Gough rested for game against President's XI

Darren Gough is being rested by England for their final warm-up game before the First Test in Sri Lanka.

The fast bowler is likely to be joined on the sidelines by his fellow Yorkshireman Craig White for the match against a Sri Lanka Board President's XI in Matara tomorrow.

Gough has bowled with tremendous energy and gained plenty of success in the previous two games of the tour and England are anxious to keep him fresh for the First Test in Galle starting on February 22.

Another Yorkshireman, Matthew Hoggard, is expected to take Gough's place in Matara.

Graeme Hick, who hit a half-century in the last tour game, is the only doubt after sustaining a slight calf strain during training yesterday. He was sidelined for today's practice.

Coach Duncan Fletcher said: "It's not serious and the only reason he didn't take part in today's practice was as a precaution."

Team (from): M A Atherton (Lancashire), M E Trescothick (Somerset), N Hussain (Essex, capt), G P Thorpe (Surrey), A J Stewart (Surrey), G A Hick (Worcestershire), M P Vaughan (Yorkshire), C White (Yorkshire), A F Giles (Warwickshire), R D B Croft (Glamorgan), A R Caddick (Somerset), M J Hoggard (Yorkshire).