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The tour ends, in hospital

A CRICKET TOUR OF SRI LANKA: In the end, it wasn't dehydration, heat exhaustion, fast bowling, malaria or food poisoning that did for us. Hospital visits by three London Saints resulted from a dip in the sea on the last full day of our two-week tour.

Sri Lanka's glass half-empty

A CRICKET TOUR OF SRI LANKA: Palm Paradise Cabanas and Amanwella sit side by side on the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka. They are worlds apart in terms of facilities and cost. But both share the same coastline near Tangalle and both are suffering a lack of tourists in what should be the country's high season.

The best hotel I have stayed in

A CRICKET TOUR OF SRI LANKA: The portfolio of Asia's best known architect, Geoffrey Bawa, includes the 35 hotels he designed in Sri Lanka before his death three years ago. Now his own country home has been turned into a small hotel, which opened only last month. I can honestly say it is the best place I have ever stayed in.

Eating to forget

A CRICKET TOUR OF SRI LANKA: When not losing to more skilled players than ourselves, there is time to reflect and eat. And we have found two places in Colombo to do just that. Beach Wadiya (left) has been around for 30 years, a shack seafood restaurant that has played host to cricketers all over the world, now including London Saints. Aussie star Mark Waugh rates it one of his six best beach restaurants in the world.

Pleased to meet you

A CRICKET TOUR OF SRI LANKA: Ten-year-old Primali is a Sri Lankan Amalie, with short black bobbed hair and eyes as bright as buttons. She also lives in a hut erected on the foundations of the house that disappeared in the tsunami, which also took her father.

Sri Lankans find little to fear

A CRICKET TOUR OF SRI LANKA: The presentation of the tour shirts and caps brought the significance of the tour home to many, particularly Eric. The founding member of London Saints, his shirt number is No 1. Today is also the first time he will have missed a Saints game since 1979, home or away. Such is the dedication to LSSC's first overseas tour.

Ready for the off

A CRICKET TOUR OF SRI LANKA: Fifteen months on from a chat between two colleagues at the Royal Free Hospital in London, we're off today - 23 players, eight partners and a baby - to play three games and see our new fishing boat. It's a great combination: the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for middle-aged blokes to play on a test pitch while feeling very good about ourselves in giving something back to the community.