Cramps couldn't have come at a worse time

Don't know where those cramps came from. I've never had them before, so I was completely taken by surprise when I started to seize up at that crucial point in our game against Australia.

I remember a similar thing happening to Herschelle Gibbs during the Champions Trophy encounter against India in 2002, which we lost after he cramped and retired hurt.

For me, the cramps couldn't have come at a worse juncture, though I still believe we should have won at St Kitts, despite the great throw from Shane Watson to run out AB de Villiers and my retiring hurt. We let ourselves down in the middle overs when it mattered most.

However, that is past. We are completely focused on our match against Sri Lanka tomorrow, though there are plenty of 'ifs' going into the game.

There have been some questions asked about our dismal performances against the Lankans the last time we toured the island - in 2004 - when we lost both the Test and ODI series badly.

Frustrated remarks

I recall making some very frustrated remarks to the media then, though we compensated somewhat by winning our Champions Trophy encounter against them in India last year.

It has been raining ever since we arrived here in Guyana, so we have not had a chance to really look at the pitch. However, from what little I have seen of it - for about two minutes - it looks like a pretty good track to bat on.

Of course, that will not deter Murali, who can turn it on any surface, but my contention is that if we can get a partnership going in the top order, the remaining batsmen can play Murali with some confidence. It is when three-four wickets fall early and he comes on that he is at his most lethal, so we have to avoid that scenario.

Well-oiled unit

I am aware that I have to bat well for that early partnership to get going, and against a well-oiled unit like the current Sri Lankan team, that will take some doing.

However, I have always thrived on challenges, and tomorrow is no different. Only I have no idea what I will do at the toss - trust me. The ground is not too small, but the pitch is an unknown quantity, so we don't know what kind of target will be enough. In such a situation, most people would expect the team winning the toss to chase - particularly given the fact that our bowling went for so many runs against Australia - but I can only decide on that when I walk out there.

Should the rain allow us some practice time today, we will, of course, have a better idea of the situation. Our final combination will thus be decided later. Given the number of unknowns, team selection will be a tough call, but I am convinced we can pick the best horse for the course.