Heavy overnight rain interrupted most of today's play, although when we eventually took the field at 4:30 this afternoon our remaining five batsmen were bamboozled by the Sri Lankan spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and debutante Rangana Herath. Although 'Murali' didn't add to his tally of five wickets he looked dangerous, as his young left arm 'unorthodox' team-mate took four of the remaining five wickets. Like his more experienced partner and Pakistani off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, Herath has mastered a delivery that spins back the other way. These wizards who seem to spin the ball prodigiously at will and in whatever direction they feel like have caused many headaches to batsmen around the world.

It is difficult enough facing orthodox spin bowling on a spinning pitch like we are experiencing here in Sri Lanka, but when the bowler can also spin the ball the opposite way then the challenge increases dramatically. Test cricket is appropriately named because it really is a test of skill, application and determination to overcome all barriers. In these foreign conditions against unorthodox bowling like we are seeing, the challenge is a tough one that has to be overcome if we are to leave these shores with a successful record.

Our most seasoned team-mate Ian Healy said after today's play that "we have been in these tough situations before, we are just going to have to work very hard tomorrow to keep ourselves in this game." Steve Waugh added: "We have worked to hard for 10 years to be seen as the number one team in the world, let's not let it slip, tomorrow is a big day."

Everyone in the camp is determined to do well, to adapt to these foreign conditions. It now comes down to finding the best possible method to counter our opposition.

From Galle, JL