Essex and England captain Nasser Hussain and the England party flew out from Heathrow this week to embark on a tour of Sri Lanka where they will play 11 matches that include three Tests and three One-day internationals.

Certainly the credibility of the touring party is the highest for some time after a successful domestic summer followed by the wonderful series win in Pakistan that saw England win three successive Test series for the First time since 1979.

Having contended with the wiles of the Pakistani spin attack, Nasser Hussain and his charges now face up to the magical Muttiah Muralitharan, one of the most successful off-spinners to have played Test cricket.

The host nation will largely pin their hopes on the 28 year-old with the unique action who has already collected 303 Test victims in 59 matches.

On 24 occasions he has gathered five wickets or more including a best-ever nine for 65 against England in August 1998.

Hussain has now doubts regarding the surfaces on which his side will be expected to defy the challenge of Murali, who has signed a contract to pay for Lancashire again next season despite limited ability.

Hussain expects the wickets to be prepared to suit the bowler, stating: "It will be how Javed Miandad and others wanted the Pakistan series to be, on dust bowls and under prepared specifically to suit Muttjah Muralitheran''

And comparing the conditions with those his side encountered in Pakistan, Hussain continued,"The wickets will spin doubly and the rough created by their left-arm seamers will be twice as prominent. It is a difficult place to play"

England will have three spinners to call upon with the experienced Robert Croft of Glamorgan likely to team up with Warwickshire's Ashley Giles as first choice.

However the uncapped Jason Brown, who forced his way into selection after some influential performances for Northamptonshire that saw them win the Second Division of the County championship and is a bigger spinner of the ball than Croft, could be given the chance to exploit helpful conditions.

The First Test commences on February 22 and the tour finishes on March 27 with the final One-day international.

In charge: Essex's Nasser Hussain is captaining England in Sri Lanka.

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