Alastair Cook's focus might be on the one-day series with Sri Lanka but the fitness of wicketkeeper Matt Prior ahead of Tests against the tourists is concerning the England captain.
Established Test gloveman Prior was dropped during the 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia but it had been expected the 32-year-old would force his way back into the team for next month's home two-Test series.
However, the 32-year-old Sussex stumper has since suffered an achilles injury which has restricted him to just two first-class matches this season, both at the start of April.
It had been hoped Prior would return for Sussex's county match away to Middlesex at Northwood but rain washed out the fixture.
Even before no play was possible on Thursday's final day, it was decided Prior would be better off undergoing a training session with England wicketkeeping coach Bruce French.
Afterwards, Prior told his Twitter followers: "Hard session with frenchy today, as always, and so far the injury has responded very well!"
Prior is set to return to Sussex duty in Friday's Twenty20 match away to Glamorgan, although it is possible he might play as a batsman only.
Even if he is behind the stumps, keeping wicket for 20 overs is no sure-fire way of assessing his fitness for the more-onerous task of donning the gloves for the 90 overs of a Test match day.
And with doubts over the batting ability of Jonny Bairstow, who replaced Prior during the Ashes, and the keeping skills of Jos Buttler, England's one-day gloveman, the selectors face a tricky decision ahead of next week's squad announcement for the first Test at Lord's from June 12.
"It is a big concern," Cook said of Prior's fitness.
"He's incredibly frustrated, because achilles injuries are hard to heal. He's a big part of our plans, but we can't rush a guy back. That wouldn't be fair on him or to the England team."
A see-saw one-day series moves to Lord's on Saturday, with England 2-1 up in the five-match contest after skittling Sri Lanka for just 67 in Manchester - Sussex paceman Chris Jordan taking a career-best 5-29.
That performance came just days after England had been dismissed for 99 at Chester-le-Street, a collapse Cook could only watch as the opening batsman missed that match with a groin strain.
Source - Cricket Australia
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