Sri Lanka wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara claims his side’s poor showing in the one-day series with England will have no bearing on the outcome of the Test series.
England went 1-0 down in the series but showed remarkable character to win the next three matches to take an unassailable lead with one match to play.
The victory sealed England’s first major ODI series win on the sub-continent for 20 years, but Sangakkara thinks things will be different when the first of three Tests begins in Kandy on December 1.
“I must state at the outset the three-Test series between England and Sri Lanka will be very different,” Sangakkara said.
“Firstly, Tests are played over five days and there is a lot of time. In the limited-overs game in a matter of 10 to 20 overs a game can change.
“So come December it will be a completely different ball game. At present we have dug ourselves in hole and need to come out of it.
“Credit should go to England as they played to their potential whilst we didn’t play to our potential.”
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene insists his side will go all out to win the last match of the ODI series.
30-year-old admitted he was disappointed to lose their impressive home record but gave credit to Paul Collingwood’s side for the way they played since falling behind at Dambulla.
“We are determined to win the last game as our pride is at stake,” Jayawardene said.
“We didn’t bat well and as a team have to take the full responsibility for this poor show.
“We did speak about it in the dressing room but we didn’t bat as a unit. I am very disappointed to lose at home as our home record has been excellent.
“Having said that, credit should go to the England side as they showed character.
“The individual players in the England side played very good cricket.
"They started off very well in this game and generally kept things tight and we struggled to over come it.
“The England side has some new and young faces and they adjusted well to the conditions.”
England went 1-0 down in the series but showed remarkable character to win the next three matches to take an unassailable lead with one match to play.
The victory sealed England’s first major ODI series win on the sub-continent for 20 years, but Sangakkara thinks things will be different when the first of three Tests begins in Kandy on December 1.
“I must state at the outset the three-Test series between England and Sri Lanka will be very different,” Sangakkara said.
“Firstly, Tests are played over five days and there is a lot of time. In the limited-overs game in a matter of 10 to 20 overs a game can change.
“So come December it will be a completely different ball game. At present we have dug ourselves in hole and need to come out of it.
“Credit should go to England as they played to their potential whilst we didn’t play to our potential.”
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene insists his side will go all out to win the last match of the ODI series.
30-year-old admitted he was disappointed to lose their impressive home record but gave credit to Paul Collingwood’s side for the way they played since falling behind at Dambulla.
“We are determined to win the last game as our pride is at stake,” Jayawardene said.
“We didn’t bat well and as a team have to take the full responsibility for this poor show.
“We did speak about it in the dressing room but we didn’t bat as a unit. I am very disappointed to lose at home as our home record has been excellent.
“Having said that, credit should go to the England side as they showed character.
“The individual players in the England side played very good cricket.
"They started off very well in this game and generally kept things tight and we struggled to over come it.
“The England side has some new and young faces and they adjusted well to the conditions.”
