The Lankan skipper reminded everyone that one or two individual efforts meant nothing if a team lost the game inside three days. After playing seven years at this level, it was hard to be excited with a hundred because now the team's overall performance is equally important.

That was the reason nobody tried to focus much on Ashraful's unbeaten hundred and Mushfiqur Rahim's valiant 80. Rather, everyone was trying to find the solution of both first innings debacles.

"It is true. What can we say about his comments when we lost the game inside three days? It's really a bad feeling to practice in the nets and take rest when we are supposed to be in the ground," admitted Bangladesh captain Ashraful, who had a quiet 23rd birthday. There was no party as he spent most of the day in his hotel room.

"I agree with him (Jayawardene) that we should be more competitive in Test cricket. I can recall how excited I was when I made 158 against India at Chittagong although the team lost inside three days. But now I have hardly any excitement although the century has given me confidence to do better in the third Test," said the pocket-sized dynamo.

Ashraful however was not ready to accept criticism from his counterpart about his batting position in the second innings.

"True the best batsman should prefer to bat at the top of the order and number six is not an ideal place for me. You know, I also love to bat at four or five but we promoted Mehrab considering his ability as an opener. My desire was to start the third day afresh although finally I had to come out on the second day. He (Mahela) has every right to criticise me but what we did it due to the team's interest," he said.

Middle-order batsman Tushar Imran joined the team yesterday and is expected to play the third Test at Kandy starting from July 11 but the new Bangladesh captain was not ready to see his inclusion as a rescue act.

"Efforts from one or two batsmen would not be enough. The entire top-order should click if we want to survive in the first innings. I must say our tail-enders' batting was also pathetic. So there is no scope for us to focus on one or two people," he explained.

Young Rahim also echoed his captain's remarks about the comment made by Jayawardene.

"I don't find anything wrong in Mahela's comments. I think we are responsible in giving him a chance for making this kind of comments. What we did in the end as a team is more important than one or two individual successes," said young wicketkeeper Rahim, who made his maiden Test half-century in a crisis moment.

"How can we expect that someone praises us after we lost the game inside three days? If we really want to give Mahela (Jayawardene) an answer, then we should improve our performance. If not, then not only Mahela, but also everyone will criticise us. What I feel is that we should bat well in the first innings if we want to play competitive cricket in the third Test," Rahim observed.

The 18-year-old stumper from Bogra, who is all set to make his place in the side permanent for both versions of the game, expressed his satisfaction over his batting in the second innings but said that it would have been much better if he had got the hundred.

"I'm happy because I got my first Test half-century but a fifty is not good enough in Test cricket. I am looking forward to something big which will help my team a lot in the end," said the little man.