Lacking an incisive pace attack has left them with little choice but it adds extra pressure on to Kaluwitharana as

Lacking an incisive pace attack has left them with little choice, but it adds extra pressure on to Kaluwitharana as he has to cope with the part-time efforts of Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva as well as the wickedly spinning deliveries of Muttiah Muralitharan.And when he swaps the gloves for the willow his influence is scarcely diluted. Remember the swashbuckling start to most Sri Lankan innings during the last World Cup? It wasn't all the rapier thrusts and flicks of the immensely talented left-hander, Jayasuriya. His partner in crime was Kaluwitharana and between them they created an excited atmosphere of anticipation as the spectators, both present and via television, hoped for their charismatic firework starts.With the fielding side restricted to only two boundary fielders for the first 15 overs, they swung, scampered and blazed away, seemingly without a care in the world. Of course, no side led by the wily Arjuna Ranatunga would embark on such potentially perilous tactics without careful thought. And it is undoubtedly easier to adopt such cavalier strategy with Ranatunga himself, and the player of the tournament, de Silva still to bat.But the effect on the opposition was often enough to give Sri Lanka a psychological advantage.

Not only did they set the tempo of the match but also forced the other countries to rapidly reassess their own tactics. Rather than concentrating on their own strengths, the other countries were trying to find methods to combat the Sri Lankans. And this is why Kaluwitharana cannot be judged on statistics alone.Dermot Reeve, arguably England's best one-day player of recent years, frequently refers to the importance of momentum. As the captain of Warwickshire during their successes in the mid-90s, he placed little emphasis on averages. His belief was that different events can turn matches and so more emphasis should be put on the context of each contribution."A quickfire 20 or 30 can be so important because it can wrest the initiative, just like tailenders scoring runs or hanging around to waste overs or help the other batsmen to add some more runs," Reeve explained.Kaluwitharana may not have made numerous big scores but during the last World Cup his quick 20s and 30s at the start of the innings were like a shot of pure adrenalin. Whether he will have the same effect on the slow seaming pitches of England is a moot point considering England's decision to select more technical opening batsmen to combat the seaming ball, but Sri Lanka base their game on attack so an in form Kaluwitharana is important to the world champions and helps alleviate some of the pressure on the lesser players.Particularly as he is part of the spine that runs through the team, Jayasuriya, de Silva, Ranatunga and Muralitharan being the others. Four top-order batsmen, one strike bowler and two other creditable bowlers and the captain.

The core of all sides needs to perform well if they are to enjoy success and Kaluwitharana is a vital component to the Sri Lankan core. In comparison Alec Stewart opens for England, dons the gloves and his recent one-day form has been appalling, as have England's results. There is a definite correlation and that is ignoring any question marks over Stewart's captaincy.For those who just cannot live without statistics, though, it is interesting to note that Kaluwitharana averages above 32 in Test cricket, has three Test centuries and a solitary one-day hundred. Not really relevant to the forthcoming jamboree but they do suggest a degree of class. Whatever the numbers say, it is no lie to call Kaluwitharana a pivotal figure to the world champions.THE TEAM: THE ONE MATCH WONDERS XIShoaib Mohammad (Pak) Played one World Cup match in 1987Barry Hadlee (NZ) 1975Philip Horne (NZ) 1987Sean Davies (Zim) 1996Eldine Baptiste (WI) 1987Geoff Miller (Eng) 1979Graeme Labrooy (SL) 1992Merv Hughes (Aus) 1992Fanie De Villiers (SA) 1996Salil Ankola (Ind) 1996Lance Gibbs (WI) 1975WELL I DECLAREWHAT do Ian Botham of England and Duncan Fletcher of Zimbabwe have in common? They are the only men to have scored a half-century and taken four wickets in one match. Fletcher's display (62 and 4 for 42) was as captain on his team's sensational debut, against Australia, in 1983.

Botham (53 and 4 for 31) was in his 16th match when he performed the feat, also against Australia, in 1992.. SOMETIME DURING the World Cup some poor sucker of a batsman will decide to chance a quick single after hitting the ball in Ricky Ponting's direction It will almost certainly be a costly and messy mistake. Bails will fly as a bat is thrust forward forlornly towards the crease, the third umpire will be called on but only as a matter of protocol, and the red light will eventually flicker. It will probably be a matter of millimetres in the end, but it might as well be the length of the Tasman Sea. Another wicket will have fallen to the unerring arm, poise and balance of the boy from Launceston. The likelihood, if Australia progress in the tournament, is that this scene and its inevitable upshot, an entry in the scorebook which reads "run out (Ponting)", will be re-enacted more than once.The sight will never be less than thrilling but it will always beg the question of why. Why do they do it, knowing the potential consequences? Ponting's nickname is Punter, because of his fondness for a bet, but attempting to snatch a run to him is the the sort of wager that would persuade a man it was time to enrol in Gamblers' Anonymous."The idea is to stop batsmen scoring runs, cut off their supply, make it difficult for them," said Ponting of his predatory role in the one- day game, usually at cover in the early overs of an innings but thereafter in the exacting area at backward point.