Obviously losing a Test match is a disappointing experience but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed today which epitomised tough test cricket at its most intense. Not making enough runs in both innings was the biggest contributing factor to our downfall in this match, but we have to be proud of the way the entire team fought it out this afternoon. Minus Jason Gillespie and our skipper Steve Waugh, we knew it was going to be a very tough task, but we also knew that we were not going to go down without a fight.

Until the last run was scored our bowlers and fieldsmen applied some of the fiercest pressure I have ever experienced on a cricket field. The feeling was electric out in the middle as we did everything possible to steal an unlikely victory. Had we taken all our chances and a few umpiring decisions gone our way we could quite possibly be sitting 1-0 up in this series rather than the other way around. Fired up by yesterday's unfortunate turn of events we gave it our best shot but unfortunately today it just wasn't to be.

Ricky Ponting must be commended on his outstanding batting performances in both innings while Warney and Colin Miller made great contributions with the ball. To the Sri Lankans credit, they outplayed us for the majority of this game bowling with greater patience and discipline than we were able to match them with the bat. We will have to work on our batting game plan before the next Test commences in Galle in a week's time to ensure that we give our bowlers more runs to compete with.

After the game we were back on the team coach for a three-hour bus journey back to Colombo. We could have stayed in Kandy until tomorrow but it was unanimously decided that we get back to Colombo to see 'Tugga' and 'Dizzy' in hospital. Although they are both a little sore and sorry, it seems that the Sri Lankan surgeons have restored them both back into one piece. When we entered their hospital room it looked more like a scene from an army first aid tent. 'Tugga' had a bandage that covers the majority of his face while 'Dizzy' has a plaster cast that runs from his ankle up to his thigh.

As you can imagine 'Dizzy' is feeling as much broken in spirit than he is in body. He must be the most unlucky young guy I know in terms of his injuries. Having worked with admirable determination over the winter to overcome another stress fracture, he was just starting to reap the well-earned rewards for his labours. It seems so unjust that yesterday's freakish accident could fall upon one of the most popular members of our team who is also one of the hardest workers and most professional young sportsmen you could possibly meet. It just doesn't seem fair, but then again I guess it will be another test of his resolve which will make him into one of the toughest competitors in the game.

All the boys feel very empty for 'Diz' who is returning to Australia later this week to seek more medical treatment. As for 'Tugga' he feels like he has been "kicked in the face by a horse" but although he will be sore and have to wear his 'Hannibal Lecter' mask for the next 10 days, he should recover and be back for the second important Test match at Galle. A Test match that we have to win to keep our hopes of a series victory alive.

From Colombo, JL