Jayawardene unfazed by Australia's pace attack

Sri Lanka's away matches against Australia have always loomed as a trial-by-pace for the top order, but although the opposition bowlers are quick, that does not necessarily make them menacing, according to Mahela Jayawardene.

Sri Lanka have scored 644 runs for the loss of two wickets in their past two matches, albeit against less-vaunted attacks. And although Mitchell Johnson blasted Sri Lanka into submission at the MCG in their last Test series, Sri Lanka's top order will likely focus on the confidence gained from their recent ODI performances in the country. Since 2010, Sri Lanka have won eight of fourteen completed ODIs against hosts Australia. They also have four batsmen who have hit hundreds in this tournament.

"You can be quick, but if you are not accurate you can go for runs as fast as they bowl," Jayawardene said. "The Australia bowlers are quick and we have faced lot of quicks in the tournament, so we're excited about the challenge. Mitchell Starc has been bowling well and Johnson has been great.

"The important thing is that in the last 12-18 months our top order has scored lot of runs. If you take the top ten guys in the world over the last two years we have three or four guys dominating. If you take our middle order, Angelo Mathews has had a terrific 2014 as well, so we are confident."

Johnson's Melbourne burst had fractured the hands of both Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene, while several other batsmen also wore balls on the body. Starc has bowled above 150 kph in the tournament, but Sri Lanka also have a fine recent record at the SCG, where they have won six of their last eight completed matches at the venue.

"I don't think there will be any repercussions from getting hit," Jayawardene said. "In Test cricket you get a few guys hit. Our guys have hit them as well. Those scars won't be there. We have good memories of winning ODIs at the SCG and in Melbourne."

No member of this Sri Lanka squad has played in a team that has defeated Australia in a World Cup. Sri Lanka have had five World Cup encounters against Australia since the 1996 final, and have lost four of those. The fifth, in Colombo in 2011, was washed out.

"It's not just us - Australia have just dominated the World Cup against all teams. We haven't been far behind them. We've played in two finals and one semi-final in the World Cup. We have been undone by them a few times. In 2003 in South Africa it was a close game - we only had to chase 210 and we didn't do that. Then in the Caribbean we lost the final. They are a quality side and in a big tournament it's about how you handle pressure. For us the important thing is that once we get to those crucial games we remain clinical."

Jayawardene has not batted since hitting a hundred against Afghanistan on February 22, because Sri Lanka have not lost enough wickets to require him at the crease. However, while the batting has clicked, Sri Lanka's bowlers have twice conceded scores of over 300 in their four matches. Jayawardene said Sri Lanka's spearhead Lasith Malinga was beginning to approach good form, following a five-month injury layoff.

"Lasith has improved from the first game to second to third," he said. "His variations are coming and he has picked up pace, which is great. The more games and practice sessions he gets the better it is. In the last three weeks he has got that confidence and the pace has built up. I think a couple of more games and he will be right there."