After five days of intensive training in oppressive conditions, all of the guys are looking forward to getting back to cricket mode tomorrow. With only ourselves to blame for the extended period of time between games, 'Swampy' and our fitness advisor Dave Misson have had us working overtime since our disappointing loss in the first test that ended last Saturday.

In conditions more like a sauna or steam room than a cricket ground, I can never remember sweating so much during a net, fielding or fitness session. It has been so hot that by the end of training that you could be forgiven for mistaking the guys for having been practising in the swimming pool rather than on the cricket field. Shirts and shorts have been drenched with perspiration while blisters on our toes have been common as a result of the squelching of soaking wet shoes and socks.

Tomorrow we commence a three-day practice match that sees my West Australian team-mate Simon Katich making his debut for Australia. With Stephen Waugh still touch and go for the second Test, a fantastic opportunity has presented itself to my young left-handed buddy from the west coast. While he will slot into the middle order of our batting line-up, he could also see himself bowling a few of his left-handed leg spinners if the situation calls for it. Thanks to some handy advice from 'Warney' and Stuie MacGill, 'Katto' has been looking to improve his bowling over the last two weeks. With no better teachers than our two distinguished Aussie leg-spinners, this tour could turn out to be more than just a good experience for Simon, who has always shown promise with his bowling. Two strings to any bow is always better than the one, a cliché I am sure Katto is only too well aware.

Also making his debut tomorrow is strapping Queenslander Scott Muller, who joined the squad yesterday morning. Obviously very excited about his selection for Australia, he has been thrown straight into the fire as a replacement for Jason Gillespie who flew back to Adelaide last night. While he has big shoes to fill with the sad departure of 'Dizzy', I am sure our new, tall, quick, athletic, out-swing bowler, will be looking to impress in his first outing tomorrow. Luckily he has been bought up in the humid Queensland conditions, so the temperature and humidity here in Colombo won't be such a shock to his system. No doubt his jet-lagged legs will take some getting used to this extreme heat but if this morning's net session is anything to go by the Sri Lankan batsman could jumping around the crease due to some exciting pace from Australia's latest addition to the fast bowling ranks.

There has been some soul searching and a lot of hard work done since the disappointment of the first Test, so tomorrow and the next three days will act as important preparation for our return bout in Galle next week. There is a saying within the Australian cricket team that 'it is not so much losing that matters, it is how you come back that counts.' This in mind we are looking to lift our performance in all facets of our game, especially in our batting. Whatever happens over the remainder of this tour, it won't be a lack of hard work that keeps us from attaining our goal of winning this series.

Hot in Colombo, JL