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Aussies arrive; face the heat
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Twelve months after winning the games most coveted crown Ricky Ponting’s World Champion team arrived in Sri Lanka early last morning to face one of their greatest challenges in recent times -winning in the sub-continent.

In their last visit to the island Australia led by Steve Waugh were beaten 1-0 in the test and later lost the one day series.That was followed by a crushing semi final defeat for Ponting’s men in the ICC Champions trophy in September 2002.Between these two defeats came the 2-1 test defeat in India.It's on this backdrop that the outgoing Australian test captain Steve Waugh warned his successor saying "It's tough times ahead for Ponting and the Aussies this year".

The next six weeks will prove whether the World Champions will be able to survive not only to the bone dry and dusty tracks, but also to the scorching heat and the humidity of the tropical island as they face upto the Lankans who only recently sent Michael Vaughan’s Englishmen packing.

Despite the unavailability of the services of President Thilanga Sumathipala Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has left no stone unturned in their bid to successfully organize the three tests and five one dayers against the World Champions."We faced a few hurdles at the beginning but we have successfully overcome most of them and are now ready for the Australians",said Ravin Wickremaratne who is the Chairman of the tour organizingcommittee. One of the biggest worries for Wickremaratne was accomadation. "Most of the leading hotels round the country have been fully booked. Therefore we are forced to accomadate the two teams and officials in different hotels depending upon the availability".

Sponsors
Mobitel who sponsored the England test and one day series have once again stepped forward to be the sole sponsor. A spokesman for Mobitel revealed that the total sponsorship of the three tests and five on dayers is much more than the England tour. Buoyed by the success of the English tour which coincided with Mobitels GSM launch the company is continuing their vigorous advertising campaign by being the sole sponsor of the Sri Lanka-Australia test and one day series.

SLC names umpires
Asoka de Silva who was dropped from the ICC elite panel of umpires will officiate in the first,third and fifth games while Peter Manuel and T H Wijewardene will stand in the second and fourth game. The Sri Lankan umpires will be joined by New Zealand’s Billy Bowden who will officiate as the ICC umpire in all five games.

The Aussies play the game very hard and there is bound to be a lot of words and arguments in the middle as the Lankans are also not going to cave in tamely. Thus it would be upto match referee Mike Proctor and the Umpires to ensure that the ICC code of conduct for players is implemented to the full. What is more important is that there must be consistency in the decisions taken by the Umpires and the match referees unlike in the past.Cricket fans remember very well the recent Australian -West Indian series where referee Proctor ignored the finger wagging Glen Mcgrath which eventually came in for a lot of criticism.Let us hope that such incidences will not occur during this series.

Commentators
Taj Television who acquired the Television Broadcasting rights for the tour have obtained the services of former Australian cricketers Michael Slater,Allan Border,Bruce Yardley, Dean Jones and Jeff Thompson as commentators.

They will be joined by Indias Sanjay Manjrekar and Sri Lankans Ranjith Fernando and Ranil Abeynaike.Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation’s Channel Eye will telecast the games for the local viewers.

A Spokesman for SLC confirmed that ticket sales have been fast with most fans availing themselves of the 50% discount that was offered following the washout of the England games. As a keen contest is expected in the one dayers SLC expects a full house in all five games.

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