Monday, June 24, 2002 Now that England have bowed out of the football World Cup, cricket might just get a look in. Sri Lanka proved too bland to distract English sports fans from the highs and lows of the Far East. This Test series showed just how much Sri Lanka's bowling attack relies on the fitness of Muttiah Muralitharan. It also revealed how much they miss the inspiration of Arjuna Ranatunga, and how little is achieved without fighting spirit. India will not have to beat off the World Cup but can they challenge England?

Firstly, the forthcoming triangular one-day series offers Sri Lanka some hope of redemption. Their batting line-up is long and experienced in cricket's short form, where their bowling deficiencies are better hidden. Yet, while Sri Lanka might once have started favourites, their vacant approach to this tour suggests that even if they rally and reach the final it will be a major triumph.

This has been a desperately disappointing visit by Sri Lanka. They arrived with such hope and pride for their first full tour of England, but succumbed to England's professionalism and their own timidity. Sri Lanka are in danger of a rapid slide down the international rankings, if that is really possible under the current scoring system, and the component they lack is leadership.

Arjuna Ranatunga once provided that precious commodity in abundance, much in the same way that Imran Khan galvanised Pakistan and Kapil Dev ignited India. Waqar Younis is now proving to be Pakistan's best leader since Imran, doubly so after this week's defeat of Australia. Pakistan will have gone some way towards overcoming their psychological fear of Australia. It is a mindset that says: "We will not be defeated by the history or the ability of our opposition before we step onto the field." Arjuna, Imran, and Kapil instilled their teams with the same will.

Such confidence, or the lack of it, has been a crucial factor in the speed of development of Asia's teams. It is the ingredient that too often gives Pakistan the edge over their neighbours, and it is the captain's duty to sprinkle it liberally. Sri Lanka now face a serious crisis in identifying the man who can pull them out of this slide. I say serious because there are no obvious candidates to wear Arjuna's crown. In many ways it is a more pressing issue than finding bowlers to support Murali. Great leaders can transform ordinary players into matchsavers, if not matchwinners.

The garden is not much rosier in India. Ganguly is certainly plucky enough, but leadership is not just about confrontation, which is a lesson that Nasser Hussain quickly learned. Ganguly has yet to convince that he is a leader more than an agent provocateur. And despite the magical talents at his disposal, it is difficult to see how Ganguly's unproven leadership can prize this summer's silverware from Nasser's popadom fingers but steadfast grip.

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Kamran Abbasi, born in Lahore, brought up in Rotherham, is deputy editor of the British Medical Journal.

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