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Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia.....

Muttiah Muralitheran who bamboozled the Australians with his tantalising spin, will miss today's vital Victoria-Bitter series one-day game against England at the Adelaide Oval under lights.

This is a game that Sri Lanka must win to make sure of a place in the best of three finals against Australia to be played later this month.

Muralitheran's absence will be greatly felt. He ran hard to stop a ball in the game against Australia and pulled up holding his right thigh in apparent excruciating pain.

Physio Alex Kountouri did a good job with him, strapping him heavily so that he could continue bowling his remaining two overs. He left the field after completing his two overs in which he bagged another wicket.

According to Manager Ajit Jayasekera, he has damaged his thigh muscle which has restricted his movements.

"He will skip the game against England tomorrow. If we win this one we are in the finals and then we will rest him against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 21. Otherwise we will have to some how or other get him fit for the Melbourne game", said the manager.

The Australian and England batsmen are shaky in the knees the moment Muralitheran comes on. With all their experience they are absolutely clueless, not knowing which way he will turn. It is comical to see the batsmen playing the wrong line.

The England batsmen will certainly heave a sigh of relief now that Muralitheran will not be there to torment them and lure them to their demise and will fancy their chances of winning and playing in the finals. Sanath Jayasuriya has so far led the team admirably. His field placing and bowling changes have been spot on.

With Muralitheran threatening to run through the Aussie batting, he would not have been faulted had he asked Muralitheran to bowl his full quota of 10 overs at a stretch.

With Australia on 100 for 4 and Lehmann and Bevan, new batsmen in and struggling, to have continued with the off spinner, he would have had either of them, or both and the rest of the batting would have caved in. When he came back and bowled on one leg he still troubled the batsmen claiming the wicket of Shane Watson.

The Sri Lankans will not fancy playing in Adelaide considering that the were shot out for a beggarly 65 against Australia 'A' when they last played there. The Lankans must put that debacle behind them and concentrate on beating England. Even without Muralitheran they can win if they believe in themselves.

One thing that the Lankan batsmen must put right is their atrocious running between the wickets. There were four run outs against Australia which was unacceptable and which cost them dearly. Early in the innings there's no need for a mad rush for runs. Jayasuriya from whom much is expected must guard against this. He cannot afford to sacrifice his precious wicket.

It warmed the hearts to see Marvan Atapattu in the runs again along with Mahela Mahela Jayawardena and wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara. Jayawardene has entered double figures in every game - 71, 30, 21, 37 no, 32 and 56. But what has been the most striking feature in this series is the emergence of Sangakkara as a brilliant batsman/wicket keeper. While he has continued with his competent batting, his gloving has improved tremendously and is a great asset.

The Adelaide wicket is known to favour pace and bounce. As a result without Muralitheran, Sri Lanka might be inclined to strengthen the batting, in which case left hander Jehan Mubarak could play. Sri Lanka will again rely on spin to trouble England.

England who lost the previous game, will be determined to avenge their defeat and keep their chances alive. Openers Marcus Trescothick and Nick Knight have given them good starts, but sadly the other batsmen have failed to build on. Skipper Hussain, Shah, Colingwood, Stewart and Blackwell must make it their business to score runs and see their team to a big total.

In the bowling only Andrew Caddick has shown the ability to break through. Harmison has got hit for a lot of runs. Anderson, Blackwell and Irani must learn to bowl better.

With both teams endeavouring for victory, this game will see no quarter asked or given. The team performing the aspects needed in this type of game better should emerge victorious. As for us our money is on Lanka breasting the tape first.

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