With heavy afternoon showers falling almost every day, the outfield is muddy and needs to dry out.

When play does start, the tourists are expected to encounter a surface entirely unsuited to their squad.

Galle is a spinner's delight and the world's best slow bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan, is on the other side. The wicket has been kept dry.

Sri Lanka will have up to four other spinning options to compliment Murali while England will have two specialist spinners plus captain Michael Vaughan.

England coach Duncan Fletcher said: "It's a normal Galle wicket. It's really made for the spinners and it's pretty similar to what we had last time.

"The first day it was pretty flat and it started to go on the second, third and fourth days."

Vaughan added: "The weather and the rain has just kept coming and the outfield is just that little bit

muddy.

"They keep telling us the rain is going to stop and we just hope it does because it's hard for the mentality not knowing when you are going to start.

"This pitch is unlike any in the world you have to bowl a few cutters and try to get the ball reversing as soon as possible."

England have already settled on a playing eleven and though they have not announced it, it is believed there will be two specialist seamers and two specialist spinners.

Robert Croft has not played for England since the home Ashes series of 2001, but he has had his successes on tour and in Sri Lanka in particular.

He will probably team up with Ashley Giles once again who it is hoped has settled into his new run-up.

With James Anderson still injured, the seam bowlers of choice will perhaps be Matthew Hoggard and James Kirtley.

Richard Johnson has been practising with a knee support - not the best of signs before a Test match.

Sri Lanka have a selection dilemma of their own.

Picking three support spinners - Kumar Dharmasena, Upul Chandana and Thilan Samaraweera - means their batting could be a little weak.

They are also expected to drop wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana to play three specialist spinners. Kumar Sangakkara will take over the wicketkeeping duties for the first time in 12 months.

Thilan Samaraweera is tipped to bat at six while fast bowler Dinusha Fernando is all set to make his Test debut.

PROBABLE TEAMS

SRI LANKA: Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Hashan Tillakaratne (captain), Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Chandana, Kumar Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan.

ENGLAND: Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Chris Read, Ashley Giles, Robert Croft, James Kirtley, Matthew Hoggard.