It may already be too late for Nuwan Zoysa, Sri Lanka's languid and lanky left-arm medium pacer, to rescue his flagging international career in time for the World Cup.

After a pedestrian performance in Sri Lanka's practice game against Australia A the knives are already being drawn with the selectors apparently determined to drop him at the first opportunity.

Should he return to Colombo after the first part of the tour it will be the second time he has been axed from the side in the year following his post-England tour omission.

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Zoysa, a tea-taster before he became a professional cricketer, was only recalled on the insistence of skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, who had worn weary of his bowlers in South Africa.

Those who had witnessed his domestic performances for the Sinhalese Sports Club had warned against his inclusion but Jayasuriya forced the selector's hand.

But Zoysa, now 25, is determined to prove his worth if he is provided a chance in the third game of the series.

"This is a very good opportunity for me," he says. "I really want to play in this World Cup and that means I have to put up a very good performance if I get a game."

He claims to have worked hard on his game since the England tour when he was sharply criticised for his lackadaisical approach.

"Since the England tour I have been working hard in domestic cricket - I know now that I have to put my maximum to each delivery and spell," he said.

"In club cricket I have been bowling really well - although I have not really been picking up the wickets - and I hope to continue that form in Australia.

He is also keen to play his part with the bat, aware that Sri Lanka's fragile lower order needs bolstering before the World Cup.

"Not only is it a good opportunity for me to reclaim my place with the ball but I am also looking to contribute with the bat - the lower order needs to contribute more."

But the suspicion remains that Zoysa, an affable and well-liked cricketer, will not be travelling to South Africa unless he suddenly regains his best form.

>From some reason his pace has dropped alarmingly - during the Australia A game he was so pedestrian that he was reverse swept contemptuously.

Worse, he has seemingly lost the control that had once been a hallmark of his bowling.

With Sri Lanka needing to name their 15 players for the World Cup by Dec 31, Sunday's match against Australia would be his last chance to press his claims for a place.

Sri Lanka are set to select five pace bowlers, four of whom are virtually certain of their places: Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Prabath Nissanka and Pulasthi Gunaratne.

That means that Zoysa is competing with the likes of Sujeewa de Silva, Buddika Fernando, Kaushalya Weereratne and Hasantha Fernando for the final berth.

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