Thursday 26 May 2016 16:56, UK
Angelo Mathews has urged Sri Lanka to forget about the defeat at Headingley and focus instead on the second Test with England.
Mathews' side were skittled out for 91 and then 119 following on as they were beaten by an innings and 88 runs in the opening Test in Leeds, as they struggled to cope with the bowling of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
But he is keen for his players to put that behind them and focus instead on attempting to level the three-Test series at Chester-le-Street on Friday, a match you can watch live on Sky Sports.
"It was an embarrassing defeat. We've had a few days to think about it ... (now) we just have to flush it out of our system," said the Sri Lanka skipper.
"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 [Friday] is going to be a fresh start. To stay alive in the series, we have to win."
Both sides were unable to practice outdoors because of rain on Thursday and on the previous day, Sri Lanka trained wearing anoraks and woolly hats in the biting north-east wind.
"It's the coldest weather I've known playing cricket," added 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."
Mathews says Sri Lanka have the collective talent to succeed if they do not become distracted by what has already happened.
"It's a mental adjustment we need, and I hope the boys will be fine," said Mathews.
"[Anderson and Broad] are world-class bowlers. Especially in these conditions, we have to be very skilful to play against these guys.
"If we play to our potential, and don't think about the weather too much ... we have the skill and the talent [to win]."
Sri Lanka's two replacement players - Chaminda Bandara and Kusal Perera - have been named in the touring squad for the injured Dushmantha Chameera and Dhammika Prasad but have yet to join their team-mates as visa protocols are completed.
The duo may come into contention for the third and final Test at Lord's, which gets underway on June 9.
Watch the second Test between England and Sri Lanka. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 HD at 10am on Friday.
