QUARTET VISIT TO WAR ZONE

HOURS after England wrapped up a series win, their players had a sobering reminder of the devastating effects of war in Sri Lanka.

Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Keaton Jennings and Ollie Stone travelled by Air Force helicopter to the north of the island to Periyamadu Village, in a region where a 26-year civil war had raged until 2009, and where unexploded landmines are a constant threat to life. Supporting the Mines Advisory Group, they learnt how the mines were found and removed by skilled workers in a bid to clear the area completely by 2020.

“The scale of it really is amazing,” said Bairstow. “To be able to come here and learn about a country’s history, with the war and how they’ve tried to get people back together, this is a massive project. “They seem to be doing a great job. The intricacies of de-mining must be so nerve-wracking – knowing that if you place one finger wrong that could be it.”

Joe Root helped seal a first away series win and now he wants more BACK TO REALITY Players get a close-up view of the work being done to clear mines in war-torn areas of Sri Lanka