BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Gus Atkinson can feel hard done by, classy Kumar Sangakkara is still the boss – and how left-field thinking could help Shoaib Bashir and England

England started strongly in their first Test match against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The visitors were dismissed for 236 after an impressive all-round bowling performance from England, who are led by Ollie Pope for the first time due to the absence of Ben Stokes through injury.

Chris Woakes and Shoaib Bashir took three wickets each, while Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood took two and one respectively. Matthew Potts, however, struggled to make his return to the team.

England openers Ben Duckett and Dan Lawrence responded well, but poor light meant the match was halted at 22-0.

Mail Sport columnist DAVID ‘BUMBLE’ LLOYD takes you through some of the stories you may have missed from day one in Manchester.

Reality bites the train

I was out on manoeuvres the night before the Test match and took the tube to Manchester. There was standing room only, so a young man said, ‘Would you like to sit down, sir?’ and gave up his seat for me.

That’s when you know you’re getting old. I think I’m as fit as a fiddle. Others clearly don’t think so.

It’s an Ollie good start

In the morning session we had a great performance from Shoaib Bashir, not comparable to Old Trafford but England were hostile all morning and blew away the top Sri Lanka.

Ollie Pope had a great morning as captain, but when your bowlers are performing you just need to rotate them wisely.

Also a great piece of work by him to remove himself from short leg and throw Dan Lawrence in. Now that’s what I call smart captaincy.

Gus may feel disadvantaged by

I’m not comfortable with Gus Atkinson’s short ball which brought a wicket but was ruled a no-ball as it was the third shoulder-high ball of the over.

The batter played it, put on a glove and the ball was caught. Come on, it’s a test match. It’s meant to be a test!

As Fred Trueman would say, ‘If you can’t bowl bumpers, you shouldn’t bowl at all.’

Bumble’s Legends Lounge

My work for this week is in the 1864 Suite which for this test has been renamed Bumble’s Legends Lounge. They’ve even changed the branding.

It’s a lot of fun, I tell some stories and have a cup of coffee, but what bothers me is that there is quite a bit of drinking going on.

I hope I don’t pay for it as if it were my lounge. I will read the contract and the fine print again because I am not responsible for that!

The stylish Kumar is still the boss

It is a delight to see Kumar Sangakarra on our screens. His elegant dressing is matched only by Dinesh Karthik, India’s wicketkeeper-cum-commentator-cum-style guru.

Kumar is wearing welding goggles in the Manchester sun, probably made by one of those fashion houses like Hugo Boss. I like the sound of Huge Boss welding goggles.

Thinking left would help Shoaib

England have shown what they are made of with Shoaib Bashir as their best spinner. What will help him in the Ashes is a fast left-hander who bowls over the wicket so he can work with those footprints.

It doesn’t have to be a showstopper, as this team chooses players based on their aptitude, rather than their stats.

Just look at Bashir and Jamie Smith as examples. There is a pattern here, so don’t be surprised if we get an absolute bolter who is left-handed.

Josh Hull has been to the Lions and now there is a chance for others to get a chance too.

Jimmy has been set up!

I found Jimmy Anderson’s presentation at the luncheon interesting. They gave him a framed shirt with his own name on it, but I don’t know where he’s going to hang it.

I don’t have any shirts hanging in my house with my name on them to remind me of who I am, and I don’t think Jimmy is one of those guys either.