Thorpe credits winter off for his sub-continent heroics

Man of the Match, Graham Thorpe, talked of the emotion he felt after his heroics with the bat to guide England to a four-wicket in Colombo. "It is a feeling of relief more than anything," he said.

He commented on the conditions in this match: "I have never played in conditions like that. All the tension that goes with the game drains you emotionally and physically. It took everything I had. I thought it would be a cruise, but it didn't happen like that."

Thorpe confessed that he was glad to be there at the end: "It is better being out in the middle than watching it from the balcony."

The Surrey left-hander also spoke of England's progress this winter in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. "It's fantastic what we've done this winter. We've started to develop a good side. We've only used thirteen players. Everyone has had to do their bit. You only get tougher by results and we've dug as deep as we ever have. Winning tight games is the key to winning series," he reasoned.

Thorpe admitted that he was surprised at Sri Lanka capitulation to 81 in their second innings, but gave credit to England's two spinners, Ashley Giles and Robert Croft: "Our spinners have stood up and been counted. They can take a lot of credit out of this game."

He talked of his "extra drive and purpose" this winter, after taking a winter off during last year's England tour to South Africa and looked forward to being "fresh for the summer."