As with every overseas tour our official team photograph was taken this morning before the scheduled training session. For the first time in the history of team photos the glare didn't leave everyone blinded from the experience. Usually the worst thing about this mandatory occurrence is the smiling photographer's bad jokes and the evil glare from the sun that leaves your eyes full of tears by the end. Thanks to the overcast conditions we were saved from this hazard this morning as the photo went off without a hitch.

If it rained heavily on Sunday then today was just as torrential. Luckily the third Test match doesn't get under way until Thursday, although once again the rain gods have interrupted our preparation. Before the Galle Test we were unable to use practice nets as a result of the heavy rain and today our session was reduced to a game of soccer and a few throw downs in the old concrete indoor nets at the SSC ground here in Colombo. Obviously there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about the weather but it is frustrating to say the least. Used to having plenty of time practising before a Test match, the facilities and Mother Nature have robbed us of this opportunity throughout this tour.

Spare a thought for Simon Katich who still has two days left in the solitary confinement of his hotel room. After contracting chicken pox, 'Katto' literally hasn't been outside of his room for the last five days and he is not to leave it until Friday. In his words he looks a little bit like "Elephant Man" with nasty spots covering every inch of his body. Not only did he miss the team photo and the last Test match, he is also missing out on his favourite pastime of eating. No man loves his food more than my West Australian team-mate. He is hanging out for his first chance to demolish the restaurant buffet as soon as the doctor lets him out of room 266.

Finally today and everyone here was pumped with the Davis Cup result over the weekend. It is great to see the Aussies on top and with the netball girls playing well in New Zealand it is up to us to keep the momentum running with the good guys in the third Test.

From Colombo, JL