Old Trafford Test, Day 5
Monday, June 17, 2002

That was astonishing, one of the most amazing games of cricket I've ever played in. I'm afraid with us these finishes seem to follow us around – there we were again at 7.30 in the evening trying to win a Test match.

In all honesty I always felt we could get 50 in six overs, although I thought we might lose a few wickets. We were all padded up, wondering what was going to happen, but Vaughan and Trescothick played out of their skins.

Harder than getting the runs was actually bowling them out twice on a decent wicket without Andy Caddick. We missed his experience – we were left with three young lads and Ashley Giles – and his extra bounce. And some small things, like he creates a bit of rough with his followthrough around where Giles pitches it. But we got through it, which was fantastic.

I was a bit worried when Atapattu came in and seemed to be playing without much trouble. I think he must have had a ring-block painkilling injection – Alec Stewart had one in Perth once – and they're quite dangerous actually, as they block all the pain and you don't know if you're doing any more damage. Anyway I went for Flintoff when Atapattu came in, but he didn't seem to have much trouble handling him, so I put Ashley back on and he came up with a special over, just when we were thinking we'd have to call it off and settle for a draw if they hung around for another over or two.

I wish I could take the credit for that catch when we had three fielders behind square leg, but actually the blame goes to one dopey fast bowler ... honestly, the captain's got to have 20 pairs of eyes sometimes. Matthew Hoggard had been fielding in front of square the previous over, but then he bowled and took his jumper and strolled off behind square, which is where he took the catch and why it was called a no-ball. I'd have been more annoyed if Jayawardene had played a normal stroke and got out, but I'm sure he spotted that we had three there and knew he had a free hit – he knew it wasn't going to count. Fortunately it didn't matter in the end, either way.

We're ecstatic about winning the series 2-0. Sri Lanka are a pretty strong team and we've beaten them twice, and we played them on wickets that suit them, not the ones with grass on that they seemed to be worried about getting when they arrived here. It was a fabulous effort.

Now it's on to the one-dayers – a different challenge with a different squad, and a white ball ... we'll see how we go. I'm a bit jaded, to be honest – this has been a long game and I won't be home till midnight tonight, then Essex have got a C&G game before the Benson & Hedges final at Lord's on Saturday. But I've got a good coach so I'm sure I'll be all right.

Looks as if I might be able to squeeze the World Cup quarter-final in at home on Friday before going down to Lord's for the final. I reckon that if England can beat Brazil, then they can win the whole thing. How good would that be?

Nasser Hussain was talking to Steven Lynch. His thoughts will appear on Wisden.com, other duties permitting, at the end of each day of England's international cricket this summer.

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