For Zimbabwe's cricket team, Christmas was fun whilst it lasted. The families came and lunch was sumptuous, but the festivities are officially over. As they limber up for a daunting three-Test series with Sri Lanka starting Thursday, hard choices have been made.
The first was made on Christmas Eve by skipper Brian Murphy. Out of sorts with the ball after a long lay-off with a finger injury, Murphy has taken the bold decision of dropping himself for the first Test match.
Murphy said, honestly: "I have hardly bowled during the last six wickets and I am not bowling well. I didn't want to let the team down, so I decided to drop myself."
For those Southern Africans instilled with the frontier mentality, the stubborn "look'em in the eye and never-turn your back" school of combat, this may seem like pure cowardice.
But it was a sensible decision. A wayward leg-spinner is the last thing you need in Sri Lanka. Had he played he would have jeopardised the thrifty plans of a pragmatic team.
Zimbabwe realise they have limited resources. They don't pretend to be superstars and see no option but to adopt the tactics most suited to their strengths, namely self-discipline and hard work.
Expect limpet-like batting and defensive bowling during the series. It won't be pretty, but then the Zimbabwe's cricketers don't pretend to be entertainers: they are professional sportsman with a job to do.
Stuart Carlisle, who once again takes over the captaincy, said: "It is going to be really tough against Sri Lanka and we are not expecting to win the series three-nil. We want to be realistic with our goals and try to get one or two draws and hopefully a bonus win."
He added: "We have got to play Murali well. He is the key and always has been the key. We have our gameplans but we also don't want to over-analayse and get psyched out.
"With the ball, we will attack early on with Heath Streak and Travis Friend but, generally, we're looking to apply pressure by bowling one side of the wicket. It was a good ploy against India, who eventually became impatient, and should help us build-up pressure here."
He hopes Murphy can quickly regain his confidence: "Brian (Murphy) hasn't been bowling well and it was a tough decision for him to take. Lets hope he gains some confidence over the next six days and can come back for the final two Tests."
But the absence of a specialist spinner leaves them with an unbalanced attack on a Sinhalese Sports Club pitch that is drier than expected. Although there could be overnight sweating after the evening thunderstorm just breaking, the pitch looks tailor-made for spin.
Zimbabwe, however, will be playing four seamers: Streak and Friend with the new ball, followed by Henry Olonga and medium pacer Gary Brent later on. The only variation will be provided by the part-time left-arm orthodox of Grant Flower and off-spin of Trevor Gripper.
Hamilton Masakadza, 18, returns to the Test team after school exams and will open with the in-form Gripper. Carlisle will bat one down, followed by the Flower brothers, Craig Wishart and left-hander Gavin Rennie.
Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore has no problems with Zimbabwe's dour intentions: "We expect them to fall back on defensive tactics when they are not taking wickets. We saw that when we toured Zimbabwe. That is part of Test cricket and we have to deal with that."
He is more concerned that the team focuses on making success a habit before a tough year overseas: "We are now starting to play the kind of Test match cricket that we have been threatening to do for a while. But in order to make it habitual, we have to keep performing in this manner.
"Just because we have been doing well, doesn't mean it will automatically happen. The players must realise that it is not their god given right to perform when they get on the field - they have to work very hard to be consistently successfully."
Sri Lanka's selectors had earlier indicated a preference for playing three fast bowlers but this is now unlikely according to captain Sanath Jayasuriya.
"It looks a dry wicket at the moment, though we will have to check it again later," he said. "We have to play according to wicket and if it remains dry we will play just two fast bowlers."
Unusually, their will be a rest day in this Test on 30 December after a recent government decree that no sport be played during Full Moon (Poya) days.
Sri Lanka (likely):
Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Niroshan Bandaratillake
Zimbabwe:
Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Craig Wishart, Gavin Rennie, Hamilton Masakadza, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga, Heath Streak, Trevor Gripper, Gary Brent
© Cricinfo
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