Gough inspires England recovery

England responded magnificently to a "kick up the backside" today to give themselves a fighting chance in the Second Test against Sri Lanka.

Fast-bowlers Darren Gough and Andy Caddick struck five times in the space of six overs to send the home side stumbling from 277 for five to 297 all out.

With openers Mike Atherton and Marcus Trescothick then surviving two overs unscathed for one run, England - one down in the three-match series - finished the first day on a real high note to the delight of their 3,000-plus supporters.

But it looked like being a grim story for all the visitors while Sri Lanka's fifth-wicket pair, Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold, were adding 141 in the face of some poor afternoon bowling. Gough, who finished with four for 73, said that captain Nasser Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher gave the team "a kick up the backside" during the tea interval.

Caddick was a little more delicate, suggesting that England were told to "pick ourselves up".

Either way, the dressing-room pep talk worked like a charm with Gough and Cad-dick making perfect use of the second new ball to finish with four wickets apiece,

"The new ball is the key out here and now we've got to bat well against it tomorrow morning," added Caddick.