Cook praises Bairstow and Anderson, Stokes doubt

Omnisports

May 21, 2016 5:19 AM

Alastair Cook praised Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson after England's win over Sri Lanka and revealed Ben Stokes is unlikely to play in the second Test.

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Alastair Cook lavished praise on Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson after they inspired England to a crushing victory over Sri Lanka and revealed Ben Stokes looks unlikely to play in the second Test.

The magnificent Anderson took 5-29 to complete his third 10-wicket haul in Test cricket - with match figures of 10-45 - as the tourists were all out for only 119 to lose by an innings and 88 runs inside three days at Headingley.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Bairstow took nine catches in the match after making 140 on his home ground, with Alex Hales scoring 86 as England recovered from 83-5 to post 298 all out.

Anderson and Stuart Broad (4-21) then tore through pitiful Sri Lanka, bowling them out for only 91 in the first innings on day two and England's leading Test wicket-taker tormented them once again on Saturday.

England captain Cook hailed a high class knock from man-of-the-match Bairstow in testing conditions after England made light work of taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on a day in which just over two hours was lost due to rain in Leeds.

Cook said: "I thought the way we went about our business, we were clearly under pressure at 80-5, and the way Alex and Jonny played set up the win.

"Jonny was playing on a different wicket to the other 21 guys, it was an extraordinary innings to set it up.

"Then the bowlers, you don't want to take it for granted but you knew on this kind of wicket if those two bowlers [Anderson and Broad], with the skill we know they've got, it would be really hard for them [Sri Lanka].

"It was a very good performance and I'm really happy for the guys, now we can move on from here."

Cook added on Bairstow's form: "I think in the last two years there has not been a better batsman in England and joining the legends of Yorkshire by scoring a hundred at Headingley must have been a great moment, so I'm really happy for him and I thought he also kept really well.

"And it's great to see Jimmy back to his best after he was not quite being written off in South Africa, but he's got a few more wickets left in him."

Stokes was unable to bowl and spent much of day three off the field due to a knee injury and the all-rounder a big doubt for his home Test at Chester-le-Street, which starts next Friday

"We don't know 100 per cent, he's got something with his knee that doesn't feel quite right. For Ben to be off the field." Cook added.

"It doesn't look good for Durham at this stage, you just never know but he's going to get a scan [on Sunday] and we'll see."

Omnisports

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