Today could have been a lot better and yet at 7-60 at lunch, it could have also been a whole lot worse. Obviously this wasn't our best day of Test cricket but we are still in their fighting with a new day dawning tomorrow. After 'Tugga' won the toss and elected to bat first we look set for a productive day on what looked like a very flat batting surface. Unfortunately the wicket of 'Slats' on the second ball of the day put us on the back foot early and we didn't recover until after lunch.

To the Sri Lankans' credit the two left-arm opening bowlers bowled aggressively and patiently in their first spell, making a mess of our top order. It is rare that the opposition has two left-arm opening bowlers. Today this combination caused us a few problems, problems that we will have to address in the second innings. Luckily for the good guys, Ricky Ponting and Jason Gillespie teamed up for a brilliant hundred partnership which breathed some life back into our assault on the home side. Our team plan is all about partnerships, and this afternoon it was this unlikely pairing that has us still in this game.

Falling just four runs short of his fourth Test century, 'Punter' deserved to leave the ground with three figures to his name. His innings today was one of class and skill, an innings that proved why our young batting dynamo is one of the best strokeplayers in the international game. Although he may not have the centurion statistic to his name, his runs today were as valuable as any he has ever made before. If we turn this game around and win from here, the 'Punter' and his fast bowling ally will have to take a great deal of the credit.

At stumps the Sri Lankans are 2-69 and while it would be fair to say the hosts had the upper hand today, we all know that Test cricket is played over five days and that there is still plenty of life in this game for Australia yet.

From Kandy, JL