KEY POINTS:
Mahela Jayawardene reckons New Zealand is the one place that makes a lie of that old adage about bowlers winning test matches.
The Sri Lankan skipper believes scoring heavily in New Zealand is the critical element for any team hoping to push for a win.
His reasoning is
based on the theory that New Zealand's pitches are traditionally more bowler-friendly than most, making the search for 20 wickets less challenging than the hunt for batting totals in excess of 400.
"Runs are key," he said ahead of the first test against New Zealand, starting in Christchurch on Thursday.
"Bowlers might win matches in some countries but in New Zealand the conditions are a little more bowler-friendly and the 20 wickets are more likely to be taken than not taken.
"That means scoring runs, enough runs to give your bowlers some protection, is more important over here than usual, and we're very aware of that.
"We've discussed how hard we'll have to work to get the sort of scores we'll need. We've got a very balanced and penetrative bowling attack, so putting runs on the board is critical for us."
Central to that issue, he says, is the need for the Sri Lankan team to adapt quickly to New Zealand conditions - in time for Thursday's first morning's play at Jade Stadium.
Having taken over the reins from the resting Marvan Attapatu, Jayawardene said his team must learn the lessons from last year's tour to New Zealand, when they lost the two test series 1-nil after struggling to adjust to the conditions.
It was the same when they returned for the one-day series last summer, the tourists losing the first four matches before winning the final outing.
"By the time we got used to the conditions the tour was over, and we ended up playing our best cricket soon after in Australia," he said.
"In effect, the New Zealand tour only got us up to speed for Australia. That's why it's important for us to adapt quickly this time and to be positive.
"We've got some very good cricketers and, as long as we play to our potential, we'll be difficult to beat. I think we've got a very good chance."
Jayawardene said he was aware of New Zealand's recent top-order batting problems but wasn't prepared to take anything for granted, especially against a side that had previously proved so difficult to beat at home.
"Obviously they have some very good batsmen but some have just lost form and others have been injured.
"We're not going to underestimate anybody. We know how good New Zealand are; we've been out here for the past three summers, and we realise it's important for us to concentrate on our own game and not be distracted by other issues."
The Sri Lankan skipper had been encouraged by his team's test form through the second half of the year and was delighted to witness the development of players such as wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene and fast bowler Lasith Malinga.
Malinga caused all sorts of problems for the New Zealanders last year with his exotic delivery style and has continued to build from that tour, to the extent that he's now broken into the one-day squad as well.
Jayawardene said the Sri Lankan side on paper was a formidable outfit, but that he wasn't one to pay any attention to past deeds, preferring to concentrate on the task at hand without complicating the issue.
"I'm a firm believer in the irrelevance of reputations," he said. "Names don't win you cricket, performances do.
"Experience counts, sure, but when it comes to the crunch you have to go out there and perform."