New Sri Lanka face their toughest yet in ATC final

Sanath Jayasuriya's Sri Lanka have enjoyed unprecedented success in Test cricket during recent months, and will start the Asian Test Championship (ATC) final against Pakistan brimming with confidence, but they are also well aware that Waqar Younis's talented team represents a real threat to a remarkable run of eight straight wins.

Despite the unfortunate last-minute withdrawal of India, which prevented the tournament from capturing the interest of spectators and sponsors, the crown of Asian Test champions is at stake and the finale, no matter how drab the opening one-sided bouts against Bangladesh, promises to be a worthy battle.

It's a crown that Sri Lanka would dearly like to wear. Ambitions have been broadened over the past year and Jayasuriya's men are aiming their sights on becoming established as one of the top three Test sides in the world. With South Africa being flounced by Australia, the number two position now appears tantalisingly vacant.

Although both have played each other regularly in the one-day game, with alternate success, it has been over 18 months since the two sides last met in a Test match, in Sri Lanka where Moin Khan's Pakistan romped to an emphatic two-nil series win, and times have changed for both sides.

Pakistan's comprehensive defeat had marked the start of a disappointing run for Sri Lanka, with a drawn home series against South Africa soon after, followed by a drumming in South Africa and a humbling defeat at home against Nasser Hussain's England.

But, just when Sri Lanka's Test form was becoming a subject of concerned debate, Jayasuriya and coach Dav Whatmore engineered a remarkable turnaround in the team's fortunes. Spurred on by the ever-prolific Muttiah Muralitharan, with the batsmen enjoying a purple patch, Sri Lanka defeated India, Bangladesh, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have seen a change at the helm, with the talismanic Waqar Younis steeping into the shoes of Moin Khan, a move that revitalised both his previously flagging career and the fortunes of the side.

Waqar has welded the mercurial talents of his side together into a strong, closely knit unit, leaving an apparent sense of harmony within the side. No team relishes a skirmish against Pakistan when all parts are pulling in the same direction and the Sri Lankans will be wary.

The contest is shaping up into a tussle between Pakistan's battery of firebrand fast bowlers and Sri Lanka's silky batsmen. With Lahore promising assistance for the speed merchants it will be a mouth-watering spectacle.

Whatmore certainly expects a trial by pace: "The final conditions are obviously difficult to predict, but judging by their squad, which includes a number of fast bowlers, we are expecting pace and bounce in the pitch and a pace based attack."

It will prove a welcome challenge for Sri Lanka as they embark upon a tough year overseas, during which opponents will be zeroing in on a perceived fragility against high caliber pace bowling on lively pitches.

However, Sri Lanka's top order is looking in increasingly good shape. Mahela Jaywardene has emerged as one of top five batsmen the world, the stylish Kumar Sangakkara has quickly settled into the pivotal number three position and Jayasuriya is back to his belligerent best.

The middle order has been bolstered by the recall of Hashan Tillakaratne in August, who has scored three Test hundreds and two fifties since, and the introduction of Thilan Samaraweera, a workmanlike all-rounder whose performances have been a revelation since making his debut against India - he currently averages a staggering 103 after eight games.

During their last eight Test matches they have rattled up first innings scores of 610-6, 555-5, 590-9, 228, 627-9, 586-6, 505 and 418, which helps explain why four matches were won by an innings and two by ten wickets - the remaining two matches were hardly close run affairs.

Whatmore naturally hopes for more of the same: "We just have to carry on with how we have been performing with the bat and we will be looking to concentrate on following the same processes that have produced our recent success."

The surprise omission of Wasim Akram from the squad certainly helps. The majority of Sri Lanka's batsmen identify Akram as the pivotal and most potent member of the Pakistani bowling attack. His supreme control of swing plus the sheer weight of his personality make him a formidable adversary and Sri Lanka would prefer that he didn't play no matter what his present form or fitness.

"We were a bit surprised to not see his name in the squad," admitted Whatmore. "Every side in the world recognises that he is truly world-class performer and he has played particularly well against us in the past."

Pakistan would be equally delighted if Muralitharan were not playing. The off-spinner, who reached 400 Test wickets in record time, has brushed off the barbed comments made by Bishen Bedi last month about his action and will be looking forward to locking horns again with Pakistan's aggressive batsmen, against who he has enjoyed considerable success in the past, claiming 60 wickets in 11 games at 24.92.

But should the pitch offer the life expected, then Sri Lanka's seamers will have to share their burden of the workload. The absence of rookie quick Dilhara Fernando will be missed, but Chaminda Vaas still leads a disciplined seam bowling attack with Nuwan Zoysa and Buddika Fernando likely to play.

"Our seamers lack the raw pace of the Pakistanis, so we will be concentrating hard on accuracy, making sure that we get the ball in the right area as much as possible, building up pressure on the batsmen," says Whatmore. "If the bowlers are going to get more response from the wicket, then we can exploit that too."

Nevertheless, despite their recent good form and the absence of both Akram and Saeed Anwar, Sri Lanka probably start as the underdogs, partly because Pakistan have the home advantage but, more importantly, due to the timing of the final. They are in the midst of preparations for the tour of England and are returning to the competitive fold prematurely.

"We are coming straight out of training whereas Pakistan are fresh out of a series with West Indies," said Whatmore. "We go into the final a bit short of competitive action with the players having only played a couple of domestic matches and that is going to make it difficult for us."

And he plays down the importance of stretching the sides victorious run to nine matches: "Our focus is never result orientated, instead we look at the processes necessary for achieving success. If we do those well, then we will be happy." But he remains upbeat: "The boys are very fit now, raring to go, and are looking forward to the challenge of taking on our neighbours in their own backyard."