James Kirtley added his name to England's bowling options for the first Test as he claimed four wickets in the warm-up against a Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI.

Sussex fast bowler Kirtley had been due to return home with the other one-day specialists two days ago but was retained after James Anderson injured his right ankle, ironically during a game of squash between the pair.

Although Matthew Hoggard, man of the series in Bangladesh, and Richard Johnson, who took nine wickets in the crushing win in Chittagong which completed the 2-0 victory, are ahead of the 28-year-old in the pecking order, his figures of 10-2-19-4 provided a timely reminder of how successful skiddy bowlers can be in this part of the world.

It was Darren Gough, a similar height if not build to Kirtley, who proved most successful on the 2001 tour here when England came from behind to seal a 2-1 victory.

And Kirtley, who had what appeared to be two walkable leg before shouts turned down - including his first delivery of the day to Test hopeful Michael Vandort - and a catch grassed by Graham Thorpe at first slip, threatened regularly by exploiting the humid conditions and hurrying the ball onto the batsman off the Colombo Cricket Club pitch.

But his efforts could be futile with Anderson's recovery from injury slightly ahead of schedule putting the Lancashire paceman in contention for Tuesday in Galle.

''I have tried to encourage Johnno and Hoggy for a game of squash,'' Kirtley joked, after the rain which washed out the final two contests in the one-day series returned to account for the final session with the hosts struggling on 142 for eight.

''Of course, I would love the opportunity to play but I am out here to cover for Anderson and the chance for me to play in this game is something I am very grateful for.

''I was happy with how things went, it was a pretty humid day and nice to see the ball swinging. Out here it is all about building pressure and everybody played a part in that, whether it be the seam bowlers from one end or the spinners from the other, that was the game plan and something we feel you have to do on these pitches.

''Matthew Hoggard was very unlucky as well. I had a chance to bowl at the left-handers which is a little bit easier while he kept going past the edge of the right-handers.

''There were good signs for both Hoggy and myself and it just shows that we might have to be attacking with that new ball to make early inroads in all the games we play out here.''

The main selection poser when the match began was between the trio of spinners included in a side captained by Andrew Flintoff.

England are almost certain to field two spinners in Galle, so Robert Croft is effectively in a bowl-out against Gareth Batty to partner Ashley Giles.

However, it was Kirtley's early burst which raised questions about the formation of the attack.