JOHN CRAWLEY remains confident of persuading England he is fit enough to make his Test comeback against Sri Lanka this week as he attempts to become one of the first players to benefit from the possibility of an increased number of central contracts.

The Hampshire batsman reported with the rest of the 13-man squad at Lord's yesterday eager to prove his fitness after a back injury scare as England began their preparations for the first Test.

But heavy rain denied England the opportunity to do little other than practice in the indoor nets.

That left Crawley facing another extensive workout this morning before the selectors decide whether he is ready to withstand the rigours of Test cricket for the first time in three years.

"The back is a lot better than it was on Sunday when I was a little sore and was unable to play for Hampshire," revealed Crawley.

"I've had three or four sessions of treatment, it's improved immeasurably and should be up to 100 per cent this morning.

"We're going to have a strenuous day and see if there is any possible chance of a recurrence before the start of the game, but I don't think either myself or England are worried about that."

It has been quite a turnaround for Crawley, who admitted he had become so disillusioned with the sport during the bitter and costly legal wrangle to leave Lancashire during the summer, that he had considered quitting.

He had tried to buy himself out of his contract at Old Trafford.

He said: "I could conceivably have turned my back on cricket. It was an option, although God knows what I would have done.

"Mentally and physically, I've been rejuvenated by the switch to Hampshire.

"Simply getting out on the pitch and playing after everything that happened has been a joy.

"And the Hampshire people have been very friendly and welcoming.

"I hope something is in place to sort out disputes like this in future. I wouldn't want any other cricketer to go through what I did."

Quite apart from the desire to reclaim his England place for the first time since the 1998-99 Ashes tour, Crawley is also determined to prove that his selection ahead of younger talent like Ian Bell was fully justified.

"I've heard the comments about my age, but I've just turned 30 and I would have thought as a batsman the prime of my career is over the next five years," he stressed.

"I've never been one to moan about not being in the England side and I'm not going to start now.

"I've received some good chances to play for England and haven't made the most of them for whatever reason.

"Most of it I would put down to the odd technical fault, a slight vulnerability just outside off-stump which most batsmen have anyway, but I've worked hard to put that right and hopefully now I can work on getting a regular place and justifying my potential at that level."

Should Crawley succeed in his objective, a central contract could also be on offer with the First Class Forum, comprising the 18 first class counties and the MCC, agreeing in principle to a proposal to increase the number of England contracts from 11 to 20 by September.