Bounce me, if you can: Jayasuriya dares Australia

BARBADOS: Sri Lanka's marauding opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya has thrown down the gauntlet at the Australians to bounce him if they can in Saturday's final of the cricket World Cup.

"It doesn't matter what they bowl to me. I have been around long enough in international cricket to face any sort of bowling. If they bounce me, I can pull and hook as well," said Jayasuriya with characteristic modesty.

Australians have tried to bounce Jayasuriya in recent times, suggesting the left-hander is vulnerable to fast, rising deliveries.

They also tried to put it in trial in a Super Eight game against Sri Lanka when speedster Shaun Tait bowled with extra venom and hostility at the Lankan left-hander.

Jayasuriya was then up to the challenge even though he didn't last long.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting suggested in press conferences that Jayasuriya is the key to Sri Lanka's batting and the way go after him is to let loose the fastest bowler at him.

Ponting is especially upbeat about the Kensington Oval pitch which, by all accounts, should favour pace and bounce.

Jayasuriya, however, is hardly perturbed.

"It's not as if we haven't played on bouncier pitches. We also have fast bowlers who can take advantage of the conditions. In any case we have the batters who can handle that sort of bowling," he remarked.

Jayasuriya was almost lyrical in his praise for captain Mahela Jayawardene whose century guided Sri Lanka to win over New Zealand in the first semi-final in Kingston on Tuesday.