And the new age begins...

Okay, so I know that we've already had the ODI series, and though I don't have a problem with it coming first - if anything I'm in favour of it - the first test still for me marks the beginning of the international summer.

The announcement of the test squad came with a whole host of new faces - only six players remaining from the last test on English soil, three debutants, and another whose last test came in 2007. On the whole I was quite happy with the squad - though some had called for Buttler or various others to join the side I thought it was a good mix of the old and the new. With a batting line up featuring Robson, Ballance, and Ali - a grand total of one cap between them - plus Joe Root with just over eighteen months' experience, to keep Prior in made sense and was a good move. Though he has struggled over the past year with bat and gloves - leading to being dropped in the winter - it was a good idea to have a man of his experience and known class in a very young side. Safe maybe, but in my eyes the right call. To see Jordan and Plunkett in the side also made me particularly excited. I've been impressed by Jordan in the recent ODI series and he looks like a player that can make things happen, whilst Plunkett has really improved since moving to Yorkshire, looking to become the player England always hoped he would after his career stalled in Durham.

And then came the match. Sri Lanka chose to bowl first which did seem a bit odd - though the pitch did have a greenish tinge on the first morning in general Lord's is a ground that suits the batsmen best. And so it came to be. Early wickets fell and though the Sri Lankan bowlers didn't bowl badly, initially they came more through poor shot selection from the English batsmen. But there was a change from the recent months in their approach which looked a lot more positive. Ian Bell once more looked at ease, showing that when he's in form not many look better. Moeen Ali also looked comfortable on his test debut, showing promise in his innings of 48, whilst in the tail Jordan, Broad and Plunkett all put in positive, attacking innings. In the mean time, Joe Root seemed to pass under the radar for much of the innings, especially on the first day, but put his troubles of the past year behind him in a brilliant innings of 200*, his highest test score following his 180 at the same ground the previous year. England declared on 575/9, the first time they had passed 400 since March 2013 and first score over 500 since December 2012. Perhaps they weren't facing the best bowling attack, but it was nice to see them in the runs once more.

Sri Lanka also looked comfortable with the bat as the pitch continued to offer little for the bowler. Chris Jordan's first test wicket came with only his third delivery, as he continued to look like a player that just tends to make things happen. But it only meant that Kumar Sangakkara came to the crease. In his three previous matches at Lord's he was yet to make a century, something that on his probable last tour of England he would have been determined to correct. I mentioned that Bell is one of the best looking players when in form - well he's up there with Sangakkara. It was a century popular among all cricket lovers, and the celebration was also a treat - a hug from his best friend Jayawardene. Sangakkara looked so comfortable that it came as a surprise when he got out - in many ways it looked like he was set to bat the match. Angelo Mathews' innings must also not be forgotten - it is always an honour for any visiting player to get their name on that honours board, and especially as the captain leading from the front. Sri Lanka were all out for 453, a perfectly respectable total but still 122 behind.

Another fine innings came from Gary Ballance. Surprisingly moved up to bat at number three for his second test - a position he hadn't even batted at for Yorkshire - Ballance found himself in a pressured situation as England slipped to 102/5 and 121/6 but coped admirably. He has put in similar performances for Yorkshire in difficult situations over the past few years and so to see him doing it on the international stage was great to see, and will hopefully be the first of many centuries for England. England declared on 267/8, 389 runs ahead. Perhaps they would have liked a few overs before the close of play on day four but after having to rebuild earlier in the day, it was safety first for the captain.

So it all came down to the final day. Sri Lanka needed a nominal 390 to win or to bat out 90 overs for a draw, England needed ten wickets. It was slow progress for England as Sangakkara and Silva bedded in again, only one wicket down by lunch, only three down by tea. But then England struck. A bizarre field was in place - and who knows whether it got into the batsmen's heads - but Anderson struck twice in the overs immediately after the break and getting the especially important wicket of Sangakkara. The result suddenly looked possible once more. England were back bowling aggressively - a good mix of fast and nasty deliveries directed at the body with those aimed at the stumps - and the new ball was on its way. They struck with the new ball, crucially dismissing Mathews who had been digging in to save the game with 18 from 90. But still two wickets were needed from the last over. Down came the first ball and Herath gloved it to Prior - replays showed that his hand was not on the bat when it hit him but it didn't matter as he walked anyway. England thought they'd won when on the penultimate ball the umpire gave Pradeep out LBW, but his referral showed a clear edge. The final ball was edged but didn't quite carry to slip and that was it. A draw.

This match showcased nearly everything I love about test cricket - the drama and tension, a good contest between both sides, and fine batting performances and spells of bowling. That it can take five days of cricket and still all go down to the final delivery for me just shows how great a sport this is. The two sides meet again at Headingley on Friday, with England looking the favourites and hoping to secure the first series win of this new era.