Sri Lanka emerge from from post-World Cup slump

Sri Lanka's Caribbean tour started under a cloud of criticism. The failure to qualify for the final of the Sharjah Cup and the Bank Alfalah Cup had prompted a media bashing. Some of the more sleazy columnists felt so empowered that they even had the audacity to print wild (and wholly inaccurate) stories of player sex orgies in Dambulla.

Fickle advertisers sensed this despondent mood and slashed their cricket budgets. Broadcasters did their sums and realised that to buy the television rights for the West Indies would be a huge financial gamble, surmising that no one wanted to advertise and few people would watch. They were better off showing their prime-time soap operas.

But the Sri Lanka team responded. Thousands of kilometers away from home, they pulled together as a team. An indifferent batting performance was followed by an inspired bowling effort in the first game. West Indies, cock-a-hoop after a trio of wins against Australia, lost the first game emphatically.

Then came Sri Lanka's finest one-day run chase for years. This time the bowlers were collared, leaking 312 runs their 50 overs as Brian Lara cut loose. On the basis of recent form only the mentally unstable would have betted their rupees on a Sri Lanka victory. But Sri Lanka marched home with four wickets and three balls to spare thanks to a splendid 89 from Upul Chandana and a hardworking fifty from Mahela Jayawardene.

The third one-day international was lost but that matters little - who cares about dead rubbers? After a post-World Cup slump, confidence had returned. The team was smiling once more. Of course, there were still areas of concern, particularly the batting and fielding, but there was light at the end of the tunnel.

It helped, of course, that Sri Lanka had settled upon the right combination. At Sharjah the selection - just five batsmen - was suicidal. During the Bank Alfalah Cup it improved, with Tillakaratne Dilshan slipping into the middle order and Romesh Kaluwitharana moving back up to the top. The introduction of Chandana in the West Indies, a move that stiffened the batting and perked up the fielding, was the icing on the cake.

Marvan Atapattu breathed a sign of relief afterwards, admitting that he had been under real pressure since the unfathomable decision to spilt the captaincy. Finally, he felt more at ease and he celebrated in the opening Test, compiling his 11th hundred - another knock of high-elbowed elegance and unflappable concentration.

Sri Lanka finished the first day in the box seat on 250 for 4. But although they finished the Test on a high, as Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya knocked up an unbroken 126 run stand in the second innings, the middle three days were disappointing: the middle order crumbled on day two, the support bowling lacked penetration, the fielding was sloppy, and Kaluwitharana's glovework was erratic. Fortunately, the rains tipped down on day four, condemning the match to a draw.

So all is not entirely rosy, although the top order batting is gelling again with the top four all in good form. Nevertheless, assuming the rains clouds steer clear of Sabina Park, Sri Lanka can make history and win their first Caribbean Test series. This Test marks the end of a grueling 14-month run of non-stop cricket and Sri Lanka's players will hold nothing back as they contemplate a four-month break from international action. They will want to sunbathe in glory not defeat.

Changes are being considered. Some radical. Kaluwitharana, who missed Lara on 94 and Omari Banks on 0, could be axed to allow Tillakaratne Dilshan into the middle order. Kumar Sangakkara would then re-take the gloves. With six specialist batters in the side the management would then be more inclined to bolster the bowling, ditching Thilan Samaraweera for a third seamer - probably Dharshana Gamage. That would provide the bowling more teeth.

But to win, of course, they must dismiss Lara early - the bete noire of Sri Lanka's bowlers having scored 897 runs in the last four Tests between the two sides. If they can do that then they can win the series and take another important step up the confidence ladder.