Watch out for Sri Lankans, warns Australia A skipper

Blewett, who has been recalled to the national limited-over team after scoring more than 1,200 runs this season, will Friday lead Australian second-stringers into the final game of the three-match warm-up series against Sri Lanka at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Sri Lankans' form has concerned their supporters following elimination from tournaments in Sharjah and Bangladesh before being humiliated in the opening game against Australia A in Perth last Sunday.

But Blewett said he could see signs of Sri Lanka's best form during their win over Australia in Adelaide on Tuesday which levelled the series.

``They'll be very competitive in the Tri series,'' Blewett said Thursday.

``It's going to be very even (between Australia, Sri Lanka and England) because in one day cricket these days there isn't any side that stands out apart from South Africa.''

The Sri Lankans have continued their approach that brought them so much success in the World Cup with openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana attacking when the field is up inside the circle in the first 15 overs.

Blewett said this tactic can make the Sri Lankans dangerously unpredictable opponents.

``Certainly in the first 15 overs you always feel you can get a wicket but at the same time you know you could go for six or seven runs an over.''

While this tactic has not worked as successfully in recent times, Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga said Thursday his team would not be changing their approach.

``We play a lot of attacking cricket and I don't think we should change that, `` he said.

``We've had a couple of bad tours and we just want to get into form on this tour but we came back really well in the last game.''

Friday's match will also herald the return to the MCG for controversial off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who was no-balled by umpire Darrell Hair for an illegal bowling action during the Boxing Day Test on Sri Lanka's last tour in 1995.

Muralitharan was taunted endlessly by Adelaide fans on Tuesday who called ``no-ball'' each time he took to the bowling crease but Ranatunga said his star spinner was enjoying his return to Australia.

``He knows that sort of thing will go on here but he's not really worried about it,'' Ranatunga said.

``When things go against him he just bowls better.''

Australia A: Greg Blewett (captain), Ryan Campbell, Gerard Denton, Adam Dale, Michael DiVenuto, Ian Harvey, Brad Hodge, Shane Lee, Damien Martyn, Matthew Nicholson, Andrew Symonds, Brad Young. (12th man to be named).

Sri Lanka (from): Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Marvan Attapattu, Upal Chandana, Aravinda De Silva, Aviska Gunawardena, Sanath Jayasuriya, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Roshan Mahanama, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ruchira Perera, Hashan Tillakaratne, Chaminda Vaas, Pramodya Wickremasinghe.