A cricket fan who became famous for being the only England supporter on the team's tour of Sri Lanka is finally heading home after an unexpected 14-month stay in the country – and hopes to catch the side again when they play at home later this month.

Rob Lewis, 37, arrived in March last year and, when he found out England's tour had been called off because of coronavirus, decided to stay instead of heading home.

He was finally rewarded for his persistence when the Test matches were played in Galle in January and he was able to watch from the city's 16th-century fort.

His show of loyalty earned him praise from captain Joe Root, who called him up to thank him for the backing.

"It's just been the normal for so long, it's been the accepted normal that I've just been living in Sri Lanka for a while, and then coming home as being fairly quick," he said.

Lewis is hoping to be out of quarantine in time to make it to England's second Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston, which gets under way next week.

"Fingers crossed I'll be with the Barmy Army singing Jerusalem at Edgbaston on June 10," he said.