Sri Lanka’s interim head coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, hailed his team’s ability to frustrate Harry Brook as a key factor in their fightback on the second day of the Kia Oval Test. England, who had dominated the first day, lost their last seven wickets for 104 runs, with Brook’s careless batting setting the tone.
Brook, who had been given out to his third ball of the day but successfully overturned the decision, was dropped on 12 and then mocked the Sri Lankan bowlers by taking guard outside off stump. However, his frustration boiled over when he flashed a drive to short cover, triggering a collapse that saw England lose seven wickets for 64 runs.
“He was frustrated because we bowled well, with the right line and length,” Jayasuriya said. “We know their strong areas, and we kept them tight and frustrated.”
Michael Vaughan, commentating for the BBC, criticized England’s unfocused performance, particularly Brook’s lack of discipline. “He is a brilliant player, but he needs to be careful,” Vaughan said. “There are tougher challenges ahead, and he can’t take the mick out of the game.”
Jayasuriya, who was one of the most attacking batters in Test history, advised Brook to manage his tempo better. “You can’t go in top gear all the time,” he said. “You need to take less risk and fight hard.”
Sri Lanka reached the close on 211 for 5, trailing by just 114 runs. Jayasuriya praised his team’s resilience and determination. “We go through each and every batsman, like they go through our batsmen,” he said. “We know their very strong areas, and where we can keep them tight and frustrated.”
