Muralitharan's return provides fresh hope for Sri Lanka

Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's spin magician and the world's greatest bowler according to Wisden, is on the verge of a full recovery from a hernia operation and is expected re-enter the international fray on January 9 when Sri Lanka take on Australia at the SCG. He carries with him hopes of a Sri Lankan revival.

Predictably, Murali has been sorely missed. Since flying to Australia for pre-emptive surgery Sanath Jayasuriya's team have won a solitary ODI in eight attempts. Their wayward bowlers have been flogged mercilessly and you would be being generous if you called the fielding butter-fingered. The batting, with the exception of Russel Arnold, has been woeful.

Confidence has not leaked away, it has flooded from the players, leaving coach Dav Whatmore tearing out his hair in frustration, no doubt pondering where it all started to go awry. Just nine months ago the side was riding the crest of a wave after notching up ten consecutive Test victories but now they are being openly mocked.

Of course, the reasons are complex. Some cast their mind back to a team revolt against the selectors last January. Others point firmly at the dark hand of political interference in the cricket board, which intensified during the year. A growing band blames the captain and the coach.

There is no doubt that some off-field matters have adversely affected performance, especially a selection process that has tottered on the shambolic during the past year, but the single most important reason for Sri Lanka's dip is the absence of Murali.

Sri Lanka are not an exceptional side. Jayasuriya has at his disposal a limited pool of talent. There are no baby-faced Aravinda de Silva's waiting in the wings. Fast bowlers of international pedigree remain scarce. However, there is a hardcore of quality and when that core is fully fit and playing their full potential Sri Lanka will be competitive against all sides. But when form and confidence slides, or injuries intervene, there are problems.

The absence of Murali has a particularly disastrous effect. The off-spinner' s importance to the side cannot easily be overstated. Despite claims that Sri Lanka are not overly reliant on him, the fact is that his unique brand of bowling has played a major hand in the vast majority of Sri Lanka's triumphs. Sri Lanka have won only a solitary Test without him since his debut 1992 and that was against lowly Bangladesh. His contribution in the one-day game is no less significant. During Jayasuriya's reign in charge Sri Lanka have won 65% of the ODIs they have played with him in the side. Without him Jayasuriya's win ratio slips to a lowly 22%.

A groin injury knocked the side off course in South Africa two years ago. The same injury allowed England to win a controversial home series in 2001. A dislocated shoulder paved the way for Pakistan's victory in last year's Sharjah final and let England off the hook at Lord's shortly afterwards. Without Murali, Sri Lanka are average.

His value to the side is not measured in wickets alone. His persona provides inspiration. Whether gesticulating wildly in the covers, screaming encouragement from the boundary or tossing the ball between his fingers as he prances in to bowl, he injects the side with positive energy and confidence.

Thus, the news that his recover is on course should already be lifting the flagging spirits of his team-mates. He will sit out the Australia A match at Adelaide but, despite bowling only three gentle overs in a fundraising game so far on the tour, will most probably play in Sri Lanka's crucial game at the SCG on January 9. He may be rusty but it is a gamble worth taking.

It will not be easy though. Once again, his resilience will be tested to the full by Australian scrutiny of his bowling action. Indeed, the legality of Murali's action, an unusual mix of wrist rotation and locked elbow, has consumed the minds of Australian fans, umpires and journalists on both his previous tours down under in 1995-96 and 1998-99 when he was no-balled by local umpires. Although cleared to the satisfaction of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after high-tech scientific analysis, Sri Lankans fear further chucking controversies.

Already the tabloids have seized upon comments made by former umpire Ross Emerson, who called Murali in 1998-99, to re-ignite the debate. With Darryl Hair, who called him in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG in 1995, due to officiate in Sri Lanka's second game at the SCG on January 13 there is clearly potential for trouble. But Murali claims to be unconcerned, looking forward to the challenge of playing in Australia: "They can't question me anymore, in my mind, because it's gone. It's all past. I never thought about not coming to Australia. I always wanted to play here."

Sri Lanka's New Year has already started well with a victory against a strong Australia A side at the MCG. The fielding has improved and the confidence of the fast bowlers is growing steadily. With Murali returning Sri Lankans can now look forward with real hope for the second part of the VB Series.