Dubai (United Arab Emirates) While the celebrations in Sri Lanka were, surprisingly, fairly low key the government, have naturally, done what they can to claim some pyrrhic success out of the Aiwa Cup victory, there are those in Colombo who agree some areas of the game are in serious need of improvement. As the government-controlled TV stations rescreened the highlights of Sri Lanka beating Australia in the final of the triangular limited overs series the selectors were closely examining their options of who is likely to play in the first Tests against the tourists in Kandy. Part of this preparation was the decision to send Chaminda Vaas back to school along with Suresh Perera as part of preparation for the Test series now days away.

The way Sidath Wettimuny, the Sri Lanka chairman of selectors, explained it there had been an acknowledgement by the selectors of a serious need to improve "our bowling strength." This had led to the decision on Wednesday morning by the selectors, hours after the Aiwa Cup success, to enlist the aid of the MRF (Dennis Lillee) fast bowling clinic as part of the plan to beef up the attack. What is interesting is Dav Whatmore, the Sri Lanka coach also went along: not so much for the ride but to get a closer look at the up-dated methods used to coach the fast bowlers. There was a touch of irony when Lillees former Test partner Jeff Thomson did his bit when he took time off from TV broadcast duties on the afternoon before the Aiwa Cup final to give the two quicks a few ideas shortly before the game. Whatmore, a former Australian all-rounder and coach of Victoria no doubt enlisted Thommos aid with the idea to help Promodya Wickremasinghe improve his direction finding equipment and give Vaas some confidence. It should not, though, come as a major surprise that Whatmore asked Thommo to help out. He became quite accustomed to doing it his way when coaching Victoria and before he took a shot at the job on offer in Sri Lanka barely months before the 1996 World Cup. Whatmore is one of three main players in the three-cornered Sri Lanka planning programme committee designed to revive the teams image. Along with Wettimuny and the captain, Sanath Jayasuriya, he is very much aware of improved skill levels expected of the players in the Test series.

Jayasuriya is another who feels the four-wheel-drive approach is preferable to that of the three-wheeler.

"We are not going to be fooled by our success in the limited overs series against Australia into thinking we have found all the answers," warned a cautious Jayasuriya on Saturday after watching day two of the four-day warm up match at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium. "Naturally we hope we can carry over into the Tests the mood achieved by our (limited overs) victory." The positive mood in the Sri Lanka dressing room during the slogs was one of the positive signs of the Jayasuriya-Whatmore partnership. For one thing each man respects the other's view, discussions are frank and younger players in the squad are also invited to put forward their thoughts when it comes to game plan strategies.

From snatches of inside information you soon find how the attitude of the younger players in the side now feel; part of the team: more importantly the relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room has added to a growing confidence within the camp. It was far different to the more autocratic rule of Arjuna Ranatunga; he rarely consulted anyone other than Aravinda de Silva and only occasionally Jayasuriya. Little wonder then there was general confusion in the trenches with Ranatunga changing fielding tactics and placing doubts in the minds of the bowlers about what direction was their captain trying to steer an often sinking ship.

There is still a body of hysterical ill-informed opinion inside and

outside Sri Lanka about the reasons for Ranatungas axing. Much of it comes from those far removed from the scene to make a fair or just assessment of Wettimunys selection panel bold long-term planning. Such schizophrenic ranting could still be read in letters to the editor of the islands three English daily newspapers as well as two Sinhala dailies and a weekly while the Sri Lanka board offices in Maitland Place received its share of hate emails and faxes. The question asked what should have Wettimuny and his three lieutenants, Brendon Kuruppu, Asantha de Mel and TB Kehelgamuura done after the World Cup fiasco? Pat the portly fellow on the shoulder and say hard lines and allow him to continue with his autocratic leadership as well as ignoring selection policy? Not likely, mate. It was time to move on. There is no doubt that Ranatunga played a decisive role in helping Sri Lanka to their once respected position. His cunning no nonsense style and general improvisation in the years after he was reinstalled as captain by Tyronne Fernando during his term as the BCCSL president, until the 1996 World Cup success is not in question.

Wettimuny made very clear when outlining the selectors' policy. What had been of concern after the Lahore fireworks was the stagnation of the team after a disagreement between Whatmore and Ranatunga on long-term planning methods to be introduced to prepare the side for the 1999 World Cup. A disappointed Whatmore moved on when thwarted by Ranatunga's intransigent views: he did not see any advantage in bringing on younger players by introducing them to the squad. Ranatunga was not the only one to lose focus, either. Members of the World Cup side became greedy for further financial handouts. Although there was muted criticism of players' over indulgence in their pursuit of extra wealth for the sake of team success, other ubiquitous factors with odious overtones found their way into the dressingroom: politics had infiltrated the side's unity until by the time they reached South Africa in early March 1998 divisions were obvious. The charming smile was replaced by a scowl and the bonhomie had become a disgruntled snarl. There was a brief improvement noted in the team's approach after critic ism of those players whom it was said were interested in their financial packages than doing the job they were paid to do. Sure, they did well on their tour of England in August and September that comprehensive Test win at The Oval papering over the rifts and chasms in the ranks. It was, say team insiders, a phase which gave a false impression of the team's true strength.

Admittedly the true trial of the team's character will emerge during the three Tests against Australia in Kandy, Galle and Colombo. The selectors are not the sort to gloat about the success of the side and how those who predicted humiliation in the limited overs series have been proved wrong. They are above such small-minded thinking. They had a job to do and face another when they confer on the Test side. As Wettimuny explains, the selectors are more concerned about the develop ment of the side at Test level than overall results. It is a period of consolidation. If Sri Lanka manage to win a game, or even draw the series , it should be seen as a successful implementation of the restructuring process which started with the limited overs series.

There is still some way to go, I know, and should be thankful what we have achieved in this short time, he said. "We will know our true depth at senior level when we send the Test team to Zimbabwe and the A team to South Africa, around the same time, later in the year." To improve the country's fast bowling strength, three young seam and swing bowlers are being sent to the pace foundation run by Lillee in Madras. They are Ishara Amarasinghe, Sujeewa de Silva and Nuwan Fernando.