England prepare to gamble

CRICKET:England coach Peter Moores admits there will have to be something of a selection punt for the second Test against Sri Lanka.

With swing bowler Matthew Hoggard almost certainly ruled out of the match, which begins at the SSC, Colombo, tomorrow, the tourists are likely to choose either Steve Harmison, who has been erratic of late, or Stuart Broad, untried at this level.

"Whenever you play someone in a Test match you never quite know," said Moores. "Certainly with Steve or Stuart there will always be an element of risk on how they handle the situation."

Ryan Sidebottom was excused training because of a cold while another of the pacemen, James Anderson, has an ankle niggle.

Kevin Pietersen is on painkillers for a fractured finger.