Last year they had a tremendous home series against India. The balsmen were in terrific form specially the explosive Jayasuriya, crafty Mahanama and a confident De Silva. Jayasuriya not only touched a personal high of 340 but together with Mahanama scoring a career-best double century, took the team total to a figure that surpassed the previous best of 903 by England against Australian buck in 1934 - a record that stood for 63 years.
The chariot of Arjuna Ranatunga driven by the likes of Sanath, Marvan, Arvinda, Roshan, Hashan seems to have hit the racks suddenly.
Until now it had been moving smoothly but in a devastating mood. Any team coming on their way perished unceremoniously and a trail of victory followed them whenever they went.
But what is happening now? What has happened to the world beaters? Are they tired? Have they had too much? Lots of questions creep up, but a correct answer will be difficult to get.
The series of defeats have started from Dhaka. The match against South Africa in the Wills International Cup turned sour for Ranatunga and his men. The rain-interrupted tie was won by the South Africans in the most professional manner aided by Arjuna's wrong decision to field.
They had very little respite after the Dhaka debacle and flew into Sharjah without their best bowler Muralitharan. But they mist be very pleased to get a new talent known as Gunawardene donning the mantle of unpredictable Kaluwitharane and blasting a half century against the Indian bowlers. De Silva failed for the third time in succession - a very uncharacteristic innings by the little dynamo. The Indians overhauled the Sri Lankan total in majestic style with skipper Azharuddin posting a personal milestone by surpassing Desmond Haynes. He who unlucky to miss the century. Agarkar posted a vengeful reposte to the beating he received from the Lankans. Azhar took 64 matches more than Haynes to score his runs. Nonetheless this will remain a milestone till Sachin surpasses it.
Zimbabwe had little idea about the day when they took the field. Chicken raiser Eddo Prandes quickly ran through the top order to put the champs on the backfoot.
This was a setback from which the Lankans did not recover despite De Silva and Mahanama's half centuries. The miserly total was crossed by the collective efforts of the Flower brothers and Goodwin, Jayasuriya's misery who stalking him to the desert and he seemed to be aging. His reflexes tiring. He did not look the same as he was two years back.
All credit to Zimbabwe for a remarkable victory against the World Champions. It will be very interesting to watch these two teams till the World Cup next year.