Familiar faces and setting enables Tremlett to give England the upper-hand at Rose Bowl

Tremlett and James Anderson, the latter back from the side strain which ruled him out at Lord’s last week, shared the spoils as Sri Lanka struggled to 81-4 on a rain-shortened first day of the third npower Test.

Hampshire’s prodigal son was heartened to receive a warm welcome from a crowd which saw him develop in county cricket for a decade before he moved to Surrey last year to try to revitalise his international career.

That move worked for the 29-year-old, who took a liking to conditions back on his old hunting ground after Andrew Strauss won the toss in the morning.

“I played here for a long time and it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been back, so it was a nice reception and nice of the Hampshire fans to welcome me back,” said Tremlett.

“I was at Hampshire for nine or 10 years and I like to think I offered a lot to the county and gave the fans some good viewing at times.

“It was a nice reception and nice to see some familiar faces.

“The fans were loud and seemed like they had a good day despite the rain. Me getting a couple of wickets will make them happier.”

After misfiring powerhouses Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene had both continued their unproductive tours so far, England were shut out for the last hour by Thilan Samaraweera and Prasanna Jayawardene.

But the hosts were still satisfied with their efforts on a desultory day, which Tremlett described as an improvement on much of what they managed in the second Test stalemate at Lord’s.

“I think at the end of the day we’re happy with four wickets,” he said.

“It’s been a bit frustrating getting on and off; it’s always a bit tough to switch yourself on, but we did a pretty good job.

“I think we were a bit lacklustre at times with our line and lengths, but I think it was certainly an improvement from Lord’s.”

Tremlett still has not usurped Stuart Broad as Anderson’s new-ball partner, but remains happy to bowl whenever Strauss wants him to.

“I felt at times we beat the bat a lot,” he said.

“Stuart Broad was very unlucky and could have had a couple of wickets. Because of my height, I feel a newer ball is going to help my attributes.

“But when I came on to bowl, the ball wasn’t too old so I was still going to get reasonable bounce.

“Whatever role I’m given in the side, I’ll take.”

Sri Lanka batting coach Marvan Atapattu warned his charges before they arrived here of the difficulties of batting in short sessions between rain breaks.

They have discovered the wisdom of his words, in this series so beset by bad weather.

“It was something we knew, coming to England, that start-stop is possible,” he said.

“We were a bit unlucky losing a couple of our top-order batsmen in those short sessions just before and just after lunch.”

That said, Sangakkara – who has made only 65 runs from five innings so far – fell to a regrettable shot.

“Sangakkara will be pretty unhappy seeing the replay of the shot he played,” added Atapattu.