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Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

The Lankans had a couple of good practice sessions at Gabba and named the likely squad for game. The likely team that will line-up is S. Jayasuriya, R. Kaluwitharane, M. Atapattu, M. Jayawardena, J. Mubarak, Dilhara Fernando, Sujeewa de Silva. R. Arnold and K. Sangakkara.

Captain Jayasuriya expressed satisfaction the manner in which the cricketers took the practice session and is confident that if they produce the same in the middle they can make it to the final and with luck shinning can carry away the trophy.

Australia 'A' have named a strong squad from which they will pick their eleven. Captain Langer has promised to put on the pressure from the first ball and crash into the Lankan batting. A good game is expected under lights.

Murali over joyed

Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's off spinning sensation has been picked as 'The World's best bowler in the history of the game' by the prestigious cricket magazine Wisden, said that he was overjoyed. Muralitharan who received the good news in his hotel expressed happiness and amazement.

When asked to comment on achievement Muralitheran said "It came as a surprise for me. It is my intention to play for four more years and get up to nearly 600 wickets" said an unassuming Muralitheran.

This achievement by the bowler is creditable when one considers that the country has been in the Test cricket scene for only 20 years.

From the time Muralitheran took to the game, success has been coming his way with monotonous regularity. With hia brilliant strike rate he became the envy of all opossing batsmen and the Aussie umpires Darrel Hair and Ross Emerson lived to hate him.

So much so that they made several attempts to call him out of the ganme.

That they did not succeed and allowed the bowler to go on was credit to Muralitheran who has now given a kick up the backside of his detractors. skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was glad for the bowler and gave credit to the bowler's will to succeed when the going is tough with some hard work which has been an example to all other cricketers the world over.

Unfortunately Muraliteran will skip the first two games in the Victoria Bitter tournament still recovering from a hernia operation.

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