Sri Lanka’s spirit and discipline juxtaposed the piss-takey approach and yeah-whatever attitude of their hosts
For England this was a weary, slightly seasick way end to the Test match summer. Not weary in the literal sense, although Chris Woakes looked tired and an injured Gus Atkinson was pointlessly over-bowled as Sri Lanka completed a beautifully clinical eight-wicket victory at the Oval.
But weary of spirit, weary of spectacle, filled with red-ball Weltschmerz – it was a strange, oddly tension-less day all round. Is this the promised end or vision of that horror? Dunno. But Pathun Nissanka is batting like a god. The Oval food court is half-empty. Sri Lanka flags are flying in the freezing air of the Bedser upper stand. There was life here. But what else is in that mix?