Virus hits England squad

Paul Collingwood (r) is one of those struck down by the stomach virus © Getty Images

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England have been struck down by a stomach virus that has affected four members of their one-day squad as they build up to the start of the five-match series against Sri Lanka.

Captain Paul Collingwood, fast bowler Stuart Broad, Luke Wright and Alastair Cook have all contracted the virus and could all be doubtful for England’s only warm-up match in Colombo against a Sri Lanka President's XI.

Broad trained for the first time since coming down with the illness on Wednesday but was not able to operate at full capacity and coach Peter Moores admitted the others could miss Friday’s contest.

“A few of the lads have gone down with some sort of stomach illness," said Moores.

"If it’s like Stuart’s it was only a 24 to 36-hour thing so hopefully it will clear up pretty quickly.

"Stuart trained for the first time today and is still a bit weak and it looks like it’s going to be one or two days for the rest of the lads.

“We might be light of a couple of players for the practice game on Friday, but we have a 15-man squad for these things and if you’re going to get a bug, you get a bug.

“Alastair Cook’s version of it is that if you’re going to get it, let’s get it out of the way before the big games.

"There’s nothing you can do about it.”

England start their five-match series with the first of three matches in Dambulla on Monday against a Sri Lanka side who reached the World Cup final back in May.