Heroes' welcome for Nasser & Co

England's triumphant cricketers flew home from Pakistan this morning . . . to get ready for the next tour.

Captain Nasser Hussain, coach Duncan Fletcher and chairman of selectors David Graveney will meet later this week before finalising their squad for the tour of Sri Lanka, which starts in late January.

Graeme Hick may have prolonged his stop-start Test career by supplying a crucial 40 to England's cause yesterday as they batted in near darkness to win the deciding Test by six wickets.

Hick has been dropped nine times since making his Test debut in 1991 and he continues to frustrate. But the lack of an obvious alternative, as well as yesterday's performance, could save him this time.

"There are some decisions that have to be made and it is going to difficult," admitted Fletcher.

"Not many questions are being asked now about Graeme Hick. We pushed him in at the deep end and he showed a lot of composure in a difficult situation."

Speaking at Heathrow airport, Hussain said: "Finally we have some reward to bring back to the country."

Pakistan had never lost a Test match in Karachi. Since 1955 they had won 17 and drawn 17 but England ended that 45-year run in dramatic fashion.

A tired looking Hussain told a press conference: "This is the best. Beating West Indies was great but to go out there and do what we have achieved is magnificent. It is a better performance."