The players were far from happy to lose the one-day series 3-0, an unrealistic scoreline, but it came at the end of a hard tour against fresh opposition who included seven players with one-day international experience.

To have won in Sri Lanka was an outstanding achievement, especially as the games were only four days in duration and the local umpires seldom gave anything out. Having also covered the last A tour to Sri Lanka, in 1991, I can safely vouch that the standard of the umpiring there is as lamentable as it was then.

Even the home side complained about the umpires to their authorities after the Test series, although England suffered more from bad or non-decisions. The Sri Lankan board at least acknowledged the problem by changing the umpires for the one-day series.

For the England selectors, two of whom, manager Graham Gooch and coach Mike Gatting, got a long look at some of England's best young talent, many insights will have been gained. Both expressed themselves delighted with the advance with bat and ball of Ben Hollioake, who should be pushing hard for a Test place this summer, quite possibly at No 6.