BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Butcher: We're confident now

Mark Butcher, who scored his fourth Test century - and probably the slowest he will ever make - said England now had the opportunity to go into the Edgbaston Test against Sri Lanka in a confident frame of mind.

As the Lord's Test ended in a turgid draw - less than five wickets fell per day - Butcher became the last of four centurions in the match.

But he took exactly six-and-a-half hours to get there, facing 291 balls, and finding the tightly-marshalled boundary rope on just nine occasions.

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"Like a few of the guys I was disappointed with the first innings," admitted Butcher.

"It was the kind of wicket that you had to work at and not to take too many risks and you couldn't be too flashy - we learned from the first innings.

"We can take the confidence from this innings into the next match and that is important.

Fight and pride

"It's not been easy in this Test because we've never been in a position to try for a win at any stage."

England captain Nasser Hussain was pleased that his side fought back to share the honours after being outplayed in the first three days.

"I thought we showed some fight and pride," Hussian said.

England captain Nasser Hussain
Hussain was satisfied with the draw

"For three days we were poor while they played exceptionally.

Everybody has underestimated them. This game showed just how much hard work we have to do."

Muralitharan

England know that Muttiah Muralitharan may be fit for the 30 May Test in Birmingham - the second in the three-match series.

And Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya admitted victory could have been achievable had Muralitharan been in the side.

"It could have been different with him," Jayasuriya said.

"But I'm not disappointed about the end of our winning run as long as we are doing well. I'm happy."

Edgbaston is noramlly even less friendly for spinners than Lord's - and though Muralitharan is a possible, Ashley Giles may again miss out for the home side.