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PERTH, Western Australia, Thursday.

The Sri Lankan cricketers who are fighting valiantly not only the odds on the field, but out of it as well, will be galvanized with the return of Aravinda de Silva for their seventh encounter in the Carlton and United series against England at the WACA on Friday.

The Sri Lankans who are at the bottom of the points table, are still not out of the running. If they can turn things around, which they are capable of doing and win the remaining games, they can still figure in the best of three finals.

The return of de Silva will certainly strengthen the team all-round and if he strikes with the bat, then the Lankans can run up a total, that could be a match winning one.

What he must realise is that the boundaries from him will be more valuable than going for the risky single and becoming incapacitated. His presence is very important to his teammates and he must remain that way.

Whom to leave out for de Silva to fit in will be the problem the selectors will have to solve before the game begins. The Perth wicket packs tremendous pace and bounce as the Lankans experienced against Australia 'A' when they were bundled out for 89 runs.

The wicket is not going to be any different this time round. We are sure the Lankan frontline batsmen have found a way of combating the pace and bounce which bowlers of the calibre of Darren Gough, Allan Mullally and probably Dean Headley (if he plays) will exploit to the full.

When the two teams met in Adelaide, the Lankans stunned England with a victory that will go down in the records book as one of the greatest ever. The Lankans chased a massive 302 and shocked the cricket world with a fantastic victory. That victory was all the more great because they had to surmount the Muralitharan calling by Emerson and focus their attention to win.

Tomorrow's game is going to be a Englishman blockbuster. There was a lot of ill-feeling in the previous clash where Darren Gough, Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain in addition to their prowess in the game, also showed that they are experts in another aspect and that is shouldering opponents.

Unable to take up defeat in the spirit it should be done, they resorted to these ugly and unacceptable tactics and it is surprising how they came to escape the eye of match referee Peter Van der Merve.

The Lankans will be looking for a lot of runs from their frontline batsmen Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharne, Marvan Atapattu, Aravinda de Silva, skipper Ranatunga, Hashan Tillekeratne and Jayawardena. Runs from them are vital for bowlers, especially Chaminda Vass and Muthiah Muralitharan to bowl out the opponents. One way of surviving on a fast and bouncy wicket is to get in line before executing a shot.

Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharne on this tour have proved poor runners between wickets. In the very first over they look for the unnecessary single and one of them gets run out. During our playing days our coaches Edward Kelaart and Bertie Wijesinghe did not excuse us if we got run out. 'If you get run out, don't run back into the pavilion, run home' that's what they told us. Manager Ranjit Fernando who played with me at that time will vouch for this.

The Sri Lankan fielding must also show much improvement all-round. It is amazing to watch and note the drop in standard by the Lankans in this aspect. A small score could be made to look a winning one, if the half chances are grabbed. In this aspect they have slumped and allowed opposing batsmen to run up big scores and make it more difficult for them to stay in the game.

As for England who are strong contenders to figure in the finals, they will once again be praying that Zimbabwean born Greame Hick will continue his wonderful run with the bat. He was lucky to survive a caught behind against Sri Lanka when he was on 11. He grabbed the reprieve given by umpire McQuillan to slam his second century of the series.

If the Lankans can dismiss Hick and the other heavy scoring batsman Neil Fairbrother early then they will be in with a good chance.

Of the England bowlers Darren Gough has been the most menacing. He has the ability to bowl threateningly by swinging the ball both ways. He is very economical and England will be looking to him to get them the early breakthrough, especially Jayasuriya who has the knack of scoring against them.

However Gough will not forget the six that Upul Chandana hit off him when the Lankans were heading for victory at Adelaide. It was such a tremendous blow, the ball sailed over the Victor Richardson Gates and was lost for sometime.

The Lankans are not in the proper frame of mind because of the Muralitharan and Ranatunga incidents. But they must be determined to come good and show England and Australia that for them the game is the thing.

Young Mahela Jayawardena played an innings in the previous game against England that he will remember for the rest of his career. Accolades were heaped on him by the media, TV and Radio commentators who admitted that this youngster has immense talent and could turn out to being one of the best batsmen in world cricket.

Jayawardena must endeavour to score in every outing because consistency is the hallmark of a great batsman. Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar is proving this saying.

Over then to the WACA and a game that is going to be tense and thrilling every moment.