Skipper Angelo Mathews says it’s the coldest he's ever been but Sri Lanka must put the weather and their Headingley thrashing out of their minds if they're to serve up revenge on England
Lankans ready to heat up in freezing Durham
Sri Lanka captain Angel Mathews remains optimistic his side can level the Test series against England in Durham, but they must forget their Headingley embarrassment and avoid obsessing about the cold weather.
Mathews is asking his team to "flush out of their system" any mental baggage from their innings defeat inside three days in Leeds last week.
The Sri Lanka captain said Durham's Chester-le-Street, where the second Test beings tonight (8pm AEST), was the coldest cricket venue he has ever visited but warned the tourists must not be tempted to use that as an excuse.
Sri Lanka had no answer to James Anderson and Stuart Broad's brilliant bowling at Headingley, shot out for 91 and then 119 following on.
"It was an embarrassing defeat," said Mathews. "We've had a few days to think about it ... (now) we just have to flush it out of our system.
"We have to forget Headingley. That's simple, the first thing we have to do.
"The more we think about it, the more disappointed we get. Obviously, you can't erase it but we have to move on. That's what we'll do.
"Tomorrow is going to be a fresh start. To stay alive in the series, we have to win."
Neither Sri Lanka or England were unable to practise outdoors because of rain on Thursday while Wednesday's training saw players wear anoraks and woolly hats in the biting north-east wind.
Image Id: ~/media/377841B749E74420AEC95203461FE4C4 Image Caption: England coach Trevor Bayliss rugged up at training // Getty"It's the coldest weather I've known playing cricket," said Mathews.
"It was extremely cold yesterday. Today it's a bit better, and I'm hearing it will stay that way for next three days.
"The weather can be a factor, but it can't be an excuse ... you have to compete, regardless of the conditions.
"You can't control the weather, but we can try to control our performances."
He said Sri Lanka had the collective talent to succeed and needed only to make "a mental adjustment" to succeed.
"(Anderson and Broad) are world-class bowlers, especially in these conditions," Mathew said.
"We have to be very skilful to play against these guys. It's definitely possible (we can win).
"If we play to our potential and don't think about the weather too much, we have the skill and the talent."
Sri Lanka's two replacement players, Chaminda Bandara and Kusal Perera in their squad for the injured Dushmantha Chameera and Dhammika Prasad, have yet to join their teammates while their visas are being processed. They may come into contention for the final Test at Lord's.