Thorpe predicts a testing time lies ahead in one-day series

Graham Thorpe, who has taken over the England captaincy in place of the injured Nasser Hussain, played down suggestions that the three One-Day Internationals against Sri Lanka will prove to be an anticlimax after such a momentous Test series.

"Personally I don't think there is any anticlimax about a three-match One-Day International series against one of the best sides in the world. I was talking to our boys yesterday and they were looking forward to getting stuck in and proving that we are a match for them out here in the one-day format of the game."

He warned, however, that the matches will be played in searing temperatures and will be exhausting for the players. "There is no doubt that over the next five days we are going to be physically tested a great deal," he said.

"We saw yesterday just how much the heat affected Vaughan and Hick after two hours batting. Michael was actually physically sick in the dressing room afterwards.

"One-day cricket is more intense than Test cricket and three and a half hours is a very long time in the field. We are going to have to dig very deep if we are going to play the disciplined cricket that is necessary to win these matches."

That being the case, Thorpe expects most members of the 15-man squad to play a part: "We have put a lot into the tour so far and have a squad here, so there is always the option of moving players around."

Although admitting to the odd worry, he said he enjoyed his first game as England captain yesterday: "I was feeling my way a little bit, but I was pretty pleased with the way it all went. Although we struggled in the back third of our innings, we showed the kind of commitment that we are going to need for the rest of the tour."

He was a little concerned about the specialist one-day players looking a little ring rusty yesterday: "Those that have been here since the beginning have got used to the conditions, but the new guys need to acclimatise. I remember what we felt after our first game of the tour. It is a bit of a concern, but we have to put up with it."

Thorpe confirmed that he would bat number four tomorrow in Dambulla, but said that the final team would not be selected until the evening, by when the players will have had their first chance to look at the virgin wicket.

"We have decided about the top order, but we have a few choices with regard to the middle order and the spin department," he said. The one worrying aspect of the warm-up match was the last third of the batting and that is one area where I think we have to get a little more out of."

Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium remains a chaotic building site on the eve of its inaugural international match, but Thorpe remained diplomatic: "The playing surface looks fine and that is what is most important as far as the players are concerned."

But he added wryly: "As far as the surroundings are concerned, I am sure that they will look great when they are done."