England spinner Gareth Batty had to be rescued after getting into trouble while surfing in Sri Lanka. Batty had been body-surfing with Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard when all three were caught by a rip tide that carried them away.
Hoggard managed to swim to shore, while Vaughan scrambled onto some rocks and alerted lifeguards, but the waves carried Batty into trouble.
"There was a point when I feared the worst," said Batty.
"The rocks I was getting washed up against were hellish sharp.
"Vaughany could tell I was struggling and was getting pretty animated on the rocks.
"It was his waving that caught the attention of the five or six blokes on the beach.
"I know that when you get caught in a rip you are supposed to relax and let it take you where it wants, but it's not quite as easy as that when there are lots of jagged rocks about.
"They caught me in quite a few places and I have a few nicks on my arms and legs."
It was far from an ideal preparation for England ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka, which got under way in Galle on Tuesday.
MMIX
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