This will be Sri Lanka’s first outing in the English soil and also provides an opertunity to adjust themselves to the English Conditions before they take on England.

Paul Farbrac Sri Lanka’s former coach eventually left and found himself in the position of preparing England to face Sri Lanka for their first series under new management, with one-day, Twenty20 and Test matches beginning with a T20 at The Oval on 20 May.

Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews speaking to the English press had denied that their former coach would be able to provide inside information during the forthcoming series between the sides.  Asked if some in Sri Lanka were disappointed to see Farbrace leave, Mathews said: "Some people were, but it is one of those things which we have to take and move on. We have a coach who can take over immediately, and he did. The team has done pretty well in recent past, so there is nothing for us to worry about."

In the mean time England captain Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara are both available to play for Essex. It will be a chance for the skipper to size up the Sri Lankan bowlers in English conditions,  Cook will lead England in a one-day international series against the tourists, with the first of five matches at The Oval on 22 May. Essex coach Paul Grayson believes a 50-over match with the Asians can only help his county side ahead of the Natwest T20 Blast.

Meanwhile, Essex will also get the services from New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder who is set to play in all formats for the county

Sri Lanka arrived in England as World Twenty20 champions after an impressive tournament victory in Bangladesh; and last week they beat Ireland by 79 runs in an ODI in Dublin.