Welcome back Nuwan Zoysa

There were calamitous moments but the one-day series was no disaster. Sri Lanka shone for brief periods and showed some pluck. But, as predicted, Australia played like world champions despite playing in the subcontinent. Clearly, that much talked about Achilles heel is no more.

Perhaps with better preparation - one ODI match in eight months is hardly ideal - Sri Lanka would have pushed Australia closer, although the final 3-2 result flattered because of the resting of Ricky Ponting, who was prolific, and Matthew Hayden in particular.

But there was some good news to cheer: the return of Nuwan Zoysa. His performance, with bat and ball and even in the field, was a revelation. Having, rightly, fallen out of favour after Sri Lanka 2002 tour of England, he has obviously worked hard at his game and fitness and come back much stronger.

Instead of lumbering up the crease, he tore into bowl and troubled all the Australian batsmen during the three matches he played. He extracted bounce, nipped the ball off the seam and maintained a disciplined line and length. He also moved the ball back into the righthanders, which he had not previously been able to do. Ironically, he provided a greater threat than the spinners, Muttiah Muralitharan included.

As Andrew Symonds commented afterwards, he had a "day out" in the final one-dayer. It was dreamy stuff. First he bowled with vigour on a fresh morning surface, then he ran out Simon Katich with a clinical pick up and inch-perfect throw, a piece of fielding that belied a reputation for being a liability in the field.

But it was with the bat that he really surprised everyone. We all knew he could strike the ball well. And we all knew that his batting had improved dramatically after being given a chance to open the innings for Sri Lanka A against Kenya last year. But his 47 from 42 balls was a truly remarkable innings, coming as it did with Sri Lanka so firmly on the ropes on 136 for 7.

It was not a desperate last fling but a calculated and perfectly time late charge. Russel Arnold, under intense pressure, held his nerve well, but Sri Lanka were going no where for a while. But gradually, thanks to a few well-taken risks, Zoysa built up some momentum. Then, boosted by the spilling of a difficult chance, he romped home with a series of audacious strokes that left us all gaping in astonishment.

His performance showed maturity and confidence in his own ability. Moreover, he showed mental strength, something which Australia oozed during the series but Sri Lanka so desperately lacked. Kumar Sangakkara once again displayed a hard fighting streak and Mahela Jayawardene battled for long periods, but self-belief was otherwise in short supply.

At the top, Sanath Jayasuriya looked rattled and out-of-sorts against the short bowling that will continue right through the Test series. Marvan Atapattu was three times out of five by the quick men - a worrying statistic. Tillakaratne Dilshan had a couple of opportunities to star but looked overly pumped up and jumpy in the middle.

Indeed, Dilshan still has much to prove in the one-day game. Although he proved himself in the Tests against England, counterattacking in thrilling fashion and showing greater mental resilience under pressure, he still needs to show that he can adapt his game to the peculiar and difficult demands of batting at five or six in the one-day team, a position for hard-workers not thrill-seekers.

The lower middle order was also culpable, especially in the opening match (five wickets fell for 12 runs), the second match (seven wickets for 29 runs) and the fourth match (eight wickets for 50 runs). Sri Lanka survived the second collapse because of the fine bowling of Chaminda Vaas, whose performance was heroic, but the other two meltdowns were crucial. There is plenty of batting talent in the lower order but, on this occassion, not the mental resilience to let it flower.

Even Murali appeared to be ruffled at times. He came into the series slightly ring-rusty, bowling an unusual number of poor deliveries, and Australia needed no second invitation to get stuck in. The runs flowed off his bowling. For an offspinner that loathes runs being scored of his bowling, it was undoubtedly unsettling.

But there is no need to panic. The Australians are talking tough, claming there is no mystery to his bowling, but don't be fooled. Murali bowled better and better as the series progressed. His rhythm improved and he is now ready for the Test series. With men around the bat, Australia's top order will have problems. Reading him is one thing, playing him is quite another.

Australia were always going to be harder to beat in the one-dayers. They have a superb team - probably the best one-day team in history - so there is no shame in losing 3-2. They are well equipped for the Test series too, but Sri Lanka have a better chance. They have two world-class bowlers and a strong top seven. They must, however, believe in themselves.

If they do need some inspiration then they could do worse than watch Zoysa heroics the other day. He showed what is possible and what must be done if the best side in the world are to be challenged.