Michael Vaughan is now the favourite, with Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Adam Hollioake and conceivably Ronnie Irani completing a fairly thin field.
England's innings got off to a bad start when Nasser Hussain, opening with Butcher in the absence of rested duo Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan, was bowled second ball by Dilhara Fernando for a duck.
Mr Butcher, a psychology graduate, was killed instantly in February 2011 when Michael Moore, 40, of Murrow Lane, Parson Drove crashed into him on a pelican crossing, propelling his body 40m (131ft).