If an owner treated a dog like Sri Lanka are England, allowing them to slowly fry under a hot sun, he would be locked up. The last hour of the lunch/tea session has knocked the stuffing out of England and they absolutely shattered. But this is what Test match cricket is all about - wearing an opponent down before jumping in for the kill.

Slightly surprised Sri Lanka have not been more positive with the bat. When do you thinks they will declare? If England could hold on for a draw the match at Galle, on a virgin pitch, could be a lottery and the series could be drawn. Or are we clutching at straws.

Well, I think Jayawardene is not the most enterprising of captains, and his timidity may well work against him here. The pitch is taking some spin, but England may well manage the escape that they came close to in the Kandy test match. If they do, Jayawardene will be rightly blamed for wasting time (and, in the process, producing excruciatingly dull cricket at points). Will Murali win the game for them? He has taken wickets, but often quite slowly, and looks less of a terror than he once was. With some discipline by England (and some competence by Harper!) I would back England to save this one. Looking further ahead, one has to ask whether Sri Lanka will be ompetitive once Murali retires (surely in the next three years). My guess is that they will draw most of their home series, and win one Test in five abroad. They bat well on flat pitches, but their bowling, without Murali, looks inconsistent. Vaas is a veteran, also due to retire soon, and then the cupboard really does start to look bare.

Suffering? Yes, and no. The old line by Nietszche about what does not kill me makes me stronger comes to mind. I would argue that Vaughan and Cook are tough enough to deal with the punishment, and that Sri Lanka have lost the hours when the ball might do a little, and will now be bowling in the heat, on a flat pitch. This may mean no new ball next morning, when it would be more dangerous. The bowlers will be more than a bit weary tonight, but these are fit, young sportsmen, and I don't see them collapsing at the wicket. What matters now is attitude. If England steel themselves and regard gaining a draw here as a victory, then they can do it. If they deapair and try and go out in a blaze of glory with some reckless shots, then no chance. Think of how Sri Lanka will feel if they don't win, after wasting so much time for pointless runs.

I suspect Jaywardene is planning to give England half an hour at the end of the day. Awkward, but not impossible. But time is surely more important than Jayawardene appears to believe. This leisurely march onwards is beginning to look rather silly. Every over Jayawardene wastes is now a gain for England.

Well, I am still going to put my faith in the draw. Out of interest, where do the commentators feel England really are in terms of their standing in the Test world? Are they in development? Sinking back? Still more or less worth number 2 in the world? I feel the one day side is getting its act together, but that the Test side is still trying to recover from the injuries to Jones and Flintoff, while the batting is getting stronger, but lacks some experience. I am very heartened by Prior's dramatic improvement, but slightly depressed by the unpredictable nature of Ian Bell. How does he look so good one game, and then so mediocre then next?

Alas, I fear England to lose by an hour after teatime. I just don't think that they quite have enough self-belief for a dour dogged struggle like this. I think that they should be encouraged by the determination of the bowlers on a nothing track that really should not be used for Test cricket. Sorry, but this sort of pitch really is a waste of time. It works if you have the unique Murali, but without him, Sri Lanka are never going to bowl sides out on this sort of track. I would guess that no side in the world without Murali would have much to gain here. Post Murali, my bet is that games here are almost always going to be very dull draws, with numerous meaningless hundreds. Dig it up, and start again.

Hmm, I would never have picked the Sun to host a columnist with a fine German style who was essential to the development of modern philosophy. Still, perhaps there is hope for us all! What next, an autobiography actually written by the player in question? I agree the pitch is turning, although bounce out of the rough is not really unusual. I think that England have done better against Murali, and that come tomorrow we shall see them grinding him down more than was previously the case. Unless Vaas can get the new ball to do something, I believe England will survive with 4 wickets in hand.

Australia remain so far ahead of the rest, though less outstanding than once they were, that the judgement on the rest is clouded. England may still be - just - number two amid a group which is much of a muchness in terms of overall ability. England are rebuilding and it will take time. Bell is infuriating but he is also a class act. He remains unsure of how best to stamp his authority. Another enigma in the making maybe.

Are you saying players don't write their own books? The horror of it! Next you'll say they don't write their own columns... I suppose we should not ask about whether people actually read the Sun? As for Bell, perhaps he is destined to be the great tease of England batting. Funny, because he seems to be straightforward as a person, very determined, and obviously has a good technique. I was amazed by his latest innings. Is it a matter of rhythm - that he can sometimes lose that rhythm, gets bogged down, and then doesn't know quite what to do? (Not very scientific, I know!). I reckon though that Prior has made the wicketkeeper's post his own for the future - and with some style. If England can get the bowlers fit, and the batsmen are a bit more experienced,they might really look like number two - and perhaps challenge Australia. I just don't think Australia have the bowling attack to dominate any longer.

The Australia v Sri Lanka series was not a true reflection of their health. It will be interesting to see how their bowlers respond when they are bowled out for 220 on a flat pitch. Warne and McGrath will be missed.

Brenks, do you think something like D.Pringle's unfair mauling of Bell in the Telegraph for the shot he played in Kandy could have affected the way he batted in the first innings? We know he read it.

I agree about Broad, but we should say that Harmison had his best day for most of the last two years. He really worked incredibly hard, and deserved more than he got. Could this be Harmy's Second Coming?

Patience is needed for this England side. Vaughan refers to their shortage of expertise. Harmison was super, thriving on the overs. Broad is a work in progress but he has self-belief, uncluttered by Nietszche or, probably, Deidre.

Mr Brenkley, are we to infer that you are not a fan of the great Friedrich? Say it ain't so! Please, leave me some illusions!

An elegant response, Mr Brenkley! It is interesting to contrast Bell and Cook. Both have received predictions of golden futures. Cook looks utterly unruffled, and obviously loves building an innings. Bell might have more natural talent - but perhaps knows it. I think that he was probably thrown in a year too early - and may have sustained some damage to his self-confidence. On the Test match - bad light stops play! Jayawardene did bat for 30-40 minutes too long, in my opinion.