30 March 2007

The dates for England cricket team’s tour of Sri Lanka this year have been released.

The One-Day International matches and the Test Series run between September and December, and the Sri Lankan Tourism board expects operators to start marketing packages around the tours.

The England team will arrive in Sri Lanka on September 25, and the One-Day International matches start on October 1.

The first Test Series match will take place between November 25 and 27, with the third and final one due between December 18 and 22.

Jean-Marc Flambert, Sri Lanka Tourism UK director, said: "In the past, we have attracted over 5,000 English cricket supporters to Sri Lanka as the games are being played in places of historical and cultural significance."

Host cities include Dambulla, Colombo, Moratuwa, Colts CC, Kandy and Galle.

One-Day Internationals

Sept 25: Arrival of England team
Sept 28: Warm-up match
Oct 1: First ODI (Dambulla)
Oct 2: rain reserve day
Oct 4: Second ODI (Dambulla)
Oct 5: rain reserve day
Oct 7: Third ODI (Dambulla)
Oct 8: rain reserve day
Oct 10: Fourth ODI (Colombo)
Oct 11: rain reserve day
Oct 13: Fifth ODI (Colombo)
Oct 14: rain reserve day


Test Series

Nov 15: Arrival of England team
Nov 20–22: Warm-up match (Moratuwa)
Nov 25–27: First-class match (Colts CC)
Dec 1–5: First Test (Galle)
Dec 9–13: Second Test (Colombo)
Dec 18–22: Third Test (Kandy)