There is a sense of elation in the Sri Lankan camp ahead of the one day series against India-and understandably so. It is the victory in the third test that has given us this momentum and we intend to carry it right through to the shortened version of the game.
Interestingly, the margins of victory in all three test matches are quite convincing and indicate that one team totally outplayed the other. The reality is very different. In every one of those test matches, there were turning points when the game could have gone either way-and in the end, the team which played better won.

In a sense, our defeat at Galle was a blessing in disguise. After our runaway victory at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), perhaps we did not play true to our potential in Galle because we capitulated at crucial moments of the game. But that taught us a valuable lesson which we discussed, learnt from, and brought back to the Sara Stadium with us.

I am pleased with my own performance in the third test, especially with regard to my batting. It is not often that I get to play the role of a night-watchman, so when I got the opportunity I needed to make the most of it, put my head down and play a long innings and show what I am capable of.

I was of course disappointed that I could not get a fifty-and in fact, I had my mind set on a hundred-but what was more important was the impact of my innings in the context of the game.

It was one of those tricky passages of play where the game could have swung either way. The Indians were keen to make inroads into our middle order and it was crucial that I stayed there with Kumar until some stability was brought to the innings, so that the batsmen who followed could play with some degree of freedom and build a platform for a first innings lead. That is what we hoped for and I am happy that I could do that for the team.

I was also happy because lately I have put a lot of effort into my batting in trying to fulfil the role of an all-rounder. All forms of cricket are very competitive now and many countries have genuine allrounders in their teams. Top teams such as Australia and South Africa have several.

It is time we too looked at this possibility and those of us already in the team have a duty to contribute with both bat and ball, even though we may specialise in one.

I was also happy with the way I bowled. I was able to get wickets at crucial times and break important partnerships, so I can be satisfied with my overall performance in this series.

What was also encouraging was that we unearthed several new talents. Ajantha Mendis has been written about already but I was equally impressed with Dhammika Prasad in the third test.

The lad, playing in his first test, contributed like a veteran and proved his skills with the bat too-he has been a No.3 batsman early in his career. I am sure that he can develop into a match winning all-rounder.

So, with Farveez Maharoof also due to return from injury shortly there would be strong competition among the pace bowlers, especially since there is every possibility now that we may play two spinners because Murali and Ajantha are playing so well. And this healthy combination can only do good to the team.

For India, the team for the one-day series is radically different from the test team, with a few exceptions. With Sachin also now ruled out because of injury, it will be as if we are playing opponents’ different altogether from the test match side.

Even though this is a one day team which won the World Twenty-20 championship recently, this is also the team which we beat so convincingly in the Asia Cup final.

For us though, we have fewer changes in our ranks with the likes of Sanath returning. So, morale in our camp is extremely high and we know we can carry the success of the test series into the shortened version of the game as well.

All of us need to adjust from test cricket to the one-day format both physically and emotionally but this switch is now so common in the cricket calendar that most players are able to make the change without much difficulty.

We had two days completely off after the third test, so we could take our minds off cricket and get some respite. But this week we had several days of practice at the SSC which began on Thursday and these sessions went extremely well.

A win in a test series can do wonders for team spirit and that is what we are seeing right now in the Sri Lankan dressing room. Those little self doubts, nagging worries and nervous moments are cast aside and the focus is on the game and on winning it.We know, both from past experience and by assessing the talent that India has got in its ranks that this one days series will be as tough-if not tougher-than the test matches. We have to cope with the pressures of playing at home as well. But we are also confident as a team that another series victory is not far away.