The first day's play in the three-day tour match between MCC and Sri Lanka has been washed out by steady rain. The match, now reduced to two days, will start on Friday.

The wash-out is just the latest of numerous disruptions that Sri Lanka have had to endure during preparations before and in between the three Test matches. The game against MCC is their last before the third and final Test, which starts at Old Trafford next Thursday.

MCC have picked what is effectively an England hopefuls team, which was nominated by the national selectors. Five members of the MCC side have already played for England, while another three were members of the ECB Academy squad in Australia last winter.

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