Whatmore admits to being worried by form of batsmen

Coach Dav Whatmore has admitted that the form of Sri Lanka's batsmen so far in England has been a cause of concern with the First Test at Lords starting Thursday now fast approaching.

The tourists were forced to follow-on against Durham last week and were then bowled out for 186 against Middlesex at Shenley on the weekend.

With reference to the latest collapse, he said: "I'm not very happy with that. It isn't very clever. It just goes to show you are never really secure in this game." "I would have liked one of the openers to have gone on, but I think the change of pace with the ball skidding a bit had an effect. Their medium-pacers did well and got it to move off the seam."

Nevertheless, the top six for Lords has apparently been decided, which then leaves a tricky decision for the number seven position between Thilan Samaraweera and Russel Arnold. The option of playing eight batsmen has also apparently been ruled out.

In the fast bowling department, Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa are certain to play and Whatmore explained the decision rest them before Lords. "There are no injures. They have had a lot of cricket," he said.

"We would rather build them up away from competition with training and running. We know what they can do."

The tours selectors - Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu and Chandra Shaffter, the manager - then need to pick two more seamers, with Ruchira Perera and Charitha Fernando the favourites to play.

Meanwhile, Whatmore admitted to being caught unawares by the recall of all-rounder Dominic Cork, although he had anticipated the call-up of John Crawley.

"Crawley has been playing very well, as has Marcus Trescothick, and possibly Alec Stewart also," he said.

"But I'm pleasantly surprised that the other guys might be a bit short of runs.

"It looks as though they have gone for experience and it gives them a bit more flexibility in what they want to do."