But you have to bowl precisely otherwise you're in big trouble. He is in the category of player who you want to get out but who you'll remember for a long, long time after he's batted. I expect him and Sri Lanka to be big threats in the World Cup."As Lord's witnessed, Jayawardene cuts and pulls enthusiastically but he can play plumb straight. It is the elegance of his placement, waiting until the late show is about to start before selecting his shot, that sets him apart. Barry Richards, Sri Lanka's batting coach, observed before the First Test that he is technically well equipped to deal with most things. "He's been very successful in a short time and I think his technique will be well-suited to England."Jayawardene, 25 tomorrow, is a Colombo boy, a product of Nalanda College who was picked for Sri Lanka's Test team in 1997. Nobody in history has gone out to bat in such a secure position.

Sri Lanka were 790 for 4 and he made 66.It was the 120 amid the passions of Adelaide 17 months later which more or less cemented his place. After the World Cup in England in the summer of 1999, his country were hell-bent on a youth policy and promoted him to vice-captain It was the right move at the wrong time. He could hardly score a one-day run and kept getting out in Tests In 12 matches his average was 30, his top score was 91. Jayawardene relinquished the post and his form has flourished.Until England's belated revival at Lord's the tourists were on a straight and firm course for their 10th successive Test win. In that run of nine victories he had scored 778 runs at an average of 77.

This is weighty stuff in itself but all of them, the lot, were sculpted with panache.Despite his discomfort as vice-captain, it is accepted that when Sanath Jayasuriya is ready to call it a day as captain after the World Cup, Mahela may well be the man to replace him. He has a studiousness not apparent in all his colleagues."His world ranking is deserved, as is Kumar Sangakkara's place in the top 10 but they both still have a lot to learn," said Sri Lanka's coach, Dav Whatmore "They realise they have a long way to go What gives them both a chance is that they're strong. Mahela will swim rather than sink but it might take him a little time to tread the water."When Whatmore, never a man for overstatement, delivers such judgements, it is time to listen. But England should have known all that one stormy, steamy night in Adelaide three years ago.. England offered some indication yesterday that they have not only received but also understood the message.