In what could be the last series for Sri Lanka's golden generation, there has never been a better time for the Lions to snare their first Test victory on Australian soil.
As Australia comes to grips with the retirement of champion batsman Ricky Ponting, the last member of Steve Waugh's record-breaking team of the early 2000s, so too will Sri Lanka have to rebuild in the coming years.
Mahela Jayawardene has already earmarked this series as his last as skipper, while Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara are likely visiting Australian shores for the final time.
Jayawardene and Sangakkara will retire as Sri Lanka's two greatest run-scorers, with only the order in which they finish to be decided.
As their careers wind down, following on from the exits of Murali in 2010, Sanath Jayasuriya in 2007 and Chaminda Vaas in 2009, it is the end of a golden era for Sri Lankan cricket.
But for all its successes, Sri Lanka has never won a Test in Australia - a continent it has visited five times only to come away with eight losses and two draws.
The 36-year-old Dilshan acknowledges time is running out for him and his team-mates.
"Definitely. For me I think this is my last tour (in Australia) in Test cricket. This is a real challenge for everyone," he said.
"We've never won a Test match here. If we can win a Test match it's great for the team and the country.
"It's never easy when you're playing Australia because the conditions are different. But we're looking forward to a great run with them in this series."
So much of Sri Lanka's current hopes are pinned to the batting of its veteran trio, prompting Dilshan to demand the top order makes runs, or risk being whitewashed in the three-Test series.
"Definitely in the top order someone has to put their hands up and put some big runs on the board, to help the middle order and the tailenders," the opener said.
"That's our target. The top order should make some runs this series.
"It's really important that Mahela and Sanga come into form. They're two experienced guys in the side."
Jayawardene sits ninth on the all-time run-scorers list with 10,640 runs - 287 short of Australian great Steve Waugh, who is seventh.
As one of the most prolific run-scorers of all time, his opinion on what affect Ponting's retirement will have carries some weight - but he has undecided as to whether Australia will lift without its out-of-form former skipper or miss his infectious will to win.
"I don't know whether it's a good thing or a bad thing but he's been a fantastic cricketer for the game," Jayawardene said in praise of Ponting.
"I think the record speaks for itself in the sense of what he's achieved for himself as a player and as a captain.
"For us as opponents and for me personally he's probably the ultimate competitor out there in the middle.
"Once you go up against him you know what you're going to get."
Ponting has been replaced in the Australian line-up by left-handed dynamo Phil Hughes, who earns a recall after 12 months out of the team with a refined technique and a thirst for runs.
Hughes will resume his career in the spot from which Ponting dominated world cricket for nearly a decade, coming in at number three.
The regenerative process is on in earnest on the sub-continent as well, with Jayawardene pointing to 25-year-old all-rounder Angelo Mathews as his natural successor.
The tourists have also pinned their hopes on batting prodigies Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne.
Like Ponting has done for Michael Clarke and countless other budding Australian batsmen, Dilshan says it is important to impart as much wisdom as possible during this transitional period.
"(Chandimal is) one of the youngsters we've found the last couple of years. He's getting more opportunity and is doing really well, especially in one dayers," Dilshan said.
"Now he's come into the longer version.
"If we have time, we can spend some time and give more opportunity to the youngsters, who are the future of Sri Lankan cricket."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, hobart-7000, tas, australia, sri-lanka First posted December 10, 2012 13:17:43
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