Experiencing the warmest of welcomes that we have come to expect from Sri Lanka, our teams were greeted with beautiful orchid garlands, traditional drummers and dances the minute they stepped into arrivals at Colombo International Airport. This level of friendliness and desire to ‘go that extra mile’ proved to be a constant theme everywhere the players and their supporters went during their stay.

Match competition was extremely tight, and players skills tested to the maximum, but it was clear that as they acclimatised to the heat and humidity, their confidence and ability improved with every game and they went on to win their last match. The highlight however was to actually play a match at the International Stadium and even use the changing facilities previously used by the England Team!

Sri Lanka was so much more than just a cricket tour though and crammed with wider cultural education and adventure experiences that will be remembered fondly for years. From temple visits to markets and wildlife safaris to river boat cruises, they saw it all in abundance. One of the most special moments for the players was when they each released a newly hatched baby turtle directly into the ocean.

Stunning palm tree lined sandy beaches and beautiful hotels with luxury facilities, large swimming pools and delicious food provided plenty of relaxation opportunity and time to absorb the magical memories from their incredible tour.