The sun shines on Sri Lanka's centenary test match

The south westerly monsoon, which had cast serious doubts on the centenary test match commencing on time, has subsided for the time being and frantic preparations are now underway to ensure that the Sinhalese Sports Club is ready for tomorrows match.

If the sunshine continues then play could start on time tomorrow. The outfield is however still very soft underfoot and any more rain would almost delay the start. The pitch itself is extremely dry on top and what grass there is brownish is colour.

The SSC curator, Ranil Abeynaike, has not watered the wicket in the last few days and expects the pitch to be favourable to batsmen in the early stages and take some spin later on in the match. The question the captains will be asking themselves is: How much moisture lies beneath the dry surface?

Both teams have been practicing today. The Sri Lankans were forced to train indoors yet again but the Pakistan side were lucky enough to get an opportunity to practice on turf at the neighbouring Colombo Cricket Club.

Despite an extraordinarily arduous six months, frequent injuries and the critical attention provoked by the release of the Qayyum report this Pakistan side has one great advantage: It's apparently limitless supply of raw and passionate talent.

If Moin Khan and Javed Miandad can ensure unity within the side and temper that stereotypical hot headedness then Pakistan have a fantastic opportunity of seeking revenge for there 2-1 defeat by Sri Lanka in Pakistan last March.

Within days of the tour starting the signs are there to suggest that the Moin and Javed combination has what it takes to turn around a depressing series of defeats since the 1999 World Cup. They have now lost their last three test series against Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan and had appeared to have entirely lost their way in test match cricket.

Something appears to have changed now. Whilst there is clearly the risk that the change is entirely cosmetic, there appears to be a greater vigor and unity in the side.

Speaking to CricInfo today Dav Whatmore believed that this series was going to be tough: "Pakistan are playing more as a team at the moment and they are playing much better cricket than they did during the teat series."

In the last test match in the West Indies and in the Asia Cup the players were continuously goaded on by their effervescent captain and played with a hitherto absent intensity and togetherness. Moin Khan has clearly laid down the law on this tour and is demanding unity at all times.

Speaking at yesterday's press conference Moin said: "Since Javed joined us the coach we've been working very hard and the results are starting to show. We came good in the West Indies. Everybody put in 100% effort. It didn't matter that we lost that we lost the final test match which was very close."

The key to this series will be the contest between the Sri Lankan batsmen and the Pakistan fast bowlers. The Sri Lankan middle order is still reliant on Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva and they dearly need support from the others who have proved to be far too inconsistent.

In the last series between the two countries Sri Lanka were extremely lucky that Wasim Akram sustained a serious groin injury. After his heroic performance in the last test match in the West Indies he is back to his best. Backed up by a rejuvenated Waqar Younis and by the impressive Abdul Razzaq, he probably represents the key to this series.

Dav Whatmore certainly identifies Wasim as the main threat: "The Pakistanis have a very good pace attack and Wasim Akram is just two wickets away from taking 400 test wickets. We know that he is a tiger and he will come out roaring in this series"

Much will depend on the Sri Lankan opners, Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Attapattu, both players are in excellent form. Sanath has had a difficult year with the bat but has been working hard with Dav Whatmore and is now confident that he can deliver the goods.

The Sri Lankan's will not be as generous to the Pakistanis as they were to them in the last series when they prepared the kind tracks Mutiah Muralitharan dreams of. There will be little grass left on the wicket and the groundsmen are sure to use their garden hoses sparingly.

This being the case we will have to await and see what strategy the Pakistan batsmen adopt to counter the magical spin bowling of Mutiah Muralitharan. They will most likely be content to play him out and attack at the other end.

If they do play Murali well then the Sri Lankans could well struggle. They lack the firepower available to the Pakistanis and are far too dependent on one bowler. However the attack is disciplined and the fielding is usually exceptional. It will have to be if Sanath is to secure his forth series victory in a row.