The moment is upon us. Sri Lanka take on defending champions Australia in the final of the 2007 World Cup. This is the fourth consecutive time that the Australians have entered the finals of the World Cup, showing how consistent they have been as a team, and the second final for Sri Lanka after their triumph in 1996.

Australia have hardly been stretched so far in the tournament and have been unbeaten while the Lankans have lost the odd game but have shown great ability to bounce back from those set backs.

The Australian lower order batsmen have not had to get in, as the top order have dominated with Hayden, Ponting and Clarke scoring regularly, and that too at a fast clip.

The Australian bowling too had had little resistance, and the variety that Brad Hogg brings to the attack has flummoxed most opposition batsmen. Add to that the quicksilver Australian fielding and you know you are up against a truly great side.

Still, cricket is known for the nerves it can create on a big day, and if Sri Lanka can steady theirs, then they could go all the way. Much will depend on the two ‘J’s Jayasuriya and Jayawardene in putting up a big challenging score and on the two ‘M’s, Muralitharan and Malinga in restricting the Australians. The latter too will be Jayawardene’s trump cards for it is not easy to pick both of them and Malinga in particular with his yorkers that are seen virtually at the last second can be lethal if he is accurate. Murali’s many deliveries will also create doubt in the minds if the Aussies, though with depth in their line up they can come back after Murali’s quota of overs is finished.

This is where Jayawardene’s captaincy is going to be tested. How he uses his two trumpcards. Sri Lanka may fall short on the fielding standards, but in Sangakkara and Dilshan, they have fiercely competitive players who can match the Aussies in a verbal clash. As the saying goes, the heart says Sri Lanka, but the head says Australia.