But it is clear that he wanted time to think about his position following his strong public reprimand by the England and Wales Cricket Board last week.

This man of passion and principle feels deflated and let down by the suggestion, made in advance of last week's hearing by Richard Peel, the head of the ECB's corporate affairs, that veiled comments about the legality of Muttiah Muralitharan's action and a subsequent argument with Geoff Boycott might amount to a sackable offence.

That he took some time before denying a story that he was pondering resignation suggests a certain resentment at the strongly critical statement made in advance of his hearing and at the way the inquiry was conducted. If it was not officially a disciplinary hearing, the presence of the board's chief executive, Tim Lamb, and the personnel manager, must have made it look like much more than an opportunity for the coach to give his side of the story.

Lloyd, who has been heartened by messages of support, may well feel that he has been used by the ECB to assuage Sri Lankan sensibilities, although that would not have been necessary if he had kept his own counsel.