I am now enjoying a rare break and visiting family back in Kandy, but it won’t be long before a tough few months of cricket begins with the Champions Trophy first up.

In fact I have just come back from Jaipur in India where I did a photo shoot for the ICC to promote next month’s Champions Trophy. It was something different as I am not used to that kind of thing as I’m always more happier bowling than posing!

Back home I’m pleased to say that my son is now fully recovered from the problems he had a couple of months ago so that is good news and a big relief. He’s doing well and those problems have gone away. Thanks for the good wishes that some of you sent in to me.

In terms of my cricket I have enjoyed quite a successful last few months. After taking 46 wickets in my last five Tests, in England and then at home against South Africa, I am in some good form but I wouldn’t say it is necessarily the best form of my career. I am just bowling well and have found some good rhythm.

For the last year I have bowled well and I haven’t done anything different in these series than at other times. Cricket is like this, wickets can come all at once and at other times you can bowl well and maybe not receive your rewards.

If there is one thing that maybe has helped me this year it was the experience I had in Australia. It may sound a strange thing to say as it was a very tough tour for me on and off the field, especially with the abuse we received. 

But if you go through difficult times and come out the other side, you become a stronger character for it. That’s what happened to me. I like to think that I am quite strong mentally anyway. But these sort of experiences only make me more determined.

People keep asking me about retaking the Test wicket record from Shane Warne – I think I am 28 wickets behind him at the moment. But to be honest I really haven’t thought much about it as I have already held that record and whoever plays the longest will keep it. There is also a good chance someone else will come along and take the record from Shane Warne or me if they play long enough.

In terms of my programme coming up, I’ll be resting until practice starts on September 13, when Sri Lanka gets together again to prepare for the Champions Trophy. We have to take part in the qualifiers there but if we keep playing as we have lately there is no reason why we can’t do well there in India.

And finally, in case you’re wondering what I have made of the Pakistan and Darrell Hair controversy I really would prefer not to say anything as it is nothing to do with me.