Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford thinks some of his batsmen may have been overawed by the occasion on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG.
Playing in only their second Test match at the MCG, Sri Lanka were skittled for just 156 by an impressive Australian attack and now find themselves with a lead of just six runs as the hosts reached 3-150 at the close of play on Wednesday.
Many of Sri Lanka's batsmen were guilty of poor shot selection and Ford conceded his team needed to improve their decision making while out in the middle.
"Today I think some of our decision making wasn't very clear or as precise as it should be," he said.
"As a batting group we played one or two shots we shouldn't have played.
"I think there is a bit of indecision on what to defend and what to attack and what to leave.
"It is not a technical thing, it is not a mental thing and I certainly know it is not a work ethic thing as the guys have worked really hard on the skills that are required in these conditions.
"Once you get out there you have got to have a clear mind and make good decisions."
Ford also admitted that there was a strong possibility that some of his players were overawed by the crowd of more than 65,000 at the MCG.
"That is something that is buzzing around in my mind," Ford said when asked if any of his players were overawed.
"You talk about some of the decision making not being quite as precise as it should be and what contributes to that is always quite difficult to decide what has caused that.
"Some of it could be that because of it being such a big occasions and something that the boys have been looking forward to for such a long time.
"The desire to do well is extremely high, which at times can relate to a little more pressure."
Despite Sri Lanka's poor first day, Ford is not giving up hope that his side can still salvage something from the match.
"We are playing catch up unfortunately," he said.
"We found ourselves doing it in the last Test and we were desperate not to do it this time around.
"But that is what it is and that is what it is going to take.
"Tomorrow morning's first session is going to be extremely vital that we get in and bowl well and strike early."
First Posted 26 December, 2012 10:47PM AEST
