England rocked by Giles injury

Giles had to withdraw from the ICC knockout tournament in Kenya during early October and was still not fully fit when the squad moved on to Pakistan.

That was the latest in a series of Achilles tendon and calf problems stretching back several years. But when Giles did recover he went on to play a crucial part in England's Test series victory, capturing 17 wickets in three matches.

Today's setback is all the more alarming because the selectors are virtually committed to playing two specialist spinners in Galle next Thursday and Jason Brown, their third slow bowler behind Giles and Robert Croft, has not been given an outing on this trip.

Coach Duncan Fletcher said yesterday that Brown had been brought to Sri Lanka as cover in case of emergencies but it is almost inconceivable England would thrust their rookie offspinner into the Test arena without having seen him perform in match conditions.

If Giles's injury does turn out to be more serious than today's initial diagnosis then an SOS call to Phil Tufnell could not be discounted.

Giles was not the only casualty here today. Graeme Hick failed to make the starting line-up because of a "minor" calf strain, although England are adamant he should be fit for selection next week - if required.

It remains a matter of conjecture whether Hick or Michael Vaughan will be handed the No 6 batting spot.

Neither of the injury worries knocked Hussain's men out of their stride for an hour or so as Matthew Hoggard took two wickets in the space of five balls on a patchily grassed and initially slightly damp pitch.

But, having had the opposition in dire straits, England should have polished them off for considerably fewer than 253, even though batting conditions eased.

Hoggard and Andy Caddick took five for 65 between them from a combined tally of 36 overs. Yet Craig White, Croft, Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Giles all conceded around four runs an over. Too many, especially given a tortuously slow outfield.

Yorkshireman Hoggard is doing all he can to advance his cause this winter.

The bustling fast bowler pressed hard for a Test place in Pakistan, striking 17 times in two warm-up matches.

His efforts were in vain there and they could count for little this time. But if Darren Gough or Caddick lose form or fitness then Hoggard looks ready to step in at a moment's notice.

Here, Hoggard made his first appearance of the tour in order to give Gough a breather before the Test series gets under way.

He watched Caddick dismiss Avishka Gunawardene, one of six players among the opposition with Test experience, thanks to a stunning left-handed catch by Graham Thorpe at third slip.

Then he plucked out the off stump of Ruwin Peiris and, four balls later, Surendra Kumar was beaten on the back foot to edge a catch behind.

When White dismissed Tillekeratne Dilshan, also caught by wicketkeeper Alec Stewart, the home team were in deep trouble. But they recovered either side of lunch, with Jeevantha Kulatunga, Muthumu Push-pakumara and Niroshan Bandartillake scoring half-centuries with too much ease for English comfort.