The first two days of the first Test match underlined several lessons for both sides, with England giving Sri Lanka one or two unexpected surprises. The home side can still win, despite being rushed out for 188.
Muttiah Muralitharan has taken four out of six wickets for 30 in 23 overs of weaving his wonderful web while 40 overs among the other bowlers yielded two for 156.
Even the England supporters could only admire his bowling off which only two fours were struck - one desperate mis-placed leg-side hit by Ian Bell and a beautifully-timed reverse sweep by Kevin Pietersen.
Warne fans carp that Murali has cashed in with more than 150 wickets against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh but counter-arguments are that he has played in 29 fewer Tests than the Australian. His return against England and South Africa is superior on all counts - ratio of wickets per Test, average of runs conceded per wicket and, most important of all, strike rate.
Third leading wicket-taker is Anil Kumble who is not exactly short of wickets against the minnows but has 125 fewer despite having played in four more Tests.
A fairly safe forecast is that no bowler will come close to whatever final tally of Test wickets Murali leaves in the record books.
Michael Vaughan talked a good game before the start of the series, emphasising the need for unswerving patience and big hundreds, not just pleasant 70s and 80s, but Ian Bell's 83 was a classic case of a wasted opportunity.
The new-look Bell's body language is such that he is always looking to dominate and he unwisely did so twice in one over. He came down to Murali looking to hit him through the covers but got away with it despite misjudging the length. A couple of balls later he did it again, only to fall to a great catch on the drive at short mid-wicket. Poor shot selection and equally poor execution.
The first day was a personal triumph for Matthew Hoggard, whose four wickets in five overs of brilliantly-controlled swing and seam left Sri Lanka 42 for five on their least favourite home ground where they have lost nine out of 20 Tests. Kumar Sangakkara was the only home batsman to be sure of what to do and how to do it. His footwork was flawless and he waited for the ball rather than go looking as did Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene.
He found a good partner in wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene in a sixth-wicket stand of 106 before Monty Panesar took the first of three wickets.
James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom were steady but now know that if they don't strike in the first 25 overs with the new ball it is all sweat and toil with little reward.
Vaughan knows that his four-man attack might have done him proud on Saturday but his batsmen failed to cash in.
This might be England's best chance in the series of a win but, after two days, it is not as good as it should have been.
