Sri Lanka prove there is life after Murali

Sri Lanka's weary cricketers slip back into their blue-and-yellow pyjamas on Friday for the start of a five-match series against a wounded South Africa team. Buoyant but exhausted after two months of non-stop cricket, Sri Lanka sense an opportunity to prove that, while life may be sweeter with him around, winning is now possible without Muttiah Muralitharan.

A short while ago, the withdrawal of Murali, who will be out of action until Christmas, could have had a devastating impact upon the team, as shown by their sharp slump of form just prior to the 2003 World Cup when Murali was recovering from a hernia operation. But Sri Lanka's confidence has mushroomed in recent months and the success of the team, in the Asia Cup and the South Africa Test series, has been built around a solid team effort.

"We will miss Murali," admitted Marvan Atapattu, the key figure in Sri Lanka's rising fortunes. "His bowling aside, he is such a good team player. Just having him in the dressing-room motivates guys. I wouldn't mind him there even without him playing. But without him the other guys have come forward and shouldered much more responsibility. It is encouraging to see and they have shown great promise for the future."

Atapattu is anxious now that his team doesn't let the momentum slow. The Champions Trophy is looming on the horizon - a tournament in which Sri Lanka have high hopes, having been grouped with Zimbabwe and England, both of whom have woeful one-day records in the recent past - but Atapattu is focusing first and foremost on South Africa. He has been urging his players to keep working, improving and, above all, stay mentally sharp.

"We have played some good cricket in the recent past, but the key word is "past"," Atapattu said after training under lights. "That has now all gone and this is a new series. If we keep playing the way we are then we will do well, but there are enough and more areas in which we need to improve, including our running between the wickets and the fielding.

"We will also have to make an effort to keep the energy and enthusiasm levels high. We have been playing a lot of cricket since Australia and have never had more than three days' rest at any time, so it is hard to keep the boys always alert and mentally alive."

Sri Lanka's selection is relatively straightforward. Avishka Gunawardene is likely to retain his place alongside Sanath Jayasuriya and the other four batters - Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekaratne Dilshan - are picked without debate. The allrounders follow: Upul Chandana, Farveez Maharoof and Chaminda Vaas. Finally, Nuwan Zoysa walks into the team after his heroics in the Asia Cup, leaving one space for two spinners - Rangana Herath and Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

South Africa, meanwhile, are desperate to bounce back after the drubbing in the final Test, a defeat that prompted a fearful tongue-lashing from their captain, Graeme Smith, who tore into them for a lack of commitment, passion and hunger.

Their recent slide down the ICC one-day championship table, from second to fourth position after their 5-1 defeat to New Zealand in March and a long layoff, has also prompted some re-thinking within the management team. Eric Simons, the coach, has promised new ideas and a revamped strategy for a new season.

Quite what changes he will make remain to be seen. But one option is the better utilisation of some of the firepower hidden in the lower order. Lance Klusener, fighting for his future, might be given an opportunity early against the hard new ball.

There should also be a new face, Jean-Paul Duminy, or JP as he is called, who is expected to make his one-day international debut. Duminy, a Western Province left-hander, churned out runs last season, averaging 75 in domestic cricket, but the challenge of batting against Sri Lanka's slow bowlers in the middle overs will be a test.

Bowling selections have been made easier by the departure of Andre Nel, although the choice between Nicky Boje and Alan Dawson might be a tricky decision on the spin-friendly Premadasa pitch. Robin Peterson, the drinks waiter for the first three weeks of the tour, is expected to be the first-choice spinner.

South Africa (from) 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 Jacques Rudolph, 5 Lance Klusener, 6 Jean-Paul Duminy, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Nicky Boje, 9 Alan Dawson, 10 Makhaya Ntini, 11 Shaun Pollock, 12 Robin Peterson, 13 Andre Nel, 14 Martin van Jaarsveld.

Sri Lanka (from) 1 Marvan Atapattu (capt), 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 6 Saman Jayantha, 7 Avishka Gunawardene, 8 Farveez Maharoof, 9 Chaminda Vaas, 10 Upul Chandana, 11 Lasith Malinga, 12 Nuwan Zoysa, 13 Dilhara Fernando, 14 Kaushal Lokuarachchi.