At 29, Amerasinghe is no spring chicken. He was picked, as a promising 24-year-old, to travel with the senior side to England in 2002, but a back injury sustained on that tour stunted his growth.

He had to wait five more years for a recall, in Abu Dhabi last April against Pakistan, seven overs producing none for 32 on debut. At the Gabba on Tuesday night, Amerasinghe made amends with a tidy spell of controlled quick bowling on his way to figures of 10-2-30-1 against India. His first wicket in international cricket was Virender Sehwag, not a bad first that, and while he didn't have a bucketful of wickets, he troubled most of India's batsmen with his pace, seam movement and bounce.

Reckoned by experts as the second fastest bowler in all of Sri Lanka after Lasith Malinga, Amerasinghe could be his country's answer in the immediate future as Chaminda Vaas comes towards the end of his career. Dilhara Fernando, the seniormost after Vaas, has a long list of injury problems -- which is why he isn't on tour -- and therefore, Amerasinghe has come into the reckoning as the man most likely to strike up a fearful tandem with Malinga in time to come.

On Tuesday, he edged the experienced Farveez Maharoof to the final spot in the eleven, a move that triggered mild surprise. "We felt Ishara was bowling the best out of the two," observed vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara.
With Muttiah Muralitharan the only specialist spinner, Amerasinghe's chances will come throughout the next one month.

How he grabs them, starting from the tie against Australia at the SCG, will be viewed with interest by those involved in Sri Lankan cricket.

Tuesday was a good beginning, but just one swallow hasn't made this Australian summer, however wet it might be!