With their arrival to look forward to, the party, now housed in Sri Lanka's newest luxury beach hotel just outside Galle, were as upbeat as at any time on tour here.

The Prince of Wales's cavalcade passed by their coach during the five-hour evening journey from Kurunegala, which caused them to be stuck for 45 minutes in traffic. It had been scheduled that they should meet the Prince but the meeting was subsequently called off.

It seems net practice today is also not possible ahead of tomorrow's second unofficial Test. The venue, Matara, is an hour's drive away and practice was due to take place on Galle's square, but England's tour manager, Graham Gooch, likened it to a ploughed field after football was played on it yesterday.

One man in need of little practice is Darren Maddy, whose remarkable run of form has earned him the new nickname from team mates of 'FF' (Fifty's Fine). Maddy has not made less than 50 in his six first-class innings on this tour and, thanks also to a century and a double hundred, he is averaging 86.

That is still well below the number of sit-ups he does every day, a staggering 500, not to mention 135 press-ups. Not surprisingly he is the fittest member in the party. Even Gooch, a fitness fanatic, is not too keen on training with him.

Gooch has been impressed with Maddy on all fronts. ``He's been what I call 'on receive' from the start. He listens to advice and then takes it in, unlike some people. He's improved a lot,'' he said.

Maddy is quick to acknowledge the help he has had from both Gooch and coach Mike Gatting. ``They're always trying to build you up and their man management has been excellent.''