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Sport it is said is the great leveller. And for the Sri Lankans the game's the thing. As such the Australians who arrived here yesterday and the Indians who will be arriving on Friday need not fear hostile receptions wherever they play.

The Sri Lankan spectators are knowledgeable, accommodating and will cheer and encourage whoever the player and the team and will reserve a special cheer for brilliance on the field and for rare acts of sportsmanship.

In Sri Lanka cricket has become somewhat of a religion from the time Test status was granted and the World Cup won in Lahore, Pakistan in 1996. Sri Lankans here and all over the world were jolted when the Lankans failed to repeat the Lahore success in England. That could be understood.

Since the England debacle drastic changes have been made. New captain and vice captain have been installed. Two separate teams have been picked - one for the 'cowboy game' and another for the established game, which game is what cricket is all about.

In addition the Interim body, headed by Rienzie Wijetilleke also batted for the game by cleverly negotiating for the return of Dav Whatmore who helped us win the previous World Cup with his excellent coaching.

True the new concept by selectors in picking two separate teams will have its teething troubles. The bottom line of the selectors led by former stylish opener Sidat Wettimuny in doing so, is with the future in mind.

The selectors must be cheered for their daring. It is said that success comes to only those who dare. They have done their bit and what they think is best for the game and now it is up to those who have been picked, especially the youngsters to grab the opportunity, come good and cement their places.

The youngsters picked are nowhere in the class of a Mahadevan Sathasivam, Ivers Gunasekera. Sargo Jayawickrema, Brian Classen, Stanley Jayasinghe, Bertie Wijesinghe, Michael Tissera, Duleep Mendis or a Roy Dias to mention a few who were given their spurs as youngsters. They were brilliant and naturals.

Some of the youngsters in the present set up have it in them to come good like the above named. That they can achieve only through hard work and perseverance. There is no substitute for success other than hard work.

These youngsters are lucky to have Whatmore with them. Whatmore has the ability to get the best out of every player. The youngsters must follow him and do what is asked and not think that they know everything.

Now that the selectors have blooded these youngsters, it up to them to give them continuity. To be played in a match or two and then be dropped, could be galling to the youngsters. To straight away break into the highly competitive cauldron of the big league and perform is no easy task, especially against the awesome Aussies and the fearsome Indians. Continuity will be what the youngsters will be looking for.

Now that the Australian are better than the best known in both styles of the game, there will be no letting up. Led by the dashing Steve Waugh they have been coached on the aggressive lines of going for the jugular from the first ball.

They will have some of the best in the game on show. But of special interest to the Lankans will be two of the dazzling competitors in the game today, leg spinning wonder Shane Warne and the damaging Glen McGrath. They are the best in their business and will be examples for youngsters watching them perform.

For Warne this tour will bring back fond and eventful memories. For it was here and on the SSC ground that his memorable and phenomenal bowling career was launched.

That event will be etched in the memory of those who were present on that day on the SSC ground. It was a Test match and going into the final day the dice was heavily loaded against the Aussies with a certain victory for the Lankans had they done the simple things right.

Going into the final day the Lankans had to get something well below 200 for victory. At the end of the fourth day and with Sri Lanka within sniffing distance of victory, writing my 'COMMENT' column, I warned the Lankans in my story which was headlined: A MATCH IS NOT WON OR LOST TILL THE FINAL BALL IS BOWLED'.

Openers Chandika Hathurusinghe and Roshan Mahanama gave the Lankans the sound start that they were looking for in their push for victory, after stubborn last pair stand had swelled the Aussie total.

After Hathurusinghe was unnecessarily run out when he failed to protect his wicket by blocking the aim of the thrower, which tactic was questionable to a hollow critic, things began to go bad for the Lankans.

Skipper Allan Border plucked an out of this world catch to dismiss Aravinda de Silva and then did what no other skipper would dare do in the circumstances. Border immediately tossed the ball to Warne and what he did on that day, where he teased and lured the remaining Lankan batsmen to their demise and defeat is history now. That was after the Aussies conceded a big lead and turned things around with an amazing batting effort in the second innings. What a Test that was!

Why this Wijetilleke bashing

In recent times Rienzie Wijetilleke, chairman of the Interim Cricket Body has come in for unjust and uncharitable criticism. Here is a man whose credentials are impeccable in his own chosen fields. He did not ask for this job. It was forced on him. Allow him to play the strokes he has for the betterment of the game. It is not done to besmirch his good name.