Batting Coach Mark Ramprakash expects England’s players will get their heads down in training after rain washed away their final warm-up match before the one-day international series against Sri Lanka.
A drenched outfield after heavy morning rain prevented any play against Sri Lanka A at the P Sara Oval in Colombo.
It means that the 56-run Duckworth/Lewis victory on Friday will be England’s only game before the first ODI on Wednesday.
Ramprakash admits that is not ideal – especially after only four batsmen got time in the middle in the tour opener – but he has been impressed with the work ethic of the squad in his first tour since he was handed his coaching role full-time.
“The players are very good and focused in their practice and they realise that when it’s not raining that they need to get the most out of their practice in the nets,” he told ecb.co.uk.
“We are going to have a middle practice this afternoon so that is really valuable time and I think that they are focused and they are working on their game – trying to put themselves in match situations.”
With the worst affected areas deep in the outfield, the England players ensured it was not a wasted day with that centre wicket training session after play was called off.
Watch @josbuttler trying out a few trick shots during today's training session. Where do you bowl to him?! ... https://t.co/g8g3JR94ee
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) November 23, 2014
While that might not have been as satisfactory as a match, Ramprakash was pleased to at least see the players get another chance to adapt to the Sri Lanka conditions.
“It’s disappointing (not to play). It means some players will be going into an international game without having had an innings since September which is clearly not ideal,” he said.
“We came out here knowing that cricket tours have been affected at this time of the year by bad weather. We can’t control that.
“We’ll try and put our players under pressure during their practice as much as we can to simulate playing in the middle but ultimately you can’t replicate that totally.
“It is a bit disappointing not to have this match.”
England will take positives into the seven-match series though after Moeen Ali and skipper Alastair Cook struck half-centuries in Friday’s win.
Moeen most significantly enjoyed his promotion to the top of the order as he reached his half-century in 21 balls and Ramprakash thinks his belligerence has set the standard for his team-mates to follow.
"Wasn't it breathtaking the way Moeen Ali went out and played?” he said.
"He played with a no-fear attitude and I think he made a statement, to himself and also the rest of the side.
"Let's not forget, Alastair Cook had a very convincing innings as well. So we had two opening batsmen who went out and took the attack to the opposition, and that bodes well."