The Sri Lankan cricketers lived right up to their reputation as the world's happiest, least complicated cricketers when they arrived in Auckland this afternoon, facing five One-Day Internationals against New Zealand starting at Napier on Wednesday.

They had just been hammered by South Africa, 2-0 in the Tests and 5-1 in the one-dayers. They had a long and tiring journey from Johannesburg via Sydney, they will be in a warm-up match at New Plymouth tomorrow morning, and after trying to create history by beating New Zealand they then move forward into a tough home series against England.

But at an Auckland airport press conference the manager Air Commodore Ajith Jayasekara, captain Sanath Jayasuriya and coach Dav Whatmore, the Sri Lankans maintained a pleasant frankness.

As far as match-fixing allegations were concerned, the Sri Lankan board had set up an inquiry and Air Commodore Jayasekara said the three-month time-frame for the inquiry might have to be extended.

Any question about the legality of Mutiah Muralitharan's bowling action was brushed aside by Whatmore, who said the champion spin-bowler's action was completely cleared, and no longer an issue.

As Sri Lanka had won only two of their 12 One-Day Internationals in New Zealand since 1982/83, Jayasuriya agreed that Sri Lanka would go into the coming matches against New Zealand as the under-dogs.

"But that does not worry us," said Jayasuriya. "When we go overseas we are the under-dogs all the time."

Both Jayasuriya and Whatmore praised South Africa as a very strong all-round side, but both pointed out that after losing five one-dayers to South Africa, the Sri Lankans had returned to something like their best form by winning the last one-dayer.

"Just about every day someone in South Africa would ask in the newspapers whether South Africa or Australia would be the best side in the world," said Whatmore.

The issue may well be decided when the two giants meet later this year, said Whatmore, and he diplomatically declined to pick a winner.

"But under their home conditions South Africa are a very difficult team to beat, and I am sure the New Zealand team will agree with that."

Whatmore said Sri Lanka would regain their best form when all the players realised they must contribute to the team effort all the time.

"We still have some match-winners, but this tour of New Zealand will show our players they have the responsibility to perform well all the time."

The coach mentioned Kumar Sangakarra, a wicketkeeper-batsman, and Russell Arnold as being the most the most exciting young batsmen who should developed well for the future.

Whatmore did not think the Sri Lankans were being over-played.

"They are professionals. Round the world the top cricketers are playing nine months out of 12, and we are no different."

The two senior bowlers, Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, missed the last Test in South Africa with groin injuries.

Muralitharan said he was fit again, but Whatmore is prepared to wait for final checks, perhaps even on the morning of a match, before using them.

Muralitharan, Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva, three veterans of tours of New Zealand, were all eager to sample New Zealand playing conditions again.

de Silva, a New Zealand favourite for his dashing displays for Sri Lanka and Auckland in New Zealand, was originally left out of the team for South Africa, joined the team late in the tour, and said today he might still be a little short of hard match play.

Jayasuriya, who lit the fuse for the explosive Sri Lankan batting when they won the World Cup in 1996, had a comparatively thin time in South Africa, scoring 3, 7, 66, 12, 23 and six in the one-dayers.

"I was not at my best," said the dapper left-hander, "but feel I really need only one good innings to get me going again."

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