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Elmo rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

BRISBANE, Australia, Monday, Sri Lanka make their first appearance in the triangular one-day series against England at the Gabba today, before playing Australia, in Perth on Sunday.

England are searching for their first win 13 matches in Australia while Sri Lanka were beaten 4-1 in a one-day series on their recent South African tour, raising doubts over their World Cup chances in Southern Africa in February and March.

The Sri Lankans have always struggled on the bouncier wickets in South Africa and Australia, winning only 15 of the 73 completed one-day internationals in the two countries.

Sri Lanka were outplayed by Australia A in a warm-up match at the Gabba on Saturday and coach Dav Whatmore admitted his players had to adjust to unfamiliar surroundings. "The bigger picture is to develop a team, and the players within it, who can perform in these conditions," Whatmore said on Monday.

"We're not happy with the loss to Australia A but we've got that game under our belt." Sri Lanka are slight favourites to beat England in an important match for both teams, given Australia's early supremacy in the tournament.

Sri Lanka will have a fully-fit squad, with the exception of outstanding off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Jayasuriya said the tourists will always try to play entertaining cricket while here. They should get the chance on a typical Gabba wicket and against an England team not knowing where their next win is coming from.

But Jayasuriya, while having no sympathy for England, would not make any predictions about the triangular series. "You never know what will happen, especially in a one-day game," he said. Whatmore said tour selectors would probably settle on a team later Monday, but it won't be announced until Tuesday.

The England squad arrived here on Monday following their heavy loss to Australia on Sunday.

England's senior players won't feel any comfort walking into the Gabba, revisiting the scene of England's 384-run loss to Australia in the first Ashes Test last month.

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