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Galle - Proteas batsman, Dean Elgar, says his past experience on the sub-continent, along with cricketing instincts, paved the way for his second Test century on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Wednesday.
As it happened: SL v SA - Day 1
Elgar was the leading run-scorer of the series between Sri Lanka A and South Africa A in 2010, and scored 431 runs, including two centuries, during the two unofficial Tests.
"The heat is quite a factor," Elgar, who last played competitive cricket in April, admitted.
"I have come from a cold South African winter and have been hit with a culture shock in 30 degree temperatures.
"I have had experience in Sri Lanka before so I knew what to expect from the conditions.
"Towards the end it did get quite tough, and to make it tougher their bowlers also gave us nothing.
"I had to find a way to get through it."
The 27 year-old shared his fourth 100-plus partnership with Faf du Plessis, and says clear communication has been an important contributor towards their success together.
"Faf and I get along really well," he said. "And on the field we seem to get on even better.
"We have had some good batting partnerships together, we know what we are about and what makes us tick.
"Luckily we communicate quite well out there."
Elgar gave credit to Sri Lanka's bowlers, whom he feels expertly exploited their conditions with good variation and skill.
He feels the magical 400 mark is still within reach, especially with a bulked up lower-order still to feature.
"We would have loved to have been three down at stumps with the score we have," he said.
"There is still a lot of graft and we have batters in the shed.
"We have Quinny (de Kock), Koppe (Duminy), Vernon (Philander) and Dale (Steyn) to come, all these guys can score runs.
"We have to edge closer to that mark that we have spoken about.
"It's going to be hard work, it's going to be tougher tomorrow, especially with the wicket deteriorating."
As it happened: SL v SA - Day 1
Elgar was the leading run-scorer of the series between Sri Lanka A and South Africa A in 2010, and scored 431 runs, including two centuries, during the two unofficial Tests.
"The heat is quite a factor," Elgar, who last played competitive cricket in April, admitted.
"I have come from a cold South African winter and have been hit with a culture shock in 30 degree temperatures.
"I have had experience in Sri Lanka before so I knew what to expect from the conditions.
"Towards the end it did get quite tough, and to make it tougher their bowlers also gave us nothing.
"I had to find a way to get through it."
The 27 year-old shared his fourth 100-plus partnership with Faf du Plessis, and says clear communication has been an important contributor towards their success together.
"Faf and I get along really well," he said. "And on the field we seem to get on even better.
"We have had some good batting partnerships together, we know what we are about and what makes us tick.
"Luckily we communicate quite well out there."
Elgar gave credit to Sri Lanka's bowlers, whom he feels expertly exploited their conditions with good variation and skill.
He feels the magical 400 mark is still within reach, especially with a bulked up lower-order still to feature.
"We would have loved to have been three down at stumps with the score we have," he said.
"There is still a lot of graft and we have batters in the shed.
"We have Quinny (de Kock), Koppe (Duminy), Vernon (Philander) and Dale (Steyn) to come, all these guys can score runs.
"We have to edge closer to that mark that we have spoken about.
"It's going to be hard work, it's going to be tougher tomorrow, especially with the wicket deteriorating."
