England arrive with worries about Solanki

England finally arrived in Sri Lanka late on Thursday night to a low-key reception from the public but a considerable one from the police and militia. The authorities denied suggestions that the security accompanying the side would be the same as that afforded to visiting heads of state, but there was no shortage of muscle on hand to ensure England had a trouble-free trip to their hotel.

The weary team were greeted in the foyer of the Taj Samudra Hotel, their beachfront base in Colombo, by locals proffering garlands of flowers - a traditional Singhalese welcome - and quickly headed for the bedrooms to sleep off the effects of their long journey. Such is the lot of the international cricketer.

One thing which was subject of speculation amid the travelling media was that England might consider sending for another spinner - almost certainly Robert Croft if they did - in the light of Ashley Giles's continuing poor form and the belief that the Sri Lankan pitches will take considerable turn.

The other concern which has travelled with the England team from Bangladesh is the form of one-day opener Vikram Solanki. He is an attractive strokemaker, but in eight innings following his hundred against South Africa in June he has scored 82 runs, including scores of 10, 0 and 1 against Bangladesh.

Duncan Fletcher, England's coach, admitted that it was a worry, but said that Solanki would play in Saturday's warm-up match. "If you start saying 'tighten up a bit' then you get indecision," Fletcher explained. "You have to be very careful. I want to say to a player, 'Go out there and play your own game'." But another failure for Solanki would probably open the door for Middlesex captain Andrew Strauss to make his ODI debut.