Captains talk to ease tension in series decider

Opposing captains Nasser Hussain and Sanath Jayasuriya have had talks to try to ease the tension between England and Sri Lanka on the eve of the deciding Third Test in Colombo tomorrow.

While both sides will be going all-out for victory, they know that the eyes of the cricketing world will be upon them following two highly contentious Test matches.

Poor umpiring, disputed decisions and confrontations between players have at times overshadowed the cricket itself. Michael Atherton and Kumar Sangakkara were severely reprimanded after a clash at Kandy by match referee Hanumant Singh, who has warned both teams that any further bad behaviour will be "dealt with severely".

Jayasuriya, who himself has a suspended four-match ban hanging over him for dissent, said: "I've spoken to Nasser and we had a little chat about the situation. We both want to calm things down and we both want the game played in the right way.

"Apart from the little thing between Atherton and Sangakkara, there's not been much of a problem between the two sides - we've never had a problem with the England team but there were a few things that went on.

"I certainly have never had a problem with Nasser whenever I've spoken to him."

Jayasuriya knows the pressure is on the sides not only to perform - but to perform with dignity. "It's very important for both sides that they show the world that we can play the game in the right spirit," he stressed.

"We will play the game hard in the normal way but we have to show extra caution about the way we react to decisions and I've made the players aware of what is expected of them."

Hussain too realises the importance of good behaviour in this game - but does not think his team have been particularly culpable so far.

"I will be trying my hardest to make sure our team play the game the right way, but I don't see that my cricket team has done much wrong on the field of play," he said.

"If someone can come up with a list of things the England cricket team has done wrong this winter then I'll have a look at it - I haven't seen that much. I've seen a lot of good things and I intend that to carry on over the next five days."

Hussain feels that victory in this game will cap a remarkable few months for England. "The winter will depend on this Test match. We've had a pretty good winter and we don't want to round it off with a loss, but Sri Lanka will come back at us; this is their main ground out here and we'll have to be wary of them.

"They've been away from home for four months and if they win this game, what a phenomenal winter it will have been. This is what it's all about, these five days are what we play the game for. We've got a great opportunity and we mustn't see it as anything but that."

But there is still some doubt over whether Hussain himself will be fit enough to play after sustaining a groin injury while fielding in the Second Test.

And joining Hussain on the injured list is spinner Ashley Giles who has suffered more trouble with his Achilles.

Although Hussain emerged unscathed from yesterday's net practice, the tourists will put him through a more thorough fitness test today before a final decision is made on the line-up. Giles, whose Achilles injury almost caused him to miss the opening Test at Galle, will also be tested by physiotherapist Dean Conway.

Hussain said: "I was fit yesterday at nets and batted pretty well and the body was fine for that.The fielding and running between the wickets are going to be the big test for me although I'm a bit stiff after testing it out in the pool earlier with the physio.

"I'm looking to play at this stage, I'm looking for things which tell me not to play and as long as the injury doesn't deteriorate from yesterday then I'll be fit for selection."

As for Giles, Hussain said: "Ashley's been carrying his Achilles for a while and we're keeping a close eye on him and how he shapes up. Everybody wants to play in this game and we're just going to have to have a bit of caution."

Yorkshire batsman Michael Vaughan, whose off spin bowling yielded some rewards in warm-up matches on this tour, could be put on stand-by if Giles should fail his fitness test. Vaughan would also play if Hussain fails to recover or if it is decided that Graeme Hick should be dropped following a disappointing run of form.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka are considering replacing Nuwan Zoysa, who failed to take a wicket in the Second Test, with Dilhara Fernando, and Kumar Dharmasena, whose off-spin has disappointed this series, with Dinuk Hettiarachchi. Hettiarachchi, although not a big turner of the ball, took five for 84 for a Board President's XI against England last month.

However, Sri Lanka are also seriously discussing the possibility of playing just one fast bowler and three frontline spinners. After seeing the wicket for the first time they were surprised at just how dry it was.

The SSC usually favours the fast bowler on the first two days, but this wicket looks likely to be extremely slow, similar to Galle in the First Test.