COLOMBO. Aug 7: Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya. who narrowly missed out on Brian Lara's world record Test score of 375 on Wednesday, will not be hailed as a one-day wonder any more, reports AFP.

It’s a tag the 28-year-o)d lefthander hates. "I like to do well in every match, whether it is one-day or Test cricket," he said. "But I am not a slogger."

He proved that with a marathon innings of 340 In the first Test against India here, batting for more than two days to post a world record stand of 576 with Roshan Mahanama.

Jayasuriya may have himself contributed to the image of a swashbuckling batsman more suited to the slam-bang world of limited overs cricket than the sedate business of five-day Tests.

He languished for six years after his international debut in 1990 before Sri Lanka's triumphant World Cup campaign

last year turned his career around.

Jayasuriya was voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament for his 221-runs — at an average of two a ball — and seven crucial wickets.

He made 79 in the group match against India to propel Sri Lanka past a stiff victory target of 272, before a blazing 82 off 44 balls laid low Mike Atherton's England in the quarterfinal.

Jayasuriya carried his World Cup form to a four-na-

tion tournament in Singapore two weeks later, where he blasted the fastest century (48 balls) and fastest half-century (17 balls) in one-day cricket.

Pakistani sensation Shahid Afridi topped that with a 37-ball hundred four months later, but Jayasuriya is happier with the Test records now in his bag.

"It is a great feeling to do well in Test cricket because that is the ultimate challenge. In the end, it's your performance in Test matches that is remembered more." he said.

Jayasuriya's 340 in only his 26th Test is the fourth highest innings behind two West Indians, Lara (375) and Garfield Sobers (365 not out), and Len Hutton of England (364).

He may have fallen 35 short of Lara's individual record, but he overtook the great West Indian's tally of 730 runs in nine matches to become the leading Test scorer in 1997.

Jayasuriya now has 883 runs from just seven games, and looks certain to add to the tally In four more Tests against the friendly Indian attack before the year ends.

Sri Lanka, who begin the second Test on Saturday, are due to tour India for a three-Test series later this year.

"It was a big disappointment not to cross the 375," Jayasuriya admitted after being dismissed on Wednesday by a Rajesh Chauhan delivery that popped a little to take the edge.

The record came to mind only after I reached 300. I felt bad because it's not everyday you get to 300. But 1 will get over it.

The important thing is to keep doing well for Sri Lanka."