Hussain and Co fall in a hole

Nasser Hussain warned that the wheels would probably come off at some stage during England's tour of Sri Lanka - and he was almost proved right in Matara today.

The coach ferrying Hussain and Co from the hotel to the ground had just dropped off the players for a practice session . . . when it dropped down a hole.

The front nearside wheel virtually disappeared from view, having broken through a hidden drain. While Hussain's men baked under the hottest sun of the tour so far, their embarrassed driver was left to summon some heavy lifting gear.

England start a four-day match here tomorrow against a President's XI likely to include two members of the Sri Lankan national squad still making their way back from a tour of New Zealand.