TURN on the ignition key and the engine comes to life. Ask Sanath Jayasuriya to open the batting, and the innings roars forward.
It was only fitting that the dazzling Sri Lankan won a prize car for being named the Man of the Series in the Coca-Cola triangular series. He led by example, showed the way.
And it was appropriate too that some of the Lankans took a little ride in their skipper's car at the end of a fulfilling trophy triumph. For, Jayasuriya has carried the team on his broad shoulders, notwithstanding the burden of expectations.
He is Lankan cricket's single biggest superstar. Take a walk around Colombo and you can spot his smiling visage in every other hoarding.
It has been one awesome journey for the simple Matara man, from obscurity to superstardom. Being an entertainer, he has easily cut across the barriers.
In a country facing a severe economic crisis, cricketing triumphs provide the people with something to cheer about. The Lankans are proud about the achievements of their National side and a smile crosses their lips at the very mention of Jayasuriya.
There is something about match-winners that sets them apart from the rest. The opposition fears them for they can change the course of a match in a jiffy.
Jayasuriya has accomplished this time and again with ridiculous ease. The terminator at the top of the order, who provides the early thrust, dismissing the attack to all corners of the ground with strokes of stunning power and precision. And the cut and the short-arm pull are the Lankan's principal weapons of destruction.
Such is his brilliance that there are occasions when the bowlers and fielders have been reduced to a state of helplessness as the ball whistles past them. Seizing the initiative from the attack, making it easier for the rest, winning famous duels on the cricket field, that's Jayasuriya for you.
Yet, the Lankan is much more than just an explosive opening bat. These days he is the leader of a successful outfit as well.
There is a new-found maturity about the man and his ways at the crease these days. He can go hell for leather when the side requires quick runs, but can bat with responsibility too when the situation demands a more sedate role.
That is the essential difference between the Jayasuriya of today and the swashbuckler who surfaced in the international scene during the WSC series in 1989-90. These days he can adapt to the varying situations more than adequately.
When Jayasuriya began his quest, he had warriors like Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda de Silva in the dressing room and that must have been an education in itself for the young man.
He learnt his lessons and learnt them fast. Now he has got enormous experience with 59 Tests and more than 240 ODIs under his belt. And he's putting that to good use.
One saw evidence of this in the Coca-Cola series when Jayasuriya accumulated his runs cleverly in the early phase of the tournament that was played on a two-paced Premadasa Stadium pitch.
The captain knew his wicket was vital, eschewed all risks and gathered his runs without going for the jugular. Yet, the remarkable aspect of Jayasuriya's batting is that he would still average close to a run a ball.
Yes, this is a different Jayasuriya we are witnessing these days. One who is guiding the youngsters. Being an inspirational kind of a cricketer, he doesn't have to try too hard to command respect from the boys.
Said Lanka's wily coach Dav Whatmore, "It is not an easy job, but Jayasuriya has the support of the players. That makes it much easier for him."
And during the Coca-Cola tournament we saw Jayasuriya consult his team-mates during the crunch moments in that thriller at the Premadasa Stadium, a contest Sri Lanka clinched by six runs. A good sign in several respects.
It must not have been easy for him stepping into the shoes of Grandmaster Arjuna Ranatunga soon after the '99 World Cup debacle. There were some who felt Jayasuriya was not quite the right choice too, being impulsive rather than canny in his ways.
To be honest, Jayasuriya's captaincy lacks the sparkle of Ranatunga's innovative moves, but he has a reasonable record and during a difficult phase in Lanka's cricket, when the team was undergoing a period of transition, he performed the role adequately.
Let us not forget the fact that Jayasuriya is an extremely useful left-arm spinner in the ODIs, firing them in and not allowing the batsmen to get under the ball for the big blows.
We will travel back to that nail-biting finish at the Premadasa Stadium, where Jayasuriya along with office Kumara Dharmasena, operated in a niggardly fashion right at the 'death.' When he strikes rhythm, the Lankan skipper's bowling does have an element of fizz about it.
To top it all, he's an outstanding fieldsman, capable of taking brilliant reflex catches and hitting the stumps when the batsmen attempt to steal runs.
In other words, Jayasuriya doesn't ask his men to perform what he cannot accomplish himself. No wonder, his players swear by him.
The days ahead will be crucial for both Lanka and Jayasuriya. The Test series setback at home against the Englishmen, albeit by a narrow margin, hurt the Lankan pride and the forthcoming duel against Sourav's men assumes even more significance. It promises to be a hard battle.
Jayasuriya's sights are firmly set on World Cup 2003. The Lankan selectors have already started on the right note by picking five pacemen for the Coca-Cola triangular competition, though only three of them, the fiery Dilhara Fernando being the pick, actually got to play in the event.
"We want to groom them. We are looking for pacemen who can also bat usefully, that is important," Jayasuriya surely has his priorities right.
Well, the captain and the explosive opening bat will once again turn on the ignition key when the battles resume. And the 'ride' could be a heady one for the Lankans.
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