It's funny how sport, and life in general, sometimes works out. Pakistan won the World Twenty20 in what almost turned out like a feel-good movie - you know, the one where the kid who no-one wants to play with reaches the top? And, following the script, Sri Lanka were always going to be the opposition in the final.

Of course, T20 cricket is just a "bit of fun" as Pakistan captain Younis Khan has often pointed out. However, Pakistan's moment in the English sun has done wonders for the team.

Who would've thought four months ago that they would actually head into a series looking like a team and not a group of individuals heading in different directions...?

When Pakistan entertained Sri Lanka in a two-Test series earlier this year, the hosts started on the back foot as they lost a string of top players to the rebel Indian Cricket League and were woefully short of Test cricket due to security concerns at home.

Pakistan, though, held their own in the first match as captain Khan's 313 overshadowed Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera's double hundreds during a high-scoring affair.

The series, though, wasn't remembered for Khan just missing out on Hanif Mohammad's highest score by a Pakistan batsman or Samaraweera scoring back-to-back double tons, but rather for the Lahore atrocities which brought a premature end to the second Test.

Fast-forward to July and Pakistan look as though they've turned a corner. Yes, they will still be short of Test-match practice come Saturday, but their batting line-up no longer looks paper thin, there's something old and something new in their bowling ranks and they are brimming with confidence.

Former ICL outcasts Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq will make a welcome return to Test cricket while youngster Mohammad Aamer is likely to get a call-up following a string of good performances in the World Twenty20.

The returning Yousuf will add stability, experience and a touch of class to the middle-order, while all-rounder Razzaq's inclusion means Pakistan are a more balanced team.

The impressive Aamer is likely to be more of a force than his predecessors Mohammad Tulha and Sohail Khan, who played in the series earlier this year, were.

Pakistan, thus, will be strong with the bat and should be able to hold their own with the ball as they also have spinner Danish Kaneria and Umar Gul in their attack.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have one of the strongest middle-orders in world cricket at the moment. Kumar Sangakkara and Jayawardene need no introduction while Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan are no longer in the team just to make up the numbers.

Dilshan has been in sublime form during the shorter forms of the game while Samaraweera boasts a batting average of more than 80 over the past two years.

However, there are one or two question marks about the Sri Lanka team. Openers Malinda Warnapura and Tharanga Paranavitana, and all-rounder Angelo Mathews are still relatively new to the international stage while Thilan Thushara hasn't exactly set the world alight. And, of course, Muttiah Muralitharan is out injured.

Furthermore, injury to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene also means they will have to tinker with their line-up. Will Sangakkara or Dilshan take over behind the stumps, giving them the luxury of adding middle-order batsman Chamara Kapugedera or fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekera to the team or do they select rookie 'keeper Kaushal Silva? Sangakkara or Dilshan will in all likelihood get the gloves so that Kapugedera can bolster their lower-order.

All in all, Sri Lanka will also have strong batting line-up and a well-balanced bowling attack, which means it is shaping up to be a fascinating Test match.

Key Men

Pakistan: With both teams' batting department well stocked, the outcome of the match will be decided by the bowlers. Danish Kaneria and Umar Gul will need to be at their best if the visitors are going to take 20 wickets in Galle.

Sri Lanka: This series will mark Kumar Sangakkara's debut as Test captain. We all know what he can do with the bat, but his captaincy will be crucial over the next five days.

Last Five Results

2009: Second Test: Match abandoned in Lahore
2009: First Test: Match drawn in Karachi
2006: Second Test: Pakistan won by eight wickets in Kandy
2006: First Test: Match drawn in Colombo
2004: Pakistan won by six wickets in Karachi

Prediction

Producing runs will be no problem for both teams so it will be up to the bowlers to win the game. If it's a spinning track, which it should be in Galle, then you can't look past the hosts.

Probable Teams

Sri Lanka: Malinda Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thilan Thushara, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis.

Pakistan: Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Danish Kaneria.

Dates

4-8 July - Morning session: 10:00-12:00 local time (04:30-06:30 GMT), Afternoon session: 12:40-14:40 local time (07:10-09:10 GMT), Evening session: 15:00-17:00 local time (12:30-14:30 GMT)

Match referee: Alan Hurst
Umpires: Daryl Harper and Ian Gould

Shahida Jacobs