By Justin Langer Australian Test batsman

In Colombo, the heat is debilitating and the humidity is a killer.

Thirty five degree heat and 90 per cent humidity makes life tough for batsmen, bowlers and fieldsmen alike.

As an opening batsman I know that my shirt will be soaking wet by the time I have walked into the middle of the ground and asked the umpire for centre before a ball has even been bowled.

If facing the raw pace and aggression from Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis isn't enough, then the contest will intensify as the heavy air, unusual aromas and sweat dripping into my eyes and onto my batting gloves is sure to make life even more interesting.

Taking a bird's eye view in Colombo

This first Test against the inconsistent but naturally talented Pakistanis is an interesting proposition for many reasons.

Firstly, playing a Test match in a neutral venue is certainly a first for the Australian cricket team.

In many ways it is a pity that we are not playing Pakistan on their home turf because this is one of the main reasons these games are referred to as 'Test' matches.

It means testing your abilities against other countries in foreign conditions that are supposed to favour the home team.

Thankfully, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board in conjunction with our hosts have come together to ensure the contest will go ahead.

It is just unusual that we are playing Pakistan in Colombo.

Lengthy break

Although the conditions here in Colombo are closer to Pakistani conditions, I believe the contest will be more even in this neutral venue.

While the heat, humidity and spinning pitches are more conducive to the Pakistani style of play than we are used to in Australia, the crowd support for the home team will have less of an impact.

Batting with Ricky Ponting was a treat

It has been six months since we played our last Test match against South Africa in Durban.

On that occasion we were below our best giving the South Africans a Test match victory after we had beaten them in the first five Tests of the summer.

The feeling now is a strange one within the team. Very few of the guys have experienced such a long break from Test cricket so the tension has been gradually building since the guys were beaten in the semi-final of the one-day series last week.

While our preparation has been very intense and thorough there is an atmosphere of restless anticipation within our walls.

Tough opponents

Experience is an invaluable commodity and it was this ally that Steve Waugh reminded us of during our final team meeting.

He wanted everyone in the team to remember and then trust the preparation that has worked for us in the past.

It has been a long break but he encouraged us all to use this to increase our hunger for success in the next five days.

Pakistan can never be taken lightly

Having just run a very successful Champions Trophy, Colombo is abuzz with cricket, but my gut feeling is that the crowds will be low with two foreign teams playing.

This in itself is a shame but in the end of the day the fact that we are even playing this Test series is a bonus for world cricket.

The fact that Sri Lanka has been able to host two other teams is a credit to the organization of international cricket and the ICC.

Pakistan are without a couple of their key players but this aside we know not to take them lightly.

This series is important to us as we rarely win in the sub continent and we also want to gain momentum for an upcoming Ashes series.

It's Test cricket time again. Bring it on.

From Colombo,
JL