Postcard from Sri Lanka: `Meat lovers from the Free State'

The first thing that struck me over the few days we've been here in Sri Lanka is the close similarity to India, having just toured there a few months ago. The temperatures are about equal and the humidity is the same as we experienced in the one-dayer in Cochin, really hot and humid. The coastal surroundings have a very tropical and Caribbean look to them, with real pretty white sandy beaches and nice looping palm trees in an abundance everywhere.

Our practices have gotten off to a pretty slow start because we had to wait for our luggage to arrive from the cargo compound. Doug, our manager, spent the whole of Sunday trying to clear the cargo and by the match day, not all of our Energade had been released yet. One thing that will really test our patience is the fact that the practice facilities are not the same as we encounter back in SA and we'll have to ensure that this deficit does not get to us. The bottom line is: we'll have to make do with what is available to the team.

From a personal point of view, I feel that I have been hitting the ball pretty well and can't wait to get the chance to take this confidence out into the middle and make the most of the opportunity when I'm given it. By the look of things, the wickets tend to be fairly similar to those in India but it should assist the seamers a little bit more than the Indian wickets did. True to the sub-continent though, there will be some turn in them for the spinners towards the end of the innings.

We drove down from Colombo to Galle yesterday, a 3 hour bus trip. One thing is for sure though; the Indian drivers are definitely better than their Sri Lankan counterparts. You really have to experience it for yourself but overtaking on solid lines against on-coming traffic and missing each other by millimeters is not the kind of road sense taught by the AA school of driving back home. Least of all in Bloemfontein!

We are currently at the one-dayer in Galle and looking out from the pavilion is quite a unique and very picturesque sight in world cricket. There is an old fort, which I'm sure you have seen on TV, with most of the crowds camped up there watching the game. The setting here is quite fabulous for cricket, the ground being right next to the sea, this old statuesque fort surrounding the bottom of the field and persistent music being played by a band on the far side of the field.

The crowds in Sri Lanka are as passionate as those who support the game in India. They are very keen to support their side, but unlike in India, when the SA team pulls off an amazing fielding move or takes a wicket, there is absolute silence from the spectators.

The food has been pretty good so far, probably more variety than what we had in India. This definitely helps us real meat lovers from the Free State.

This is Boeta "dipstick" Dippenaar signing off for the time being, until later...