COLOMBO, Aug 1: "Test matches are a different ball game," Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar opined. He was subtly hinting that one should not read too much into the disparity that existed between India and Sri Lanka in Asia Cup when making pre-Test assumptions and assessments.

Tendulkar is also aware that Sri Lanka are not the same force in Tests as they are in one-dayers with their high-voltage, destructive batting line-up.

The Lankans are not so adept at playing the waiting game that the five-day demands, which puts them at a disadvantage.

Tendulkar expressed happiness at the way spinners Rajesh Chauhan and Nilesh Kulkarni bowled in the three-day game against the Sri Lankan Board XI.

On the Premadasa wicket, he said, ``It will be a good track, a little hard, and will help the slow bowlers.''

He said he would not like to pass a judgement on left-arm spinner Jayanta Silva, who is in the Lanka squad for the first Test,after a brief look in the three-day game.

Personally, he said, he was disappointed to be declared caught out yesterday when he was looking for a big score to boost his confidence. ``As far as I'm concerned, the ball took the outer edge of my bat and flew into the fielder's hands off the ground. But the umpire thought otherwise and I don't want to dispute his decision.''

The chasm between one-dayers and Tests is something that the Lankans desperately seek to narrow. And that was reflected in manager Duleep Mendis' pre-Test observations. ``We know we are the one-day champions, but it's the Test matches that we focus on 100 per cent.''

Mendis, who is also doubling up as the team coach in the absence of Bruce Yardley, recuperating after eye surgery, said that Sri Lanka are well on the lines towards their goal to become the best team in the world by the year 2000. But, he said, there are a few areas that need to be strengthened.

``An ideal team should have two good fast bowlers, an off-spinner and either a leggie or a left-arm spinner. At the moment, we do not have a quality left-arm spinner or leg-spinner in our side.''

Mendis said that the 20-year-old Mahela Jayawardene has been included in the side because he has scored heavily against visiting teams. ``We thought now that we don't have Hashan (Tillekeratne) in the side because of an injury, it's an ideal opportunity to blood him as he has got runs against almost all touring sides.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.