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by Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting, Adelaide, Monday

Sanath Jayasuriya will be back in his favourite spot opening batting for Sri Lanka when they play Australia 'A' in a warm up match at the Adelaide Oval under lights on Tuesday.

The selectors here are trying their best to get off spinner Muttiah Muralitheran fit to play in this warm up game before playing against the Aussies. "All will depend on the morning of the match and whether Muralitheran is fit to play", said the manager of the team Ajit Jayasekera. Jayasuriya batted in the middle in the previous game and was run out for 3.

He did not look comfortable in this slot. When he came in to bat the pressure was on with the fielders patrolling the boundary and he could not get a move on.

Good that he has decided to get back to the batting slot that he is accustomed to. Once he gets his batting act together and the runs start coming, his problems and the team's problems will end.

"I am middling the ball and batting well at the nets. It's just that something that goes wrong in the middle which leads to my early dismissal. We have five more Victoria Bitter one-day internationals to play and I hope the gods will look benignly at me", said the skipper with a determined look on his face.

If Jayasuriya fires, then the rest of the batting will click. Jayasuriya has the knack of scoring fast and putting his side well ahead in the run rate. What is happening now is that with the early dismissal of Jayasuriya, the other batsmen are unable to play freely as they would like, because they have to consolidate.

One hopes that Jayasuriya will regain his lost form in this game and continues to put the opposing bowlers to the sword. Jayasuriya will open with Avishka Gunawardena .Atapattu who is in good form will not play. Kumar Sangakkara will come back to the side and keep wickets.Hashan Tillekeratne kept wickets in the previous game but failed to impress.

There is some doubt about the most consistent bowler Chaminda Vaas playing in this game. According to Jayasuriya, Vaas has a slight groin strain. "We would like to keep him out, and have him fully fit for the one-day international against Australia.

Runs are also expected from the bats of Sangakkara, Jayawardena, Aravinda de Silva and Russel Arnold. A lot is expected from De Silva. He has what it takes to score in the big league. Responsibility is what is required from him. Jayawardena too has not been in the runs. But with his correct technique, he should be in the run-making act soon.

Left-hander Russel Arnold has been the only consistent batsman on tour. He has batted with ease, playing the bowling on its merits. His footwork has been very correct and has the knack of picking the right ball to hit.

Coming in the middle he has been able to pace his innings and score important runs for his side.

The pace quartet of Dilhara Fernando, Charitha Buddhika, Prabath Nissanka and Pulathsi Gunaratne will again have to contain the opposing batsmen.

The fielding showed improvement in the previous game and it is hoped that it will remain or improve further.

A large contingent of Sri Lankan supporters is expected to be present at the Adelaide Oval and egg the cricketers on.

We beat Australia 'A' in the previous game and it would be a major setback if we were to lose this one. As for the home team, they are strong in every department with two World Cup players Andrew Symonds and Jimmy Maher in their ranks.

Also strengthening their side are former Australian all-rounder Greg Blewett, Ian Harvey and Ryan Campbell. In bowling they have two penetrative pacemen in Nathan Bracken and Noffke. The winning of the toss will be important in this game.

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