would have been one of the best-received landmark scores in this format in recent times.

Modern-day elite sport doesn't deliver characters with the regularity that it used to.

The temperament required to make it at the very highest level of any discipline can blight individuality.

On the flip side of that, we end up cherishing those who entertain us more than ever.

Dickwella is one of the great personalities of international cricket. He is a constant source of entertainment behind the stumps, goading opponents without flirting with being derogatory.

This is the same guy who in the first Test went to high-five a teammate, caught him full in the face, and barely apologised.

Per the internet, the 27-year-old once asked the Sri Lanka team manager to Google Translate an insult into Urdu mid-way through a match so he could sledge Pakistan's players.

During the Australia Test series in 2019, his exchanges with Usman Khawaja caught the eye. Dickwella warned the Aussie he was close to being dropped after a run of low scores. Khawaja later helped himself to a century.

The best sledgers never miss a trick. Dickwella certainly did his research before digging into Jonny Bairstow on day three, raising the decision to miss the start of next month's India Test series.

"You know he's been dropped for the India tour, come on boys," he barked. Five deliveries later, the Yorkshireman was walking off having been caught off bat and pad.

Later, he asked centurion Joe Root for one of his bats. No news yet on whether the England captain will oblige.

Never stop, Niroshan.

Lots of chat from Dickwella 😂#SLvENGpic.twitter.com/cLiukdaWMF

— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) January 24, 2021

India selection causes consternation

England's selection policy for the first two India Tests in Chennai has certainly caused some healthy debate in the last few days.

You'll have seen that Jos Buttler will fly home after the first match, with Bairstow, Mark Wood and Sam Curran all rested for the opening half of the series.

It comes after Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer were rested for the Sri Lanka Tests. Rory Burns is returning too after the birth of his first child and there is hope his Surrey teammate Ollie Pope will join him.

These decisions have been taken in light of the relentless schedule, which is made all the more demanding by the bio-secure bubbles which largely restrict players to their hotels.

Joe Root's side already have 15 Tests in the calendar and that is likely to grow further. They played 17 in 2016.

Rightly, particular attention is being paid to the mental health of these players given the unique conditions the sport is currently being played in.

Of course, the unforgiving schedule includes franchise competitions, namely the Indian Premier League.

The ECB's stance on overseas leagues has changed in recent years. Once frowned upon, they are credited with playing a key role in the improvement of players and considered very much part of the calendar for England players.

But that acceptance means the selectors now have to take them into account when selecting squads. And that is where the angst comes from.

Some would prefer England selected for England. Not Sunrisers Hyderabad or Chennai Super Kings, where Bairstow and Curran will return to later in the year. Our managing editor Huw Turbervill is among them.

Former captain Nasser Hussain agrees and would prefer to see a first-choice XI begin the series. Rob Key concurs.

He told Sky Sports: "If the next Test after this series was Brisbane in the Ashes, would we send our best side? So why when it's the first Test against India, one of the great sides, aren't we sending our best team?.

Key added: "This is probably one of the best India teams they have ever had. They have beaten Australia in Australia and England are potentially going in there without their best team at times."

^{Sri Lanka's early optimism quickly dissipated}

The dilemma isn't helped when Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley are seemingly struggling against spin, and Bairstow looks more comfortable. When you add in Burns and Stokes the top five suddenly looks like quite formidable.

Personally, I am staggered Bairstow, who has strived to get back in this Test XI has agreed to give up his place soon after reclaiming it. This team is much easier to stay in than get in.

The reality, however, is these are unusual times are not being given enough attention. If the ECB are happy to laud the benefits of the IPL (it is a T20 World Cup year in India too) then they have little choice but to accommodate it.

Tests are never going to be the right place to make compromises. It is a slippery slope if England start not taking them seriously.

Having indulged these overseas competitions, the ECB are in a tough spot if they want to start rowing back on that stance. We're probably too far down the road.

Galle overheads

If Matt Hancock is indeed off to Cornwall for his summer holiday, how many people will be heading to Sri Lanka when the next opportunity arrives?

It has been a fine series for the Galle tourist board and Root. In that order. It has perhaps been the greatest FOMO Test of the Covid-19 era.

The overhead shots provided by the drone operated at the International Stadium have added some much-needed texture to a series where bar the host broadcaster, no media are on-site and with the exception of the odd spectator, there are no fans.

But the shots have also been a reminder of what we're all missing. As if we need another one.

Credit must go to Devindra Guruge, who is providing the mouth-watering shots from the ground.

Our drone for #SLvENG has been getting a lot of love. Here’s the man behind it, @DevindaGuruge - champion! pic.twitter.com/hUr9h15QnE

— Hemant (@hemantbuch) January 23, 2021

Kuldeep licking his lips

Lasith Embuldeniya has been a revelation for Sri Lanka in this series, dismissing both England openers in all three innings so far. He's also now got Bairstow twice.

Looking ahead to the India series, if Burns and Stokes' recall wasn't already assured it has been rubber-stamped by the right-handers' struggles against the turning ball. Unless your name is Root, of course.

The challenge has also been helped by the absence of Ravindra Jadeja, who will miss at least the first two Tests of the series with a fractured thumb suffered in Sydney.

It is expected that he will miss the remaining matches in Ahmedabad too.

Though Ravichandran Ashwin will lead the spinners, could India be tempted into recalling left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav? He has not played a Test for over two years, the last time the side were in Australia.

Much in the same way Kuldeep's omission Down Under was based on conditions, his return would fit the opponent. England's issues against that type of bowling are impossible to ignore and there is a feeling among team management he will be an asset.

"I think he is working hard enough," said India bowling coach Bharat Arun. "He has been excellent. I think horses-for-courses is the policy we use. And mind you, when Kuldeep gets a chance to play, he will show what he can do, because I think he is bowling magnificently now [at nets]. And in India, when we play these four Test matches, that will be his time.

Root records?

It is not too over the top to start considering where Joe Root will finish on the all-time Test run-scorers list.

During this game alone he has moved above David Gower, Kevin Pietersen and Sir Geoffrey Boycott to fourth in the England standings and 26th in the all-time rankings, thanks to his second Test century.

A moderate return during the remainder of 2021 will likely see him shoot into third above Alec Stewart, with Graham Gooch on 8,900 within sight this year.

The two questions remain are, can be become just the second Englishman to 10,000 runs and how close will he get to Sir Alastair Cook's record total?

^{Jos Buttler was given out in fortuitous circumstances}

'Chef' retired on 12,472 runs and fifth on the world list, behind Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar.

If Root plays in all of England's Tests this year he'll reach 115 appearances in the format. It took Cook 114 to reach 9,000 runs and 14 more to get to five figures.

There is a moderately fascinating tussle between himself and Steve Smith in the race to be the next Test player to that 10,000 landmark, with the Australian batsman currently on 7,540 runs from 77 Tests - 22 fewer than Root is on now.

Stick the boot in

There was a degree of controversy regarding the dismissal of Jos Buttler on day three after he was given out following a TV replay.

Sri Lanka adjudged that Buttler's reverse sweep had struck his foot on the full and landed in the hands of Oshada Fernando at short leg.

The soft signal from umpire Kumar Dharmasena was not out, but initial replays appeared to confirm the ball had taken not one but two ricochets off the front foot and into the air.

But the side-on camera, the view of which was obscured by Fernando, was less than conclusive and suggested the ball had lept off the surface.

Buttler had earlier survived being given out in identical circumstances earlier in his innings, with DRS required to settle the matter.

Perhaps most interestingly, the original on-field decision was not out despite the vehement Sri Lanka appeals. For some of the video footage to prove debatable and the decision be reversed was slightly curious.

For me, the right decision was eventually reached. But then again I'm not one of the match officials having to make the call.

Bat 🏏
Boot 👟
Fielder's hands 🤲

Buttler's dismissal ended a 97-run stand with Root for England's fifth wicket - and gave R Mendis a maiden Test scalp #SLvENG 🇱🇰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 24, 2021

Images courtesy of Sri Lanka Cricket