Heady mix of Ponting, Warne and Murali

One Australian summer's night five years ago Ricky Ponting went on the toot after a one-day international, and as the small hours grew large ended up being punched by a bouncer in a Sydney bar. It might have been worse, but a bunch of English sports reporters had left the premises about 20 minutes earlier.

Ponting was accordingly banned for three matches and instructed to seek counselling for his drinking habits. In short, the larrikin from Tasmania could not handle his booze. If he was not quite on the verge of being washed up, the rocks were looming and an immense talent was in danger of being unfulfilled.

Tomorrow in Kandy, when Ponting leads Australia in a Test for the first time, the rehabilitation will be complete. He long ago shed his youthful demons but in January 1999 - that night was the last time that England beat Australia in a one-dayer - it was difficult to conceive Ponting as a future captain of his country. In March 2004 the sense of anticipation at his ascent is spine-tingling.

Having already led his side to a World Cup triumph, he follows two of the most successful modern Test captains, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. They changed the way Test cricket is played, Waugh building assertively on what Taylor began. The firm indications are that Ponting intends to develop the approach. Shortly after his replacement of Waugh became official, and probably before the bunting marking the close of a great career had been taken down, Ponting declared his objectives.

If Australia again go down in Sri Lanka, they will do so blazing away, not prodding around from the crease. Ponting will unquestionably lead from the front. His recent feats have been, say it quietly, almost Bradmanesque.

He will be 30 later this year and is in the form of his life. Since the Ashes last winter, Australia have played four series, in which Ponting has scored 1,557 runs at an average of 103, including six centuries, three of them doubles.

Of course, his elevation has been somewhat overshadowed by the return to his team of Shane Warne. Warne's presence clearly lends an edge: in simple terms the three-match series can now be seen as a straight contest between Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, the two great slow bowlers of the age.

Ponting probably needs Warne. It is one thing for him to be talking a good game, but last time out, Australia were held 1-1 by India. That result demonstrated, apart from India's advance, that Australia missed Warne (and also Glenn McGrath, who could yet make it to Sri Lanka now his ankle is mended). But he has played so little that the chances are he will be ring-rusty against batsmen who themselves are no slouches.

Equally, it was in Sri Lanka where he first broke through. Back in 1993, Australia were in danger of losing the First Test when, in desperation, Allan Border threw the ball to Warne, who had returned 0-103 in the first innings. He took the last three wickets in five overs and Australia edged home by 16 runs.

Murali owes Australia. His record against them is poor (22 wickets in seven Tests at nearly 42 when his overall average is just under 23). He has been given a torrid time on his visits there, and Ponting's men will probably waste no time in undermining his action, if only under their breath.

There exists for each bowler the problem of left-handers. Both teams contain plenty and neither man is quite as potent against them. They can get them out but it takes longer, unless of course the impish talk from both about their new types of ball is more than mischievous. Both started their Test careers in 1992 and Warne (491 wickets) and Murali (485) could each reach the landmark 500 in this series.

Australia lost a rain-affected series in Sri Lanka 1-0 four years ago. Under Ponting, they will come out blasting everything in their way.