'Sri Lanka have found the right balance' - Whatmore

Out of nowhere, Sri Lanka have become the soul of the World Cup. India and Pakistan went a long time ago, and now with the hosts gone, Sri Lanka who play a band of cricket that fuses subcontinental artistry with contemporary ethos, have emerged the sentimental favourites for the neutrals. So much so that if they manage to beat New Zealand in Jamaica, they will be accorded the status of the home team in the final at Kensington Oval. And the man who helped them win their first World Cup believes that they have it in them to go all the way.

Dav Whatmore, whose coaching experience in the subcontinent spans over a decade, says Sri Lanka have turned a corner because they have been able to strike a combination versatile enough to compete with the home team when they tour abroad.

"They go to a country that has a bit of bounce and they have got the boys who can play the part," Whatmore told Cricinfo. "You've got to have, as much as you can, a square peg and a square hole. Trying to fit in any other shape is always fraught with a bit of danger."

Sri Lanka have the most varied bowling attack in the current World Cup. Chaminda Vaas brings left-arm swing and experience. He can move the new ball both ways, and bowl a variety of cutters with the old one. Lasith Malinga brings skiddy, explosive pace delivered from an unnerving angle; Dilhara Fernando gets them to rear, with Sachin Tendulkar all at sea with one which cut in sharply off the pitch; Farveez Maharoof hits the pitch hard and gets the ball to deviate off the seam; and Muttiah Muralitharan has added to his considerable armoury a devious scheme to bowl doosras to right-handers from round the wicket.

"To me, one of the biggest differences in Sri Lankan cricket has been finding the right balance," Whatmore says. "They have multi-skilled boys who can fit into different roles without weakening any department." It has helped that in Murali and Malinga they have two freaks, one a legend, the other fast acquiring a reputation for turning matches. "Good luck to them. These are players who come along once in a lifetime. The challenge is to keep them injury free."

The other significant factor, according to Whatmore, is that Sri Lanka are blessed to find in Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, two senior players who combine well in leadership roles. "They are pretty intelligent boys who have a reasonable idea of how to go about things and keeping it stable.

"They gel pretty well, together with a foreign coach, they have been able to keep their injuries down to a minimum. It's an important area, and they are reaping the rewards for that."

They have also been fortunate that Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu, two former captains, have come back from injury and banishment to provide support in fostering a healthy dressing-room atmosphere. "It's all about creating a good team spirit and even though Sanath is not the leader any more, he has things to offer."

In the last 12 months Jayasuriya has blasted 1316 runs at an average of 50.61 and at a strike rate of 109.75.

"For him to re-enter the group and appear to be so happy and calm and produce these performances is the result of the team spirit that has been created by the leaders," Whatmore points out. "Sanath is a leader as well in certain areas. So is Murali.

"Murali is one of the greatest competitors I have ever known. Whatever happens, he gets on that field and he just wants to win."

Even more than batting and bowling, their commitment is evident on the field. Despite being the oldest members of the side, Jayasuriya and Muralitharan abound with enthusiasm, diving, chasing and pouching up catches. The catch that Muralitharan took, running behind from mid-off, to dismiss Sourav Ganguly in Sri Lanka's first-round encounter with India, looked much simpler than it was because Muralitharan was so quick to it.

"Murali has never done anything slow," Whatmore says, smiling. "He is always 100 miles an hour, even with his mouth, he has got all fast twitch fibres in his body. He will never change.

"And even though training was never Sanath's favourite pastime, he has also got a good acceleration. And above all, they are both good team men."

This will be Sri Lanka's second appearance in the semi-finals since their first win and their former coach believes that they are best equipped since 1996 to win the cup.